Photoprotective effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Pueraria lobata extracts on UVB-induced photoaging: A study on skin barrier protection.

AIM: Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Pueraria lobata exhibit promising potential as cosmetic additives for mitigating skin barrier impairment induced by photoaging. Despite their potential, the precise mechanisms underlying their protective and ameliorative effects remain elusive. This study sought to assess the reparative properties of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Pueraria lobata extracts (LP) on UVB-irradiated human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and explore the therapeutic potential of LP as a skin barrier protection agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antioxidant activities were gauged through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays. The expression levels of skin barrier-related markers, encompassing metalloproteinases (MMPs) and hyaluronidase (HYAL) were scrutinized using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR, and Western blotting, with a particular focus on the involvement of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß/Smad and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. RESULTS: The study revealed that LP effectively scavenges free radicals, diminishes ROS production in a dose-dependent manner, and significantly attenuates UVB-induced expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 through modulation of the hyaluronan synthase (HAS)2/HYAL1 signaling axis in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Additionally, LP demonstrated enhanced TGF-ß signaling activation, fostering procollagen type I synthesis, and concurrently exhibited mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/NF-κB signaling inactivation, thereby mitigating pro-inflammatory cytokine release and alleviating UVB-induced cellular damage. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the observed protective effects of LP on skin cellular constituents highlight its substantial biological potential for shielding against UVB-induced skin photoaging, positioning it as a promising candidate for both pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

The effects of Jawoongo soap on skin improvement.

BACKGROUND: Jawoongo is used to treat and prevent skin issues such as dry and keratinization disorders, burns, trauma, pigmentation, scarring, and inflammatory skin conditions. In this study, the efficacy and safety of 0.47% Jawoongo extract-containing soap (JAUN-CS) were assessed in terms of skin improvement effects such as cleansing, moisturizing, sebum secretion management, and skin elasticity enhancement. METHODS: Twenty healthy adult men and women aged 20-60 years old took part in the study. Before and after using JAUN-CS, the participants were divided into groups, and various skin improvement effects were measured utilizing machines such as the Corneometer, Tewameter TM 300, and Visioscan. A dermatologist analyzed the product's safety in accordance with Frosch & Kligman and the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) rules. RESULTS: Using JAUN reduced the amount of base and point makeup by 25.7% and 76.7%, respectively. Also, JAUN showed a great facial exfoliation effect by removing the old and lifted skin keratins by 84.7% and 20.3%, respectively. Impurities in facial pores decreased by 58%, too. Furthermore, JAUN increased the moisture content of deep skin and skin surface by 3.5% and 74.0%, and skin elasticity by 2.8%. Skin tone, skin texture, skin radiance, and skin barrier all showed improvements of 3.3%, 20.0%, 15.0%, and 115.2%, respectively. Lastly, cleansing with JAUN successfully enhanced the condition of the youth triangle by 7.6%, while TEWL significantly decreased by 52.7%. Neither the JAUN nor the control group soap showed any adverse reactions, such as erythema or allergies, during the testing period. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated that JAUN is safe for human use and has various skin-improving properties, making Jawoongo a promising natural material for the development of functional cosmetics in the future.

Anti-Photoaging Effect of Phaseolus angularis L. Extract on UVB-Exposed HaCaT Keratinocytes and Possibilities as Cosmetic Materials.

Phaseolus angularis L. is widely cultivated and is considered a superfood because of its nutritious protein and starch contents. Nevertheless, P. angularis's effects on skin photoaging are unknown. The aim of this study was to research the effects of P. angularis seed extract (PASE) on photoaging in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) damaged by UVB radiation so as to find out whether PASE can be used as an effective anti-photoaging ingredient in cosmetic products. The antioxidant activities were assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis was used to determine the change in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-3. The protein levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/activator protein (AP)-1, transforming growth factor beta (TGF)-ß/suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad), and NF-E2-related factor (Nrf)2/antioxidant response element (ARE) were measured by western blot. As a result, PASE increased DPPH and ABTS antioxidant activities in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, PASE treatment (100 µg/mL) significantly reverted the damage induced by UVB (125 mJ/cm2) irradiation by downregulating ROS, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-3 secretion and expression and increasing procollagen type I production. To suppress MMP-1 and MMP-3 secretion, PASE significantly decreased UVB-induced p38 and JNK phosphorylation and phosphorylated c-Fos and c-Jun nuclear translocation. PASE promoted collagen I production by inhibiting UVB-induced TGF-ß activation and Smad7 overexpression; antioxidant properties also arose from the stimulation of the Nrf2-dependent expression of the antioxidant enzymes heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and quinone oxidoreductase (NQO)-1. Our data demonstrated that PASE has the potential to prevent ROS formation induced by UVB exposure by targeting specific pathways. Thus, PASE might be a potent anti-photoaging component to exploit in developing anti-aging products.

Rosa davurica inhibits skin photoaging via regulating MAPK/AP-1, NF-κB, and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in UVB-irradiated HaCaTs.

