Introduction: Pearl powder has been known for more than 2000 years, including as a remedy in traditional Chinese medicine. Nowadays, pearl powder raises serious scientific interest due to its unique characteristics and properties. The main natural sources include shells and pearls of mussels, oysters and molluscs.
Aim: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the literature referred in the last 10 years in MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus and Web of Science-referred literature data bases.
Materials and Methods: Abstracts and full text publications on the topic were reviewed.
Results: Pearl powder is considered an active substance with numerous actions, including moisturizing, whitening, anticonvulsive, antioxidant, sedative, antiosteoporotic and osteogenic effects. It stimulates regeneration and wound healing and is shown to have anti-aging properties. In addition, pearl powder modifications via nanotechnology demonstrate considerable changes in absorption and bioavailability.
Conclusion: Pearl powder application is an innovation in both medicine and dermatocosmetics. Combined with nanotechnology it can become even more effective.
Anticonvulsant and sedative-hypnotic activity screening of pearl and nacre (mother of pearl)
3D scaffold of PLLA/pearl and PLLA/nacre powder for bone regeneration
Huang S., “The effect of pearl on children with mental disabilities”, Journal of Chinese Herbal Medicine 1976, 8:22
Jian Wang, Dehui Hou: “The effect of pearl on free radical content and fruit fly’s life span.” Acta Academia Medicine Suzhou17 (2): 218, 1997
Jian Wang, Dehui Hou: “The effects of Pearl on animal’s immunity, learning and memory.” Acta Academiae Medicinal Suzhou17 (2): 216, 1997
Wanfu Li, “The clinical study of using pearl formula to treat chronic skin ulcer”, Gansu Chinese Medicine Journal, 8(2): 10,1997
Jianxin Pan, Zhenlun Gu, Zengnian Qian, Yajun Wang: “Study of the effects of pearl on central nervous system.” ChineseTraditional Medicine 21(11): 596, 1999
Yi-Chen Li, Chi-Ruei Chen & Tai-Horng Young (2013) Pearl extract enhances the migratory ability of fibroblasts in a wound healing model, Pharmaceutical Biology, 51:3, 289-297
Cao G, Xu Z, Wei H, Yao S, Liu Y. “Pearl in health-care” Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1996 Oct; 21(10):635-8 inside backcover
Preparation and properties of pearl powder/ polypropylene composites and their biocompatibility
Calcium Bioavailability of Nanonized Pearl Powder for Adults
