Abstract
BackgroundOwing to their roles in tissue remodelling in health and disease, several studies have reported investigations on plant extracts as inhibitors of proteinases and as anti-oxidants.MethodsThe anti-ageing and anti-oxidant properties of 23 plant extracts (from 21 plant species) were assessed as anti-elastase and anti-collagenase activities and in selected anti-oxidant assays along with phenolic content.ResultsAnti-elastase activities were observed for nine of the extracts with inhibitory activity in the following order: white tea (~89%), cleavers (~58%), burdock root (~51%), bladderwrack (~50%), anise and angelica (~32%). Anti-collagenase activities were exhibited by sixteen plants of which the highest activity was seen in white tea (~87%), green tea (~47%), rose tincture (~41%), and lavender (~31%). Nine plant extracts had activities against both elastase (E) and collagenase (C) and were ranked in the order of white tea (E:89%, C:87%) > bladderwrack (E:50%, C:25%) > cleavers (E:58%, C:7%) > rose tincture (E:22%, C:41%) > green tea (E:10%: C:47%) > rose aqueous (E: 24%, C:26%) > angelica (E:32%, C:17%) > anise (E:32%, C:6%) > pomegranate (E:15%, C:11%).Total phenolic content varied between 0.05 and 0.26 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mL with the exception of white tea (0.77 mg GAE/mL). For anti-oxidant assessment, the Trolox equivalent anti-oxidant capacity (TEAC) assay revealed activity for all extracts. White tea had the highest activity equivalent to ~21 μM Trolox for a 6.25 μg aliquot. In addition, seven extracts exhibited activities = 10 μM Trolox with witch hazel (6.25 μg = 13 μM Trolox) and rose aqueous (6.25 μg = 10 μM Trolox) showing very high activities at low concentrations. A high activity for white tea was also found in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay in which it exhibited ~88% inhibition of reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. High activities were also observed for green tea (86.41%), rose tincture (82.77%), witch hazel (82.05%) and rose aqueous (73.86%).ConclusionFrom a panel of twenty three plant extracts, some one dozen exhibit high or satisfactory anti-collagenase or anti-elastase activities, with nine having inhibitory activity against both enzymes. These included white tea which was found to have very high phenolic content, along with high TEAC and SOD activities.
Highlights
Owing to their roles in tissue remodelling in health and disease, several studies have reported investigations on plant extracts as inhibitors of proteinases and as anti-oxidants
Biological systems need reactive oxygen species (ROS) for metabolic pathways and the body is capable of forming reactive species such as superoxide (O2-) and nitric oxide (NO) [5]
Flavonoids derived from plants can form complexes with metal ions which mean they have the potential to bind with metalloenzymes altering or inhibiting metabolic pathways [8] and flavonoid-metal complexes have shown potential to be Superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetics [9]
Summary
Owing to their roles in tissue remodelling in health and disease, several studies have reported investigations on plant extracts as inhibitors of proteinases and as anti-oxidants. Intrinsic skin ageing or natural ageing is caused by changes in elasticity of the skin over time. UV exposure causes physical changes to the skin due to alterations that occur in the connective tissue via the formation of lipid peroxides, cell contents and enzymes [5], and reactive oxygen species (ROS) [1,6]. Lipid peroxides can be metabolised to form secondary products which damage the extracellular matrix (ECM) while ROS are credited with involvement in the loss of skin elasticity [1,6] and in diseases such as arthritis, diabetes and cancer [6]. Biological systems need ROS for metabolic pathways and the body is capable of forming reactive species such as superoxide (O2-) and nitric oxide (NO) [5]. Flavonoids derived from plants can form complexes with metal ions which mean they have the potential to bind with metalloenzymes altering or inhibiting metabolic pathways [8] and flavonoid-metal complexes have shown potential to be SOD mimetics [9]
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