Abstract Book - 3rd International Symposium on Medicinal Plants ...

Ergosterol Found in Mushrooms and Yeast is An Anti-Senescence Compound
Useful for Cosmetics
<strong>Abstract</strong>: Cells which have lost irreversibly their ability to divide while remaining viable are
called senescent. They have first been observed in cell cultures after a number of replications,
then in cultures after stresses, and finally in vivo in animals and man. The role they play in ageing
is thought to be important, not only because cells which do not replicate themselves cannot very
well participate in tissue renewal, but also because senescent cells secrete proteolytic enzymes
such as MMP3, pro inflammatory cytokines such as Il-1, 6 and 8, or growth factors such as VEGF,
which exert negative effects on their environment. It seems thus interesting to prevent the
appearance of senescent cells. UVB stress induced premature senescence (SIPS) tests have
allowed to show that pre-treatments with Vitamin D as well as its precursors 7-dehydrocholesterol
and ergosterol can prevent the appearance of senescent cells characterized by the expression of
the enzyme SA β-gal (senescence associated beta-galactosidase). In silico docking studies with
the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) have shown that the mechanism of action of these molecules
probably implies their binding with its “alternative”, recently described, non-genotropic binding site.
Moreover, as these molecules activate the protein p53, often called “guardian of the genome”, it is
tempting to put forward the hypothesis that it is this p53 activation known to trigger repair of DNA
damages which prevents the occurrence of senescence. Mushrooms such as Poria, Ganoderma,
Cordyceps, Polyporus, or Agaricus all contain ergosterol, and special ergosterol rich fractions
could be developed for anti-senescence skin care cosmetic products.
Extracts of the Polynesian Plant Microsorum scolopendria could be Used As New
Anti-Aging Cosmetic Active Ingredients
<strong>Abstract</strong>: A study was undertaken in order to determine whether extracts of the Polynesian
plant Metua Pua‟a could have interesting activities on skin. Metua Pua‟a is the local name of
Microsorum scolopendria , a fern which is a very popular medicinal plant in Tahiti. A total extract of
Microsorum s. was made by soxhlet treatment of dry leaves with methanol. This crude extract E
was fractionated, first by partition with chloroform and water to eliminate lipophilic molecules, then
by partition of the polar phase between water and butanol to obtain a butanol soluble phase which
was further purified through a polyamide gel column into a fraction F enriched in ecdysteroids
among which ecdysterone and ecdysone. The total extract of Microsorum s. (but not the
ecdysteroid fraction F) up-regulates Heme Oxygenase 1, an enzyme which protects cells from
oxidative stress (through the liberation of biliverdin, itself quickly converted into the antioxidant
bilirubin) and which exerts several other activities like the photoimmunoprotection of skin by UVA
through the liberation of carbon monoxide CO. The ecdysteroid fraction of Microsorum s. (rich in
ecdysone and ecdysterone) completely protects BJ dermal fibroblasts from stress induced
premature senescence, thus confirming the results previously obtained with ecdysterone from
Cyanotis arachnoidea. It seems therefore that extracts or fractions of extracts of Microsorum
scolopendria could protect skin against oxidative stresses and that they could be used to formulate
better anti-aging cosmetic products.
Key words: Ati-Aging, anti-Senescence, biological activities, cosmetics, ergosterol, Hippophae
rhamnoides, ingredients, Microsorum scolopendria, mushroom, plant extracts, skin cells.
1.60 Antimicrobial Activity of Pseudomonas Secondary Metabolites
Mezaache-Aichour Samia, Guechi Abdelhadi and Zerroug Mohamed
Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University Ferhat Abbas
of Sétif, ALGERIA.
<strong>Abstract</strong>: Phenazines are nitrogen-containing heterocyclic molecules produced by fluorescent
Pseudomonas. These compounds have broad-spectrum antibiotic properties including
antimicrobial activity against phytopathogenic fungi and pathogenic bacteria. Several mechanisms
of action have been proposed, including inhibition of DNA replication, uncoupling of electron,
transport and energy production, and disruption of normal membrane functions resulting in the
generation of toxic intracellular oxygen species. Production of antimicrobial metabolites in vitro
was assayed in NBY supplemented with glucose to a final concentration of 2%. Extracts of
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