DISCUSSION
Moisturizing remedy involves renovating the skin
barrier, restoring the water contents, ability to
retain and redistribute water and sustaining the
integrity and skin complexion [10]. Significant
differences in moisture values were evaluated
after application of formulation throughout the
study duration. Enhancement of skin moisture
contents after the application of formulation may
because of soy bean extract which contain
flavonoids. Soybean flavonoids enhance the skin
moisture contents due to swelling of corneocytes
on skin surface [11]. Consequently, it may be
used in moisturizing cosmetic formulations and
also as a complement in the treatment of dry
skin.
The elasticity of the skin is mainly due to the
collagen fibers which is a main constituent of the
dermis of the skin. It constitutes about 70 % of
the total dry weight of the skin. Vitamin C
stimulates the collagen production in the skin
fibroblasts and its deficiency will result in harmful effects on the skin [12]. The collagen is
vulnerable to the UV radiations of the sunlight
which causes structural changes in them
resulting in photo aging. Photo aging is due to
the oxidative effects of these radiations on the
collagen of the skin [13]. The improvement in
skin elasticity after application of formulation is
due to the presence phytoestrogens [14].
Soybean extracts was found to instigate the
synthesis of collagen and elastin, and to boost
the correct assembly of new elastin fibers,
providing a complete protection and restoration
to the dermal extracellular matrix [15]. Soybeans
extract also protected elastic fibers produced by
cultured fibroblasts from degradation by
exogenously-added elastases [16].
Skin surface is illustrated by several parameters
like smoothness (SEsm), wrinkling (SEw),
roughness (SEr) and scaliness (SEsc). Skin
surface is assessed both qualitatively and
quantitatively by the use of SELS parameters
[17]. The proportion of dark pixels is calculated
by roughness parameter SEr .A higher SEr value
reflects more roughness while a lower value SEr
represents more smoothness. SEsm is the
smoothness parameter which measures the
mean depth and width of wrinkles. SEsc shows
the level of dryness of the skin. Stratum corneum
dehydration is evaluated by SEsc. The smaller
value of SEsc indicates more hydration level with
less scaliness [18]. The width and number of skin
wrinkles are assessed by SEw which is
evaluated by proportion of vertical and horizontal
wrinkles. A higher value of SEw proves more
and wider wrinkles [17]. It was observed that
active formulation showed a consistent decrease
in values of smoothness, scaliness, roughness
and wrinkles.
The decrease in the average values of skin
smoothness in contrast to skin roughness
represents that formulation acquires the
antiaging effects. Lower value of SEsc
designates that there was high skin moisture
content. This indicates that formulation has the
capability to increase the skin moisture. The
smaller values of SEw shown by the extract
formulation represent a reduction in fine wrinkles
due to the enhancement of skin complexion by
stimulation of elastin and collagen synthesis and
promotion of production of crosslinked, stable
elastin fibers by soybean extract. Augmentation
of skin surface parameters can be ascribed to
the presence of a rich content of antioxidant
flavonoids, known as genistein and daidzein, in
soybeans. These substances have been
classified as phytoestrogens, since they are plant
derivatives with chemical structure similar to
human estrogen. Topical estrogens have been
shown to function as antiaging cosmeceuticals
by increasing skin thickness, promoting the
collagen synthesis and prevention of skin from
oxidative damage and photoaging [18].
CONCLUSION
The findings indicate that topical application of
cosmetic water-in-oil emulsion incorporating 4 %
soybean extract exerts potential antiaging
effects. Furthermore, the formulation has no
detrimental effects and thus can be used safely.
It is also a suitable alternative to most
commercial formulations that utilize synthetic
bases. The non-invasive technique used in this
study is a suitable approach for the evaluation of
antiaging properties of skin topical agents.