High molecular compounds (polysaccharides and proanthocyanidins) from Hamamelis virginiana bark: influence on human skin keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation and influence on irritated skin

• Published in: Phytochemistry (Oxford) Vol. 58; no. 6; pp. 949 - 958
• Main Authors: Deters, Alexandra, Dauer, Andreas, Schnetz, Esther, Fartasch, Manige, Hensel, Andreas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anthocyanins - chemistry; Anthocyanins - isolation & purification; Anthocyanins - pharmacology; Araban; Arabinogalactan; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Division - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Chemical constitution; Clinical study; Colorimetry; Dermatitis, Contact - pathology; Differentiation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General pharmacology; Hamamelidaceae - chemistry; Hamamelis virginiana L; Humans; Keratinocytes; Keratinocytes - cytology; Keratinocytes - drug effects; Medical sciences; Molecular Weight; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant physiology and development; Polysaccharides; Polysaccharides - chemistry; Polysaccharides - isolation & purification; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; Proanthocyanidins; Proliferation; Skin; Skin - cytology; Skin - drug effects; Araban; Hamamelis virginiana L; Polysaccharides; Keratinocytes; Arabinogalactan; Skin; Proliferation; Differentiation; Proanthocyanidins; Clinical study; Human; Cell proliferation; Cell culture; Bioassay; Dermatology; Bark; Hamamelidaceae; Extract; Cell differentiation; Biological activity; Medicinal plant; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Isolation; Keratinocyte; Spermatophyta; Proanthocyanidin; Polysaccharide; Antitranspirant
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00361-2

Although extracts from
Hamamelis bark have long been used in therapy of skin diseases and in cosmetic formulas there are only few pharmacological investigations verifying the activity of distinct
Hamamelis bark constituents. Therefore two major classes of constituents, namely polymeric proanthocyanidins and polysaccharides were isolated from
Hamamelis bark and tested concerning their influence on proliferation and differentiation of cultured human keratinocytes. While the polysaccharide fraction, consisting mainly of arabans and arabinogalactans, did not effect human keratinozytes, the proanthocyanidins strongly increased the proliferation of the cells, while the differentiation was not influenced significantly. Within a preliminary cumulative in vivo study on SLS-irritated skin, proanthocyanidins (ProcyanoPlus) were proven to reduce transepidermal water loss and erythema formation. Furthermore, a clinical scoring indicated that procyanidins can influence irritative processes significantly.
Polymeric procyanidins from
Hamamelis virginiana L. bark increased proliferation of human keratinozytes and regeneration of irritated skin. Clinical data proved the efficacy of procyanidins in an irritation-skin model.