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of β-glucan in the rats and findings were found effective against burn-induced oxidative tissue damage (Toklu et al. 2006). In another study, wound-healing effects of
the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) membranes containing β-glucan has been investigated, the results revealed that the membranes accelerated wound healing by
improving the interaction, proliferation of cells, and angiogenesis. Therefore, these
membranes can be useful as a skin substitute for improving wound healing (Kim
et al. 2012). Furthermore, Sakurai et al. (2001) reported that curdlan sulfates with
DS from 1.7 to 8.7 mol% could form complexes with polycytidylic acid and the
complex polynucleotide chain showed a significant resistance against enzymatic
hydrolysis. It has been demonstrated that these water-soluble sulfated curdlannucleotide complexes could find application in gene technology in medicine.
Applications in Cosmetics
β-glucans have increasingly being used as essential ingredient in cosmetics and
drugs produced by industries for the manufacturing of products such as facial
creams and antiaging lotions, gels, makeup, and hair care products, in addition to
those applied for the treatment of acne, cellulitis, dermatitis, and minor burns.
β-glucans usage as an active ingredient has been expanded in the manufacturing
of these and other cosmetic products and is associated with numerous advantages
that these biopolymers manifest on the skin. The β-glucans have a high ability to
regenerate cells that produce collagen and immune cells, have high antioxidant
potential, high capacity for hydration and skin penetration, and healing power of
wounds and burns, besides increased collagen synthesis that confers protection
against ultraviolet radiation (Kagimura et al. 2015; Zhu et al. 2016; Du et al. 2014).
Some β-glucans have also been demonstrated to possess antinociceptive (pain
reduction) activity (Moreno et al. 2016), and this property can also be exploited in
cosmetic creams and products applied to inflamed and healing wounds, bruises,
insect bites, and hematomas, among others. Additionally, healing effect has also
been observed in glucan-based ointments or lotions for the treatment of eczema,
psoriasis and other dermatitis ailments owing to their film forming capacity over the
injured area, which improves hydration, wound healing ability, and protection of
the site against external agents (Zhu et al. 2016).
Pillai et al. (2005) clinically evaluated efficacy of oat β-glucan in human skin
models for reducing fine-lines and wrinkles and observed that β-glucan can deeply
penetrated the skin into the epidermis and dermis. The research supports the use of
β-glucan in the care and maintenance of healthy skin and the cosmetic treatment of
the signs of aging. It has been shown that scleroglucan polysaccharide at a low
concentration is useful in the field of skin and dermatological applications, thus, the
glucan composition revealed beneficial effects including moisturization of skin or
mucosa, and has an anti-aging and revitalizing effect on the skin (Baschong et al.
2009). Mushroom glucan has found greater moisture retention and has xerophthalmia
Beta-Glucans
of β-glucan in the rats and findings were found effective against burn-induced oxidative tissue damage (Toklu et al. 2006). In another study, wound-healing effects of
the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) membranes containing β-glucan has been investigated, the results revealed that the membranes accelerated wound healing by
improving the interaction, proliferation of cells, and angiogenesis. Therefore, these
membranes can be useful as a skin substitute for improving wound healing (Kim
et al. 2012). Furthermore, Sakurai et al. (2001) reported that curdlan sulfates with
DS from 1.7 to 8.7 mol% could form complexes with polycytidylic acid and the
complex polynucleotide chain showed a significant resistance against enzymatic
hydrolysis. It has been demonstrated that these water-soluble sulfated curdlannucleotide complexes could find application in gene technology in medicine.
Applications in Cosmetics
β-glucans have increasingly being used as essential ingredient in cosmetics and
drugs produced by industries for the manufacturing of products such as facial
creams and antiaging lotions, gels, makeup, and hair care products, in addition to
those applied for the treatment of acne, cellulitis, dermatitis, and minor burns.
β-glucans usage as an active ingredient has been expanded in the manufacturing
of these and other cosmetic products and is associated with numerous advantages
that these biopolymers manifest on the skin. The β-glucans have a high ability to
regenerate cells that produce collagen and immune cells, have high antioxidant
potential, high capacity for hydration and skin penetration, and healing power of
wounds and burns, besides increased collagen synthesis that confers protection
against ultraviolet radiation (Kagimura et al. 2015; Zhu et al. 2016; Du et al. 2014).
Some β-glucans have also been demonstrated to possess antinociceptive (pain
reduction) activity (Moreno et al. 2016), and this property can also be exploited in
cosmetic creams and products applied to inflamed and healing wounds, bruises,
insect bites, and hematomas, among others. Additionally, healing effect has also
been observed in glucan-based ointments or lotions for the treatment of eczema,
psoriasis and other dermatitis ailments owing to their film forming capacity over the
injured area, which improves hydration, wound healing ability, and protection of
the site against external agents (Zhu et al. 2016).
Pillai et al. (2005) clinically evaluated efficacy of oat β-glucan in human skin
models for reducing fine-lines and wrinkles and observed that β-glucan can deeply
penetrated the skin into the epidermis and dermis. The research supports the use of
β-glucan in the care and maintenance of healthy skin and the cosmetic treatment of
the signs of aging. It has been shown that scleroglucan polysaccharide at a low
concentration is useful in the field of skin and dermatological applications, thus, the
glucan composition revealed beneficial effects including moisturization of skin or
mucosa, and has an anti-aging and revitalizing effect on the skin (Baschong et al.
2009). Mushroom glucan has found greater moisture retention and has xerophthalmia
Beta-Glucans