β-glucans derived from mushroom Coriolus versicolor for applications on skin wound healing

The beneficial effects of natural compounds in cosmeceutical and biopharmaceutic fields have been extensively studied over the years, and gained popularity because of their distinct advantages, including fewer side effects, better tolerance, and relatively low expenses. Currently, with the growing demand for the use of nature-derived molecules, the research aiming for new biomolecules has increased. Beta-glucans have proved their pluripotent bioactivity (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, regenerative effects, immunomodulation, healing properties) in skin cells. These properties are dependent on several aspects, such as the source, molecular weight, solubility, degree of branching, charge of polymers, and structure in aqueous media. The versatility of these molecules makes them a challenge for the studies of structure–activity relationships, once each different compound (with a unique structure) will show different biological activity. Regarding the high levels of environmental and endogenous stresses that the skin is exposed leading to premature aging and chronic inflammation, this ongoing work aims to explore the ability of b-glucans extracted from C. versicolor to act as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecules in the skin and to eventually promote wound healing and tissue cicatrization. Therefore, assays exploring cytotoxic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of different b-glucans in keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human fibroblast (HFF) cell lines were performed. The effects of b-glucans on angiogenesis were assessed by the migration (wound healing activity) and the tube formation assay (differentiation and vascular formation) using cell models of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and mouse macrophage cells (RAW 264.7). Lastly, two well-known ECM components, hyaluronic acid, and collagen were evaluated to understand the effects of b-glucans in the production of these components in a human fibroblast cell line (HFF).