Table 3.

Changes in PCA and UCA contents by phytoceramide treatment of human forearm skin

Treatment	None	C18-ceramide NP	Phytocera-H	Phytocera-SB	Phytocera-Mix
PCA content (μM/mL)	164.7 ± 12.5	166.0 ± 13.1	176.1 ± 13.0*	174.9 ± 11.5*	179.5 ± 12.6*
UCA content (μM/mL)	54.7 ± 6.0	56.4 ± 3.0	58.3 ± 8.2	59.0 ± 2.6	59.7 ± 10.7

Notes: An increase in the quantity of PCA and UCA contents was noted through topically treated phytocera-H, phytocera-SB, and phytocera-Mix. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM.

^*p < 0.05.

Abbreviations: PCA, 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid; UCA, urocanic acid; NP, N-stearoyl phytosphingosine; phytocera-H, horse fat oil-derived ceramide; phytocera-SB, shea butter-derived ceramide; phytocera-Mix, macadamia nut, shea butter, moringa, and meadowfoam seed oil-derived ceramide; SEM, standard error of the mean.