Rose Petal Extract (Rosa gallica) Exerts Skin Whitening and Anti-Skin Wrinkle Effects.

We sought to investigate the effect of extracts from Rosa gallica petals (RPE) on skin whitening and anti-wrinkle activity. Tyrosinase activity was attenuated by RPE treatment, concomitant with the reduction of melanin accumulation in human B16F10 melanoma. Treatment of the facial skin of volunteers in a clinical trial with an RPE-containing formulation enhanced skin brightness (L* value) significantly. The underlying mechanism responsible was determined to be associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. In addition, RPE exhibited anti-wrinkle formation activity of human dermal fibroblasts by suppressing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 level. In vivo study, RPE also inhibited solar ultraviolet-stimulated MMP-1 level by c-Jun regulation. Overall, our findings indicate that RPE evokes skin whitening and anti-wrinkle formation activity by regulating intracellular signaling, supporting its utility as an ingredient for skin whitening and anti-wrinkle cosmetic products.

Discrimination of Structural and Immunological Features of Polysaccharides from Persimmon Leaves at Different Maturity Stages.

In this study, we investigated changes in the structural and immunological features of polysaccharides (S1-PLE0, S2-PLE0, and S3-PLE0) extracted from persimmon leaves at three different growth stages. Physicochemical analyses revealed that their chemical compositions, molecular weight distributions, and linkage types differed. High-performance size-exclusion chromatograms showed that the molecular weights of the polysaccharides increased during successive growth stages. In addition, seasonal variation of persimmon leaves affected the sugar compositions and glycosidic linkages in the polysaccharides. S2-PLE0 was composed of comparatively more galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, xylose, and galacturonic acid, showing the presence of ß-glucopyranoside linkages. Significant differences also occurred in their immunostimulatory effects on RAW264.7 macrophages, with respect to which their activities could be ordered as S2-PLE0 > S3-PLE0 > S1-PLE0. Evidently, S2-PLE0 showed the greatest immunostimulatory activity by enhancing the phagocytic capacity and promoting nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines secretion through the upregulation of their gene expression in macrophages. These results suggest that differences in the structural features of polysaccharides according to the different maturity of persimmon leaves might impact their immunostimulatory properties. The results also provide a basis for optimizing persimmon leaf cultivation strategies for food and medical uses of the polysaccharides.

The Effect of Pectinase-Assisted Extraction on the Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Polysaccharides from Aster scaber.

The edible and medicinal perennial herb Aster scaber is known to have anticancer, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. However, the biological effects of its polysaccharides are not well understood. Here, we aimed to extract novel polysaccharides with enhanced biological properties from Aster scaber using enzyme-assisted methods. Amylase, cellulase, and pectinase were used to extract enzyme-assisted polysaccharide (ASEP)-A, ASEP-C, and ASEP-P, respectively. The yields, physicochemical properties, and immunostimulatory activities of the polysaccharides were investigated and compared with those of hot water extracted polysaccharide (ASWP). The highest yield (3.8%) was achieved for ASEP-P extracted using pectinase digestion. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and chemical composition analysis revealed that ASWP and three ASEPs were typical acidic heteropolysaccharides, mainly comprising rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, and galacturonic acid. Immunostimulatory activity assays on RAW264.7 macrophages showed ASEP-P to have the greatest immunostimulatory potential in terms of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine productions and phagocytic activity. ASEP-P administration improved immune-enhancing effects in normal mice by improving the spleen index and splenic lymphocyte proliferation, and in immunosuppressed mice by modulating lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and leukocyte counts. The ASEP-P derived from pectinase hydrolysate of Aster scaber demonstrated efficacious immunostimulatory properties and has potential applications as an immune stimulator.

Inhibitory Effect of Opuntia humifusa Fruit Water Extract on Solar Ultraviolet-Induced MMP-1 Expression.

Opuntia humifusa is a type of cactus whose fruits have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of several diseases. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether O. humifusa fruit water extract (OHE) has inhibitory effects against solar ultraviolet (sUV)-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression. In ex vivo human skin, we found that OHE suppressed sUV radiation-induced MMP-1 expression. The inhibitory effect of OHE was confirmed in human dermal fibroblasts. OHE treatment reduced sUV-induced MMP-1 expression by suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and phosphorylation of c-Jun, a component of transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP-1). On the other hand, OHE recovered the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and type 1 collagen production attenuated by sUV. As upstream signaling pathways for AP-1, MKK4-JNK, MEK-ERK, and MKK3/6-p38 phosphorylation were downregulated by OHE treatment. In addition, OHE exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity. These findings demonstrate that OHE has a preventive effect against sUV-induced skin damage via suppression of pathways triggered by ROS.

Anti-Osteoporotic Effects of Polysaccharides Isolated from Persimmon Leaves via Osteoclastogenesis Inhibition.

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.f.) leaves have traditionally been used as a phytomedicine, in health beverages to treat cardiovascular and respiratory disease and to promote maternal health in East Asia. In particular, polysaccharides from persimmon are known to have anti-coagulant, anti-oxidant, and immune-stimulatory activities. However, their beneficial effects against osteoporosis have not been reported. In the present study, we investigated the anti-osteoporotic effects of polysaccharides from persimmon leaves (PLE0) using an in vivo model of ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss and an in vitro system of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. In the OVX mouse model, PLE0 remarkably improved OVX-induced trabecular bone loss by suppressing osteoclast activity. In primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs), PLE0 dose-dependently inhibited osteoclast differentiation. In addition, PLE0 down-regulated RANKL-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) such as p38, ERK, and JNK resulting in suppression of nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) expression. Our results indicate that PLE0 has anti-osteoporotic effects in OVX-induced bone loss via inhibition of osteoclast differentiation. Taken together, PLE0 from persimmon may prevent postmenopausal bone loss and osteoporotic bone fragility.

Enzyme-assisted extraction, chemical characteristics, and immunostimulatory activity of polysaccharides from Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer).

In this study, enzyme-assisted extraction was used to isolate functional polysaccharides from Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) and the physicochemical and biological properties of the extracted polysaccharides were investigated, comparing with those from traditional hot-water extraction (FGWP). In macrophages, their effects on cytokines production could be ordered as FGEP-CA ≥ FGEP-A > FGEP-C > FGWP, suggesting that FGEP-CA (combined cellulase- and α-amylase-extracted polysaccharide) is a potent immunostimulator. In addition, enzymatic digestion led to differences in the monosaccharide profile of the extract. FGWP mainly consisted of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, galacturonic acid, and glucose in molar percentages of 1.8:10.1:9.2:17.8:60.6, whereas FGEP-CA was 3.2:11.4:16.5:22.3:45.8, respectively, suggesting that enzyme-assisted extraction of ginseng polysaccharides produces a higher proportion of pectin polysaccharides. The HPLC profile of FGEP-CA also showed lower and more heterogeneous molecular weights than FGWP did. In cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice, FGEP-CA administration ameliorated decreased spleen and thymus indices (200 mg/kg), lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer cell activity, leukocyte counts, and the serum cytokines, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, and interferon-γ (100 and 200 mg/kg). These results suggest that enzyme-assisted extraction using cellulase and α-amylase is an effective method for the preparation of functional polysaccharides from fresh Korean ginseng, and FGEP-CA could be utilized as a potential immune-stimulatory agent.