Biological and therapeutic effects of ortho-silicic acid and some ortho-silicic acid-releasing compounds: New perspectives for therapy

Abstract

Silicon (Si) is the most abundant element present in the Earth's crust besides oxygen. However, the exact biological roles of silicon remain unknown. Moreover, the ortho-silicic acid (H4SiO4), as a major form of bioavailable silicon for both humans and animals, has not been given adequate attention so far. Silicon has already been associated with bone mineralization, collagen synthesis, skin, hair and nails health atherosclerosis, Alzheimer disease, immune system enhancement, and with some other disorders or pharmacological effects. Beside the ortho-silicic acid and its stabilized formulations such as choline chloride-stabilized ortho-silicic acid and sodium or potassium silicates (e.g. M2SiO3; M= Na,K), the most important sources that release ortho-silicic acid as a bioavailable form of silicon are: colloidal silicic acid (hydrated silica gel), silica gel (amorphous silicon dioxide), and zeolites. Although all these compounds are characterized by substantial water insolubility, they release small, but significant, equilibrium concentration of ortho-silicic acid (H4SiO4) in contact with water and physiological fluids. Even though certain pharmacological effects of these compounds might be attributed to specific structural characteristics that result in profound adsorption and absorption properties, they all exhibit similar pharmacological profiles readily comparable to ortho-silicic acid effects. The most unusual ortho-silicic acid-releasing agents are certain types of zeolites, a class of aluminosilicates with well described ion(cation)-exchange properties. Numerous biological activities of some types of zeolites documented so far might probably be attributable to the ortho-silicic acid-releasing property. In this review, we therefore discuss biological and potential therapeutic effects of ortho-silicic acid and ortho-silicic acid -releasing silicon compounds as its major natural sources.

Anti-Aging Effects of Monomethylsilanetriol and Maltodextrin-Stabilized Orthosilicic Acid on Nails, Skin and Hair

“…In addition, this element is present in tissues of all living organisms. In particular, its higher concentrations in the human body can be found in the skin, as well as mucous membranes and connective tissues [4].…”

“…Si occurs naturally mainly as silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) or as silicic acids derived from the hydration of this oxide, while orthosilicic acid [Si(OH) 4 ] is the simplest and the major chemical form of water soluble Si (and it is found mainly in beverages) [13]. In addition, the presence of the orthosilicic acid is known as the biological form of silicon in humans and animals and plays a major role in the release of silicon into living cells [2,4,[14][15][16].…”

Rice bran mineral extract increases the expression of anagen-related molecules in human dermal papilla through wnt/catenin pathway

“…it is known for a number of crucial chemical and physical properties, e.g. as a semiconductor [12]. Most silicone compounds are water-insoluble, causing cytotoxicity in vivo .…”

“…Most silicone compounds are water-insoluble, causing cytotoxicity in vivo . However, the silicic acid anhydride of monomeric ortho-silicic acid (H 4 SiO 4 , OSA) is water-soluble and stable in highly diluted aqueous solutions [12]. Moreover, it has low toxicity compared to insoluble silicic acid.…”

“…Moreover, it has low toxicity compared to insoluble silicic acid. Oral intake of choline-stabilized OSA (ch-OSA), a bioavailable form of Si, was found to have a significant positive effect on brittleness of hair and nails and on hair morphology and tensile strengths [12]. Also, Grotheer et al showed that OSA had anti-inflammatory properties and aided chronic wound recovery [11].…”