1073 Characterization of anti-aging potential and active component of Grifola frondosa ethanol extract

Abstract

Grifola frondosa (maitake mushroom) contains abundant polysaccharides and β-glucan, and its aqueous extract has intensively been investigated. Recently, G. frondosa ethanol, but not aqueous, extract has been reported to have an effect on hyaluronic acid production in human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs). However the bioavailabilities of the hydrophobic components derived from G. frondosa has not still been sufficiently elucidated compared with those of its hydrophilic components. In this study, we identified one of its hydrophobic components, which increases hyaluronic acid production in hDFs. Initially, we isolated one active fraction by crude fractionation using thin layer chromatography. After further purification of the crude fraction by high-pressure liquid chromatography, we identified an ergosterol analog in the active fraction using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. We also found that G. frondosa ethanol extract increases the expression of differentiation markers, filaggrin and involucrin, in human epidermal keratinocytes (hEKs), suggesting that the hydrophobic ingredients in G. frondosa promote epidermal differentiation. We found that the ergosterol analog increases the expression of these epidermal differentiation genes as well. These results imply that G. frondosa ethanol extract might have a common role in hDFs and hEKs, although further research is needed. Our findings indicate the possibility that the hydrophobic components in G. frondosa have anti-aging and therapeutic properties when used in the treatment of skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis.