Abstract
Kadsura coccinea (KC), a beneficial plant for human health, has been used for centuries in China, Thailand, and Korea in folk medicine and food. There is evidence supporting the biological effects of highly bioactive ingredients in KC such as lignans, triterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, steroids, and amino acids. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects, functions, and mechanisms of the extracts from KC root (KCR), stem (KCS), leaf (KCL), and fruit (KCF) in UVA and UVB-irradiated keratinocytes and α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-stimulated melanocytes. First, the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of KCR, KCS, KCL, and KCF and their radical scavenging activities were investigated. These parameters were found to be in the following order: KCL > KCR > KCS > KCF. UVA and UVB-irradiated keratinocytes were treated with KCR, KCS, KCL, and KCF, and keratinocyte viability, LDH release, intracellular ROS production, and apoptosis were examined. Our results demonstrated that KC extracts improved keratinocyte viability and reduced LDH release, intracellular ROS production, and apoptosis in the presence UVA and UVB irradiation. The overall photoprotective activity of the KC extracts was confirmed in the following order: KCL > KCR > KCS > KCF. Moreover, KC extracts significantly decreased the intracellular melanin content and tyrosinase activity in α-MSH-stimulated melanocytes. Mechanistically, KC extracts reduced the protein and mRNA expression levels of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) in α-MSH-stimulated melanocytes. In addition, these extracts markedly downregulated myophthalmosis-related transcription factor expression and cAMP-related binding protein phosphorylation, which is upstream of the regulation of Tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2. The overall anti-melanogenic activity of the KC extracts was established in the following order. KCL > KCR > KCS > KCF. Overall, the KC extracts exert photoprotective and anti-melanogenic effects, providing a basis for developing potential skin-whitening and photoprotective agents.
Highlights
The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents and ABTS and DPPH scavenging activities were compared to determine the potential effects of KC root (KCR), KCS, KCL, and KCF extracts on antioxidant capacity
The results of flavonoid content analyses showed that KCL (94.5 ± 6.3 mg quercetin equivalent per gram (QE/g)) had the highest flavonoid content followed by KCR (79.6 ± 4.2 mg QE/g); the KCS (14.9 ± 1.3 mg QE/g) and KCF (6.4 ± 2.0 mg QE/g) extracts had the lowest flavonoid content (Figure 1C)
S > KCF in the presence UVA or UVB irradiation (Figure 3B). These results indicate that several partial extracts of Kadsura coccinea (KC) significantly inhibited keratinocyte damage by reducing endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels
Summary
Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) B.C. Sm, known as “black tiger” in China, is a species belonging to the economically and medically important family Schisandraceae. Kadsura coccinea (KC) has gained interest in Chinese folk medicine to identify effective treatments for preventing several diseases [1,2] It is consumed as food and is highly regarded for its pharmacological properties, especially anti-HIV, anti-fungal, anti-lipid peroxidation, antihepatitis, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties [3,4]. Many studies have shown the therapeutic effects of KC such as in treating gastrointestinal disorders and rheumatoid arthritis, calming the heart, strengthening the kidneys, and promoting blood and fluid circulation [5,6] It is a novel and rare species with valuable root, stem, leaf, and fruit parts used in traditional Dai medicines (TDM). Given the pharmacological properties of KC, the efficacy of extracts from different parts of KC with regard to photoprotective and anti-melanogenic properties is worth exploring
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