How do the phenolic compounds in EVOO protect skin health and prevent aging?
A recent study published in Nutrients Journal evaluated the effects of phenolic compounds in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) on the proliferation, cell cycle, migration, and antigenic profile of human fibroblasts.
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is composed primarily of triacylglycerols, fatty acids, and mono- and diacylglycerols; in fact, it contains more than 230 minor compounds that represent only 2% of its weight. Specifically, more than 30 different types of phenols are present in olive oil, with tyrosol (tyr), hydroxytyrosol (htyr), and oleocanthal (ole) being the most concentrated.
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In this regard, several studies have reported the beneficial effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) , but there is limited information on the effects of EVOO polyphenols on tissue regeneration. In the present study, researchers evaluated the effects of EVOO tyr, ole, and htyr on the antigenic profile, migration, proliferation, and cell cycle of cultured human fibroblasts.
Reference standards of tyr, htyr, and ole were acquired, as well as the human fibroblast cell line, CCD-1064Sk. Cell proliferation was tested using the MTT assay, measuring the reduction of MTT to formazan by mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase.
Fibroblasts were seeded in estrogen-free medium and cultured for 24 hours (h) under standard conditions. The medium was then replaced with one containing one of the phenolic compounds at varying doses. The control group consisted of untreated cells, and the team plotted concentration-response curves and calculated effective concentration values at half the maximum.
The effect of phenolic compounds on fibroblast migration was investigated using a culture insertion assay, measuring the cell's ability to migrate into cell-free spaces/gaps. Flow cytometry was used to study the effects of phenolic compounds on the cell cycle.
The cells were labeled with fibronectin and α-actin-specific monoclonal antibodies after 24 hours of treatment with phenolic compounds. The cells were analyzed to determine their antigenic profile.
Extra virgin olive oil on the skin: Can phenolic compounds really protect us?
The phenolic compounds in EVOO significantly increased fibroblast proliferation, migration, and the expression of key markers in wound healing (α-actin and fibronectin) without cell cycle alterations.
These findings provide insights into the processes that occur during the proliferation phase of wound healing, when fibroblast proliferation and migration are elevated. Indeed, angiogenesis is crucial for effective wound healing, and fibronectin can modulate the formation of new blood vessels.
This healing phase also involves wound contraction, in which myofibroblasts, believed to originate from resident fibroblasts, are essential. The increase in α-actin could indicate differentiation into myofibroblasts, promoting tissue regeneration.
The findings are promising regarding the effects of polyphenols on soft tissue regeneration. However, the researchers only studied one cell type in the skin, which also contains other important cell populations.
Above all, the study provided valuable information on the effects of polyphenols on fibroblasts, and further research is needed to uncover the underlying mechanisms in order to develop therapies for wound treatment.
