Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that botanical extracts affect skin biophysical parameters, such as hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), melanin index, erythema index, and wrinkle development. Vaccinium uliginosum extract contains a high level of anthocyanins as antioxidant and is ideal for use in dietary skin care products. Here, we assessed the photoprotective effects of dietary V. uliginosum extract in ultraviolet B (UVB)-irradiated hairless mice. Quantitative analysis of anthocyanin composition in the ethanol-extracted V. uliginosum sample was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Skin parameter analysis and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were conducted on skin samples from UVB-irradiated hairless mice to evaluate the effects of V. uliginosum extract on skin conditions. In addition, skin mRNA and protein expression were assessed to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of the anthocyanin-enriched extract on skin appearance and condition. Administration of the ethanol-extracted V. uliginosum sample caused significant changes in skin water-holding capacity, TEWL, wrinkle-related parameters, and epidermal thickness in UVB-irradiated hairless mice. In addition, oral administration of V. uliginosum attenuated the gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and increased levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) and antioxidant-related genes. Further, V. uliginosum administration downregulated inflammatory cytokine levels and UVB-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signaling regulated kinase (ERK), as well as Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 protein levels. Oral administration of anthocyanin-enriched V. uliginosum extract can improve the appearance and condition of the skin following UV irradiation.
Highlights
The skin is an essential barrier organ that prevents dehydration and defends the organism against the external environment
Age-related skin changes such as fine wrinkles, atrophy, and transepidermal water loss can be considered as the cumulative effect of intrinsic factors, and skin with coarse wrinkles, loss of elasticity and rough-textured appearance is known to be caused by external environmental factors [3,4]
mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling increases the activity of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), which break down extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, such as collagen, which provide tensile strength to the dermis [6]
Summary
The skin is an essential barrier organ that prevents dehydration and defends the organism against the external environment. Skin aging is caused by both intrinsic aging and external aging, such as age increases, hormonal changes, stress, as well as environmental pollution and sunlight [1,2]. Age-related skin changes such as fine wrinkles, atrophy, and transepidermal water loss can be considered as the cumulative effect of intrinsic factors, and skin with coarse wrinkles, loss of elasticity and rough-textured appearance is known to be caused by external environmental factors [3,4]. MAPK signaling increases the activity of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and the expression of MMPs, which break down extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, such as collagen, which provide tensile strength to the dermis [6]. Inflammatory factors are activated by ROS; this decreases the abundance of ECM proteins by increasing MMP or cyclooxygenase-2 while reducing the amount of the collagen precursor, procollagen [7]
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