34 Aesthetic Dermatology S KIN & ALLERGY N EWS • September 2008

C OSMECEUTICAL C RITIQUE Angelica: Part II

esides Angelica sinensis, discussed ed inhibitory effects, including reduced cy- tory effects related to the inhibition of effects (Planta Med. 1995;61:2-8). One of last month, other species of Angeli- totoxicity, on Epstein-Barr virus activa- human neutrophil functions and of nitric the main active components isolated from Bca have been studied for their med- tion induced by the tumor promoter TPA. oxide and prostaglandin E2 production A. pubescens, osthole, a coumarin com- icinal potential, and, gradually, these The authors reported that a subsequent in (Immunopharmacol. Immunotoxicol. pound, has also been shown to exert a non- species have been introduced into topical vivo study in mice showed that shi-un-kou 2004;26:53-73). specific relaxant effect on the trachea of formulations. significantly inhibited skin tumor forma- In a study of the anti-inflammatory ac- guinea pigs (Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch. tion induced by TPA (Yakugaku Zasshi tivity of a new formulation containing Pharmacol. 1994;349:202-8). Antitumor Activity 1989;109:843-6). Synurus deltoides and A. gigas extracts, In a 2005 study, mice with highly metasta- In other research, investigators isolated along with glucosamine sulfate, the med- At the Store tic drug-resistant tumors were used to the coumarin compound decursin from ication (SAG) dose dependently inhibited Zestra Feminine Arousal Fluid (Zestra test the effects of various Korean angelica (A. gigantis, ear edema in mice induced by arachidon- Laboratories Inc.) is a topical botanical for- herbal compounds on tumor also known as A. gigas) root. ic acid and TPA. Prostaglandin E2 pro- mulation containing A. archangelica along growth and metastasis. Al- They observed that decursin duction associated with mouse skin lesions with borage seed oil, evening primrose oil, though the focus of the treatment for 24-96 hours was also significantly reduced by SAG, as ascorbyl palmitate, and alpha tocopherol. study was stilbene com- strongly inhibited growth and well as by treatment with S. deltoides ex- The product is intended to enhance female pounds, investigators found dose-dependently induced tract alone. The authors acknowledged sexual pleasure and arousal. that two chalcone deriva- apoptosis in human prostate that although SAG is not as potent as anti- Investigators conducted a randomized, tives from Angelica keiskei carcinoma cells (Urol. Oncol. inflammatory products in widespread use, double-blind, crossover study to assess the roots inhibited tumor 2005;23:379-80). this A. gigas–containing preparation has efficacy and safety of Zestra in 10 women growth and metastasis. The In addition, another Angel- potential benefits as a neutraceutical ther- with and 10 women without female sexu- chalcone derivatives worked ica species, A. archangelica, apy for inflammatory conditions (Arch. al arousal disorder. Using questionnaires, by suppressing tumor-in- exhibits antitumorigenic Pharm. Res. 2005;28:848-53). participants reported on a range of sexu- BY LESLIE S. duced neovascularization BAUMANN, M.D. properties. Investigators A study of herbs used in traditional al functions pertaining to home use of the and/or reducing the im- evaluated the in vitro and in Chinese and Japanese medicine to treat formulation. The results indicated statis- mune suppression brought vivo effects of A. archangeli- acne revealed that the ethanol extract tically significant overall improvements in on by tumors (In Vivo 2005;19:37-60). ca leaf extract on the growth of Crl mouse (0.01%) of Angelica dahurica substantially sexual function in both test groups, com- Chalcone extracts of A. keiskei root, also breast cancer cells. In vitro, the extract was inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis, at a lev- pared with placebo (J. Sex Marital Ther. known as ashitaba, which is consumed as found to be mildly antiproliferative. In el comparable to that of erythromycin 2003;29 [Suppl 1]:33-44). a vegetable in Japan, also exhibited antitu- the in vivo segment of the study, 11 of 20 (0.01%). In the same study, Rhizoma cop- morigenic activity in the two-phase mouse mice were injected with A. archangelica leaf tidis displayed a stronger antilipogenic ef- Conclusions skin cancer model, in which carcinogene- extract, and 9 of them developed no or fect than did retinoic acid (0.01%), and Gly- A wide range of Angelica species possess sis is induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]an- small tumors, whereas control mice de- cyrrhiza glabra (licorice) showed significant properties found to be of medical, in- thracene (DMBA) and promoted by 12-O- veloped tumors that were significantly antibacterial activity against P. acnes. These cluding dermatologic, benefit. In addition tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) larger. The antitumor properties of A. results led the researchers to conclude to A. sinensis (discussed in this column in (Planta Med. 1991;57:242-6). archangelica extract could not be attributed that a formulation containing all three August), A. archangelica, A. dahurica, and A. In another study, xanthoangelol, a ma- to the antiproliferative characteristics of herbs would have potential in the preven- gigas have been used successfully in tradi- jor chalcone constituent of A. keiskei, was the furanocoumarins in the extract (In tion and treatment of acne (Skin Phar- tional herbal medicines, and research is on- found to dose-dependently decrease the Vivo 2005;19:191-4). macol. Appl. Skin Physiol. 2003;16:84-90). going on these and other species, includ- survival rates of human neuroblastoma Significant antiproliferative activity has A. dahurica, which also contains lactones ing A. keiskei, A. pubescens, and A. acutiloba. (IMR-32) and leukemia (Jurkat) cell lines. also been identified in the tincture of A. and psoralen, and has been used tradi- While the overall body of research is slim The findings indicated that the angelica archangelica, using the human pancreas tionally to treat psoriasis and for its re- on the efficacy of these herbs, the extant ev- component induced apoptosis by activat- cancer cell line PANC-1 as a model. In- puted antihistamine effects. idence supports further investigation and ing caspase-3 in neuroblastoma and vestigators ascribed most of the antipro- In a study evaluating extracts from 15 provides reasons for optimism. In the leukemia cells without involving Bax/Bcl- liferative activity to imperatorin and xan- plants used in traditional Chinese medicine meantime, as is typical in the case of myr- 2 proteins. The investigators concluded thotoxin, the two furanocoumarins most to treat topical inflammations, investigators iad botanic ingredients, there are several un- that xanthoangelol has potential as an prevalent in the A. archangelica tincture (Z. focused on the inhibitory effects on en- proven formulations available to consumers agent against these cancers (Biol. Pharm. Naturforsch. [C] 2004;59:523-7). zymes that are therapeutic targets in cuta- that contain botanical cocktails including Bull. 2005;28:1404-7). neous conditions, specifically 5-lipoxyge- the biologically active Angelica species. ■ Other Angelica species besides keiskei Dermatologic Potential nase, cyclooxygenase, and elastase. Four and sinensis have shown antitumorigenic In addition to antitumorigenic activity, plant species, including A. dahurica and A. DR. BAUMANN is director of cosmetic activity. Constituents of the Japanese drug several Angelica species have exhibited pubescens, inhibited elastase in intact leuko- dermatology at the University of Miami. To shi-un-kou, which contains A. acutiloba, properties pertinent to clinical derma- cytes and platelets (J. Pharm. Pharmacol. respond to this column, or to suggest topics have been evaluated in assays. A. acutiloba tology. Hwaotang, a traditional Korean 2003;55:1275-82; Planta Med. 1998;64:525- for future columns, write to Dr. Baumann at alone and in combination with another formulation that combines seven herbs, 9). In addition, A. pubescens has been found our editorial offices via e-mail at constituent, Macrotomia euchroma, exhibit- including A. gigas, exerts anti-inflamma- to confer analgesic and anti-inflammatory [email protected]. Experience May Be Dispelling the ‘Old Wives’ Tales of Botox