Rosa davurica is widely used to treat various kinds of diseases because of its high antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities. This use of plant-based materials as medicine is called phytomedicine and has been widely practiced since time immemorial. However, the pharmacological mechanism of R. davurica in skin photoaging is not yet fully understood. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the recovery effects of R. davurica leaf extracts (RDE) in UVB-irradiated human skin keratinocytes (HaCaTs) and investigate whether RDE is a potential therapeutic agent against skin photoaging. The expression of aging-related markers including mitogen-activated protein kinases/activator protein 1 (MAPK/AP-1), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) was evaluated using Western blot analysis. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also used by FACS in HaCaTs. Findings indicated that RDE is efficient in scavenging free radicals and dose-dependently reducing ROS generation. Furthermore, RDE notably decreased UVB-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression through inhibition of MAPK/AP-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways as well as induced blocking of extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in UVB-irradiated HaCaTs. In addition, RDE improved Nrf2/HO-1 signaling that increases oxidative defense capacity and enhances transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) signaling activation to promote procollagen type I synthesis, relieving UVB-induced skin cell damage. In conclusion, the protective effects of RDE on skin cellular components suggest that it has a high biological potential for skin protection from UVB-induced skin photoaging and is a good candidate for drug and cosmetic application.

Camu-Camu Fruit Extract Inhibits Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Responses by Regulating NFAT and Nrf2 Signaling Pathways in High Glucose-Induced Human Keratinocytes.

Myrciaria dubia (HBK) McVaugh (camu-camu) belongs to the family Myrtaceae. Although camu-camu has received a great deal of attention for its potential pharmacological activities, there is little information on the anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects of camu-camu fruit in skin diseases. In the present study, we investigated the preventative effect of 70% ethanol camu-camu fruit extract against high glucose-induced human keratinocytes. High glucose-induced overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was inhibited by camu-camu fruit treatment. In response to ROS reduction, camu-camu fruit modulated the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling pathways related to inflammation by downregulating the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, camu-camu fruit treatment activated the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and subsequently increased the NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase1 (NQO1) expression to protect keratinocytes against high-glucose-induced oxidative stress. These results indicate that camu-camu fruit is a promising material for preventing oxidative stress and skin inflammation induced by high glucose level.

Effects of phenylethanol glycosides from Orobanche cernua Loefling on UVB-Induced skin photodamage: a comparative study.

Previous study has found that Orobanche cernua Loefling(OC) and its main ingredient, acteoside, possess excellently anti-photo-aging effect. In addition to acteoside, crenatoside, isoacteoside and 2'-acetylacteoside were also identified as the main phenylethanol glycosides (PhGs) in OC. To screen optimum effective substance and further clarify the photoprotective ingredients of OC, the effects of four major PhGs in OC were compared using UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Results indicated that acteoside, isoacteoside and 2'-acetylacteoside effectively decreased UVB-induced MMP-1 expression and stimulated type I procollagen synthesis through inhibition of MAPK/AP-1 and activation of TGF-ß/Smad pathway. Moreover, acteoside and 2'-acetylacteoside significantly reduced UVB-induced ROS and TARC secretion, which is involved in the inhibition of NF-κß/Iκßα and stimulation of Nrf2 antioxidant defense system. However, crenatoside did not show any effect on the regulation of signal cascades mentioned above. Together, our results suggested that 2'-acetylacteoside and isoacteoside also served as efficient agents against UV radiation-induced skin damage. Among them, acteoside and 2'-acetylacteoside showed a higher efficiency than that of isoacteoside, which possessed great potential in treating skin photo-damage.

Enhancement of Protective Effects of Radix Scutellariae on UVB-induced Photo Damage in Human HaCaT Keratinocytes.

Radix Scutellariae (RS) has long been used in the treatment of inflammatory and allergic diseases. Its main flavonoids, baicalin (BG) and wogonoside (WG), can be hydrolyzed into their corresponding aglycones, baicalein (B) and wogonin (W). In this study, we developed a safe and effective method of transforming these glycosides using Peclyve PR. The transformation rate of BG and WG reached 98.5 and 98.1%, respectively, with 10% enzyme at 40 °C for 60 h. Furthermore, we compared the anti-photoaging activity of RS before and after enzyme treatment, as well as their respective main components, in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Results found that enzyme-treated RS (ERS) appeared to be much better at preventing UVB-induced photoaging than RS. ERS significantly inhibited the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and IL-6 caused by UVB radiation by inactivating the MAPK/AP-1 and NF-κB/IκB-α signaling pathways. ERS treatment also recovered UVB-induced reduction of procollagen type I by activating the TGF-ß/Smad pathway. In addition, ERS exhibited an excellent antioxidant activity, which could increase the expression of cytoprotective antioxidants such as HO-1 and NQ-O1, by facilitating Nrf2 nuclear transfer. These findings demonstrated that the photoprotective effects of RS were significantly improved by enzyme-modified biotransformation.