A sensitive fluorescent DNA hydrogel aptasensor based on the self-assembly of rolling circle amplification (RCA) products was developed for ochratoxin A (OTA) detection in beer. A competitive binding mode of aptamer, complementary sequence, and target was integrated into the DNA hydrogel for OTA detection. The OTA aptamer first combined with the primer to form the hybridized product. Then, in the presence of OTA, the aptamer combined with OTA, which released the primer. The released primer hybridized with the padlock probe to form a circular template, and the RCA reaction was initiated by adding ligase, polymerase, and dNTPs. The fluorescent DNA hydrogel was obtained by adding Cy3-dUTP together with dNTPs, and the fluorescence (FL) intensity of the DNA hydrogel was positively correlated with OTA concentration. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the linear range of the relationship varied from 0.05 ng/mL to 100 ng/mL with a detection limit for OTA of 0.01 ng/mL. The fluorescent DNA hydrogel aptasensor showed good specificity and stability in beer samples. Therefore, the fabricated DNA hydrogel aptasensor shows considerable potential applications in detecting OTA for food safety.

Madecassoside is a major pentacyclic triterpene saponin from Centella asiatica with multiple pharmaceutical activities. In this study, we focused on its Propionibacterium acnes related anti-inflammation and skin hydration activities, both of which play important roles in skin homeostasis and barrier function. Madecassoside significantly inhibited the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, TLR2 and nuclear translocation of NF-κB in P. acnes stimulated THP-1 human monocytic cells. In addition, madecasssoside exhibited significant effects on enhancement of skin hydration through increasing the key moisturizing contributors of aquaporin-3, loricrin and involucrin in HaCaT keratinocytes as well as hyaluronan (HA) secretion in human dermal fibroblasts. The upregulation of HA synthases (HAS1, HAS2, HAS3) and inhibition to ROS formation accounted for the increment of HA content. Together, the in vitro study implied the potential medical and cosmetic application of madecassoside in skin protection.

Aged skin, featured with dryness and wrinkles, has received mounting attention due to its adverse influences on beauty. β-Sitosterol and vermicularin are two common active ingredients of Thamnolia vermicularis (Sw.) Ach., a traditional Chinese medicine, of which the anti-aging effect has been discovered. Their protective performance against skin aging was assayed by co-culturing with skin cells in this work. Results showed that β-sitosterol promoted the biosynthesis of hyaluronic acid by increasing the expression of hyaluronic acid synthases in fibroblasts and enhanced the expression of skin barrier functional proteins including aquaporin 3, loricrin, filaggrin and involucrin in keratinocytes, which conduced to the moisture retention within skin. Moreover, vermicularin might function as an anti-wrinkle agent by preventing the loss of collagen type I. Specifically, vermicularin reduced the amount of reactive oxygen species within hydrogen-peroxide-induced fibroblasts; together with suppressing the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, it could inhibit the production of matrix metalloproteinases-1. The present research will contribute to the development of the compounds as anti-aging ingredients for future applications in cosmetic formulations and functional food as well as promote further studies of raw materials containing alike compounds.