A citrus polymethoxy flavonoid, nobiletin inhibits sebum production and sebocyte proliferation, and augments sebum excretion in hamsters.
Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2007 December;127(12):2740-8.
Acne is an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the follicle and is characterized by excess sebum production. There are only a few drugs, such as all-trans retinoic acid and 13-cis retinoic acid that suppress acne lipogenesis (the process by which glucose is converted to fatty acids, which are subsequently esterified to glycerol to form the triacylglycerols) and can be used for acne treatment. Sat et al investigated the effect of the citrus flavonoid nobiletin on triacylglycerols level, the size of sebaceous glands, inhibition of diacylglycerol acyltransferase-dependent triacylglycerol synthesis and sebocyte proliferation on the skin of hamsters. They found that the inhibitory actions of nobiletin was similar to that of the acne drugs 13-cis retinoic acid and all-trans retinoic acid. They also studied the effect of nobiletin on hamsters irradiated with UVB, which normally leads to extra sebum secretion and enlargement of the glands. They found that nobiletin also exerted on these hamster antilipogenic and antiproliferative actions. The study concluded that nobiletin is a potential candidate for acne treatment.
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