The Protective Effects of a Combination of an Arginine Silicate Complex and Magnesium Biotinate Against UV-Induced Skin Damage in Rats

The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of a novel combination of inositol-stabilized arginine silicate complex (ASI) and magnesium biotinate (MgB) on the prevention of skin damage after UVB exposure in rats. Forty-nine Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into one of the following groups (Farage et al., 2008): NC, normal control (Gragnani et al., 2014), SC, shaved control (Pandel et al., 2013), UVB (exposed to UVB radiation) (Binic et al., 2013), ASI + MgB-L (Low Dose) (Dunaway et al., 2018), ASI + MgB-H (High Dose) (Dorner et al., 2009), ASI + MgB-L + MgB cream (Durmus et al., 2017), ASI + MgB-H + MgB cream. The results showed that ASI + MgB treatment alleviated the macroscopic and histopathological damages in the skin of rats caused by UVB exposure. Skin elasticity evaluation showed a similar trend. ASI + MgB increased serum Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Si, biotin, and arginine concentrations and skin hydroxyproline and biotinidase levels while decreasing skin elastase activity (p < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration (p < 0.001). Moreover, ASI + MgB treatment increased skin levels of biotin-dependent carboxylases (ACC1, ACC2, PC, PCC, MCC) and decreased mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways and matrix metalloproteinase protein levels by the regulation of the activator protein 1 (AP-1), and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways. In addition, ASI + MgB caused lower levels of inflammatory factors, including TNF-α, NFκB, IL-6, IL-8, and COX-2 in the skin samples (p < 0.05). The levels of Bax and caspase-3 were increased, while anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was decreased by UVB exposure, which was reversed by ASI + MgB treatment. These results show that treatment with ASI and MgB protects against skin damage by improving skin appearance, elasticity, inflammation, apoptosis, and overall health.

Effects of Sodium Silicate Complex against Hemorrhagic Activities Induced by Protobothrops mucrosquamatus Venom

Protobothrops mucrosquamatus poses a serious medical threat to humans in Southern and Southeastern Asia. Hemorrhage is one of the conspicuous toxicities related to the pathology of P. mucrosquamatus envenoming. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies showed that a silica-derived reagent, sodium silicate complex (SSC), was able to neutralize hemorrhagic and proteolytic activities induced by pit viper venoms, including Crotalus atrox, Agkistrodoncontortrix contortrix and Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma. In this study, we validated that SSC could neutralize enzymatic and toxic effects caused by the venom of P. mucrosquamatus. We found that SSC inhibited the hemolytic and proteolytic activities induced by P. mucrosquamatus venom in vitro. In addition, we demonstrated that SSC could block intradermal hemorrhage caused by P. mucrosquamatus venom in a mouse model. Finally, SSC could neutralize lethal effects of P. mucrosquamatus venom in the mice. Therefore, SSC is a candidate for further development as a potential onsite first-aid treatment for P. mucrosquamatus envenoming.

The Protective Effects of a Combination of an Arginine Silicate Complex and Magnesium Biotinate Against UV-Induced Skin Damage in Rats (P06-028-19)

Objectives Skin appearance and function begin to decline as humans age due to physiological changes as well as external factors such as prolonged sun exposure and inadequate nutrient intake. Replenishing the body with nutrients such as silicon and biotin has been shown to improve skin appearance. JDS-ASB is a novel combination of inositol-stabilized arginine silicate complex (ASI), a highly bioavailable form of arginine and silicon, and magnesium biotinate (MgB), a novel, well-absorbed biotin salt. This study was conducted to observe the effects of JDS-ASB on skin appearance and health in rats chronically exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Methods Thirty-five female Sprague-Dawley rats (8-weeks old) were randomized into one of the following groups; 1: Control (no treatment), 2: UV (exposed to UV radiation with no other treatment), 3: UV + ASI + Low Dose MgB (140 mg human equivalent dose (HED) of ASI and 1.5 mg HED of MgB), 4: UV + ASI + High Dose MgB (140 mg HED of ASI and 10 mg HED of MgB), 5: UV + ASI + High Dose MgB (140 mg HED of ASI and 10 mg HED of MgB) + MgB cream (10 mg HED). Rat diets included egg whites to standardize absorbable biotin levels. Rats had a dorsal area of hair shaved throughout the study and were exposed to UV lamps five times per week. Each day rats were dosed with study product by oral gavage and/or cream two hours before UV exposure for ten weeks. Results Rats exposed to UV radiation with no other treatment showed significant signs of skin damage. Skin appearance score improved with all treatments compared to UV exposure alone (p < 0.05). This parameter improved the most in group 5 compared to all treatment groups (p < 0.05), with scores similar to control, while scores did not differ between groups 3 and 4 (Figure 1). Skin elasticity evaluation showed similar results. Inflammatory cell levels in the skin were lower and collagen content was higher in all treatment groups compared to UV exposure alone (p < 0.05). In group 5, inflammatory cells were no different than control levels, and collagen content was the highest compared to all treatment groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions Treatment with ASI and MgB strongly protects against the skin damage that results from chronic UV exposure. The addition of a 10 mg MgB cream further increases the ability of JDS-ASB to improve skin appearance, elasticity, inflammation, and overall health. Funding Sources This study was funded by JDS Therapeutics, LLC. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

