Abstract
The perennial and widespread herb Lythrum salicaria L., also called purple loosestrife, is a plant that is traditionally used in European medicine. Purple loosestrife is known for its ability to treat internal disorders, such as gastrointestinal issues or hemorrhages. Our objective was to take another look on this natural source of ellagitannins in terms of biological activities. Exploration of the phytochemical content of an extract of aerial parts of Lythrum salicaria L. was completed before initiating research on its biological effects towards keratinocytes, reconstructed epidermis, and skins. The potential of the natural compounds were evaluated by topical treatment of reconstructed tissues. The extract and one of its major compounds were able to act as pro-differentiating and protecting agents towards skin cells by stimulating the expressions of markers taking part in the structure of epidermis and dermis. Also, the extract showed beneficial effects on the global morphology of the skin. Thus, Lythrum salicaria L. constitutes a new natural source for the development of active ingredients for the dermo-cosmetic field.
Highlights
Belonging to the Lythraceae family, Lythrum salicaria L. is an herbaceous perennial plant that is quite recognizable with its flowering parts displaying small purple flowers
A dry hydro-ethanolic extract was obtained by maceration. This extract will be cited as Lythrum salicaria extract (Lyth. s extract) or purple loosestrife extract
The main goal was to evaluate the potential of an extract of Lythrum salicaria L. for beneficial effects on the skin
Summary
Belonging to the Lythraceae family, Lythrum salicaria L. (or Purple loosestrife) is an herbaceous perennial plant that is quite recognizable with its flowering parts displaying small purple flowers. Naturalists and pharmacologists of the Greco-Roman period already reported its medicinal properties [1], and nowadays the plant is registered in European Pharmacopoeia. It has traditionally been employed as a strong astringent and haemostatic agent to treat gastrointestinal tract ailments, such as dysentery or diarrhea [2]. Lythrum salicaria L. is a rich source of polyphenols and mainly of ellagitannins, a class of hydrolysable tannins [3]. In this way, the total tannin content is a means of characterization of this herb according to its pharmacopoeial monograph. Polyphenols are natural active compounds that are able to display anti-aging effects as they have strong antioxidant activity [4]
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