Abstract
Problem statement: In the current scenario, photo-aging is a major problem causing skin wrinkling and hyperpigmentation. Therefore, elastase and tyrosinase inhibitors play an important role in the treatment of skin aging and thus, gaining a special attention in cosmetic industries. Approach: In the screening of Korean medicinal plants to search the potent elastase and tyrosinase inhibitors, the extract of the rhizomes of Astilbe chinensis (A. chinensis) exhibited the strongest potential. Further the crude 100% methanolic extract of A. chinensis along with its n-hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions were investigated for elastase and tyrosinase enzyme inhibition activities. Results: The A. chinensis extracts showed remarkable elastase inhibitory activities (at a concentration of 20 μg 155 μL-1 reaction) ranging from 38-92% and tyrosinase inhibition activities (at a concentration of 20 μg 150 μL-1 reaction) ranging from 2-90%. Among all the fractions, water fraction demonstrated the highest elastase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities (92 and 90%, respectively). Conclusion: Based on the noteworthy antielastase and antityrosinase activities by the rhizome of A. chinensis, it might prove a strong candidate as an active ingredient in cosmaceutical formulations and further in vitro and in vivo investigations is needed.
Highlights
The skin is an important barrier that protects the body from damage due to direct contact with the outside environment
The crude extract of A. chinensis and its various fractions were evaluated at 20 μg 155 μL−1 concentrations for elastase enzyme inhibition studies
All the A. chinensis extracts showed remarkable elastase inhibitory activities ranging from 38-92% and are shown (Fig. 1): Water (92%) > crude extract (83%) > n-hexane (78%) > methylene chloride (58%) > ethyl acetate (38%)
Summary
The skin is an important barrier that protects the body from damage due to direct contact with the outside environment. Among harmful environmental factors that damage the skin, UV irradiation is the most common and harmful. Elastase is the only enzyme that is capable of degrading elastin, an insoluble elastic fibrous protein in animal connective tissues. It hydrolyses practically all proteins, including the supporting and structural proteins of the connective tissue, such as collagen and elastin. In UV-irradiated skin, mild inflammation occurs repeatedly in the dermis and it is assumed that connective tissue proteins may be attacked by elastase released from neutrophils, resulting in damage to elastin and causing sagging[4]. We examined the inhibitory effects of A. chinensis rhizomes on elastase and tyrosinase enzymes to study the efficacy of it as a cosmaceutical agent
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