BY BETSY BATES Ǡ Botox is deadly. Among 28 vere cervical dystonia, which can bruising may need time to heal. after Botox injections. These pre- Los Angeles Bureau deaths reported to the Food and lead to spread of the toxin to the Ǡ Avoid freezing. The refrigera- cautions are “just old wives’ Drug Administration from De- esophagus, prompting dysphagia tor is the place for Botox, but Dr. tales—such ridiculous stuff,” said S ANTA M ONICA, CALIF. — cember 1989 to May 2003, none or aspiration pneumonia. Richard Glogau, a dermatologist Dr. Goldman. In the early days of cosmetic bot- involved cosmetic use of Botox (J. Ǡ Book prewedding Botox ses- in San Francisco, may have Dr. Wirtzer has served as a con- ulinum toxin type A therapy, ru- Am. Acad. Dermatol. 2005;53: sions on Friday afternoons. Dis- chipped away at the myth that sultant for Medicis, distributor of mors greatly outnumbered scien- 407-15). Indeed, of 16 deaths re- appointed brides and furious freezing “will degrade the mole- Reloxin (botulinum toxin type A, tific facts about its safety, storage, cently highlighted by citizens’ mothers-in-law will blame you cule,” when Botox that was frozen not approved in the United and storied effect on furrowed groups, all involved serious disor- for the wedding pictures if you by mistake worked just fine on his States). Dr. Goldman has received brows and deep crow’s feet. ders treated with huge volumes of schedule cosmetic procedures patients, Dr. Goldman said. grant support from, and served as The faculty at a recent cos- Botox, said Dr. Allan Wirtzer, a too close to the ceremony, said Ǡ Save the paralysis for the a consultant and speaker for, Al- metic dermatology seminar dermatologist in private practice Dr. Mitchell Goldman, a derma- muscles. There was a day when lergan Inc., maker of Botox. sponsored by Skin Disease Edu- in Sherman Oaks, Calif. tologist in private practice in La patients were told to sit perfect- SDEF and this news organiza- cation Foundation helped to put Among the potentially deadly Jolla, Calif. Botox’s full effect ly upright, avoid exercise, and tion are wholly owned sub- some of these myths to rest. uses of Botox is treatment of se- takes 5-6 days, and unexpected cancel air travel plans for hours sidiaries of Elsevier. ■