Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of soy extract biotransformed in cell culture of fibroblasts

• Grant number: 12/23271-7
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy
• Principal researcher: Maria Regina Torqueti
• Grantee: Caroline Inácio Bianchi
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The socio-economic development of many countries has provided an increase in life expectancy of the world population, especially for postmenopausal women. After the onset of menopause, women have different body and behavioral manifestations, among them, skin changes that affect the quality of life for them.The literature points that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) decreases the appearance of deep wrinkles and increase skin thickness. However two large studies (HERS and WHI) warned of adverse effects: the increased incidence of breast cancer and endometrial cancer and thromboembolic diseases.Searching for alternatives to HRT therapies, the studies show the effects of phytoestrogens (AGs), because their potential estrogenic effect and are structurally similar to mammalian estrogens and their metabolites. Among the FEs, isoflavones extracted of soybean demonstrate increasing the thickness of dermis, epidermis and the collagen content of the skin after oral administration. In the laboratory of Control Quality of drugs and cosmetics of this instituition, under the responsibility of the Professor. Dr. Maria José Vieira Fonseca, was produced a preparation of soybean biotransformed by Aspergillus awamori, which in preliminary results showed antitumor activity and inducing the formation of osteoblastos, parameters relevant to the stage of menopause. In this scenario has suggested the hypothesis that this preparation of soy biotransformed could promote estrogenic effects on the skin. However, to facilitate the study of this hypothesis, will require preliminary tests, which can show the cytotoxic activity of this soymilk biotransformed in cultured fibroblast cells. Thus, this project aims to assess the cytotoxic activity of this soy extract on two models of fibroblast cell culture, which will compare the results obtained in the study models evaluated.