The Effect of a Combination of an Arginine Silicate Complex and Magnesium Biotinate on Hair and Nail Growth in Rats (P06-026-19)

Objectives Aging, as well as inadequate intake of vitamins and minerals, can negatively affect the growth, strength, and appearance of hair and nails. For instance, biotin deficiency leads to brittle nails and hair loss. Moreover, certain nutrients, such as arginine and silicon, promote the biological conditions needed for optimal hair and nail growth. JDS-ASB is a novel combination of inositol-stabilized arginine silicate complex (ASI), a highly bioavailable form of arginine and silicon, and magnesium biotinate (MgB), a novel, well-absorbed biotin salt. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of JDS-ASB on hair and nail growth in rats. Methods Twenty-one female Sprague-Dawley rats (8-weeks old) were randomized into one of the following groups; 1: Control (no treatment), 2: ASI + Low Dose MgB (140 mg human equivalent dose (HED) of ASI and 1.5 mg HED of MgB), 3: ASI + High Dose MgB (140 mg HED of ASI and 10 mg HED of MgB). Study product was dosed daily by oral gavage for six weeks. Rat diets included egg whites to standardize absorbable biotin levels. At baseline, hair was shaved from the dorsal area of the rats and hair growth was assessed on days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42. Hair growth measurements included hair density (per square cm), and percentage of hair follicles in the anagen (growing phase) and telogen (resting phase) phases of the hair cycle. Mean nail growth was measured on days 14, 28, and 42. Blood samples were collected on day 42. Results Visual observations revealed greater hair growth in both treatment groups compared to control, however the effect was more pronounced in group 3. Compared to control, the percentage of hair follicles in the anagen phase was significantly greater in group 3 from day 14 onward (Figure 1). Compared to control, hair density was significantly greater in group 3 from day 21 onward. These parameters improved in group 2 compared to control on day 42. Blood levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, a protein associated with hair growth, were higher in both treatment groups compared to control, with levels greatest in group 3 (p < 0.05). Mean nail growth data showed faster daily growth in group 3 compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate that the combination of an arginine silicate complex and magnesium biotinate promotes hair and nail growth. Funding Sources This study was funded by JDS Therapeutics, LLC. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

Effects of basicity and CaF2 on the viscosity of CaF2–CaO–SiO2 slag for electroslag remelting process

Effects of the basicity and the CaF2 content on viscosity of CaF2–CaO–SiO2 slag with high CaF2 content for electroslag remelting process were investigated by the rotating cylinder method in the temperature ranging from 1773 to 1533 K. The relationship between the structure and the viscosity variation of the slag was also clarified by the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy of water-quenched slags. The results show that the viscosity gradually decreases with the increase in the basicity of the slag from 1 to 3 under the present experimental conditions. It is found that the CaO does not depolymerize all silicate complex anions for the slag with the basicity of 1 at 1773 K and there are still some bridging oxygens. With the increase in the basicity to 3, the silicate complex anions are almost completely depolymerized to simple ions. As the CaF2 content increases from 40 to 80 mass%, the viscosity of the slag decreases due to the dilution of CaF2 for the concentration of the silicate complex anions in unit volume of the slag. Moreover, the effect of the temperature on the viscosity is not remarkable. The activation energy of viscous flow exhibits the decrease from 40.4 to 26.7 kJ · mol−1 with the increase in the basicity from 1 to 3, and also the decrease from 66.6 to 31.0 kJ · mol−1 with the increase in the CaF2 content from 40 to 80 mass%.