Anti‐photoaging Activity of Ginseng Seed in UVB‐irradiated Human Skin Fibroblasts

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the most common environmental stressor to damage the skin. Excessive UV radiation usually causes photoaging, inflammation, and even skin carcinogenesis. The seed of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) contains various phytochemicals including phytosterols, fatty acids, and ginsenosides. Ginseng seed is known to exhibit antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and melanin inhibitory activities. However, not much is known about the anti‐photoaging activities of ginseng seed. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of ginseng seed embryo (GSE) and ginseng seed coat (GSC) on UVB‐induced photoaging in human fibroblasts cell line (Hs68 cells). The contents of total polyphenols and total flavonoids were higher in GSC compared to GSE. Linoleic acid was the major fatty acid in GSE (57.69%) and GSC (39.95%). The content of ginsenoside Rh4 of GSC was about 13 times higher than that of GSE. GSE and GSC significantly attenuated UVB‐induced expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and increased the production of collagen in Hs68 cells. Furthermore, UVB‐induced ROS generation was markedly attenuated by pretreatment with GSE and GSC in a dose‐dependent manner, demonstrating that ginseng seed is to be a potent ROS scavenger. These results indicate that ginseng seed protects human skin fibroblasts from UVB‐induced photoaging and therefore has the potential for use in cosmeceutical preparations.