Affiliations: Unité de recherche, Pathologies Humaines et stress
oxydatif, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Sfax, Tunisia | Service de Dermatologie, Centre
Hospitalo-Universitaire, Hedi Chaker, Sfax, Tunisia | Unité d'Analyses Alimentaires, Département de
biologie, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax, Tunisia
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Ines Dammak, Institut supérieur
de biotechnologie de Sfax, Route sokra km 4.5. BP 261, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia.
Tel.: +216 74 67 43 54; Fax: +216 74 67 43 64; E-mail: inesdammak@yahoo.fr
Abstract: The skin is chronically exposed to pro-oxidant agents, leading to
the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To protect the skin against an
over-load of oxidant species, we studied the chemoprotective effect of one new
natural product: "date seed oil: DSO". This oil may serve as a potential
source of natural antioxidants such as phenols and tocopherols. Here, the
antioxidative potential of DSO was compared that of to extra virgin olive oil.
Adult human skin was maintained in organ culture in the presence of the DSO and
extra virgin olive oil before the addition of hydrogen peroxide
(H_{2}O_{2}), in order to prevent the
tissue from its oxidizing effects. Skin specimens were collected for histology
and for melanin studies. In the investigated model system, DSO protects skin
against oxidative injuries. It has a significant chemoprotective effect, by
inhibition of damage caused by H_{2}O_{2}
compared with specimens without such addition endowing with a radical
scavenging ability. The various components from DSO were much more potent
antioxidant and more free radical scavengers of the
H_{2}O_{2} than those of olive oil. Our
study shows that topical DSO treatment of the skin stimulates events in the
epidermis leading to repair skin damage possibly due to antioxidant
synergisms.
Keywords: Date seed oil, organ culture, human skin, oxidative stress
Journal: BioFactors, vol. 29, no. 2-3, pp. 137-145, 2007
