Improvement of Damage in Human Dermal Fibroblasts by 3,5,7-Trimethoxyflavone from Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora)

Potential skin anti-aging effects of main phenolic compounds, tremulacin and tremuloidin from Salix chaenomeloides leaves on TNF-α-stimulated human dermal fibroblasts

The genus Salix spp. has long been recognized as a healing herb for its use in treating fever, inflammation, and pain relief, as well as a food source for its nutritional value. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential bioactive natural products in the leaves of Salix chaenomeloides, commonly known as Korean pussy willow, for their protective effects against skin damage, including aging. Utilizing LC/MS-guided chemical analysis of the ethanol extract of S. chaenomeloides leaves, with a focus on major compounds, we successfully isolated two main phenolic compounds, tremulacin (1) and tremuloidin (2). Subsequently, we investigated the protective effects of tremulacin (1) and tremuloidin (2) in TNF-α-stimulated human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). The results revealed that both tremulacin (1) and tremuloidin (2) inhibited TNF-α-stimulation-induced ROS, suppressed matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression, and enhanced collagen secretion. This implies that both tremulacin (1) and tremuloidin (2) hold promise as preventive agents against photoaging-induced skin aging. Furthermore, we assessed the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) to elucidate the mechanism of photoaging inhibition by tremuloidin (2), which exhibited superior efficacy. We found that tremuloidin (2) inhibited ERK and p38 phosphorylation and notably suppressed COX-2 expression while significantly upregulating HO-1 expression. These findings suggest potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of tremuloidin (2), positioning it as a potential candidate for combating photoaging-induced skin aging.

8-Week Kaempferia parviflora Extract Administration Improves Submaximal Exercise Capacity in Mice by Enhancing Skeletal Muscle Antioxidant Gene Expression and Plasma Antioxidant Capacity

Black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) extract (KPE) is extracted from a ginger family plant grown in Thailand. The polyphenolic components have potential antioxidant effects and have been reported to enhance exercise performance. However, the impact of long-term KPE administration combined with long-term training on the endurance exercise performance of healthy individuals has not been fully studied. In this study, a healthy mouse model was used to investigate the effects of 8 weeks KPE administration and voluntary wheel running on the submaximal endurance exercise capacity and its mechanism. The results showed that 8 weeks of KPE administration significantly enhanced the submaximal endurance exercise capacity of mice and extended the daily voluntary wheel running distance. By measuring oxidative stress markers in plasma and the mRNA expression of antioxidant genes in skeletal muscle, we found that KPE significantly increased plasma antioxidant levels and activated the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2)/ARE (Antioxidant Response Element) pathway and its downstream antioxidant genes expression in skeletal muscle. These results suggest that KPE may enhance the antioxidant capacity of plasma and skeletal muscle by activating the Nrf2-ARE-centered antioxidant pathway, thereby increasing the daily running distance and improving the submaximal endurance exercise capacity of mice.

Evaluating the Diverse Anticancer Effects of Laos Kaempferia parviflora (Black Ginger) on Human Melanoma Cell Lines

Cancer has become a consistent concern globally and increasingly fatal. Malignant melanoma is a rising concern, with its increased mortality. Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker (K. parviflora (KP)), commonly known as black ginger, is well known for its medicinal contributions. For the first time, in the following study we investigated the antimelanoma potential of Laos KP extracts in human cell lines. KP extracts (KPE) in methanol, DCM, and ethyl acetate showed strong cell inhibition in both melanomas, with KPE-DCM being particularly effective in inhibiting melanoma cell migration, invasion, and proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, while KPE-Hexane exhibited a low cell inhibition rate and a more limited effect. KPE affected the increased expression of caspase-3, PARP andBax and the decreased expression of the BcL-2, Mu-2-related death-inducing gene (MUDENG, MuD) protein. Furthermore, KPE enhanced apoptotic cells in the absence and presence of the pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. Interestingly, these apoptotic cells were significantly suppressed by the caspase inhibitor. Moreover, elevated mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, suggestive of KPE's mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in melanoma cells, were also confirmed. KPE treatment increased MMP levels, and upregulated the generation of ROS in A375 cells but not in A2058 cells. However, pretreatment with an ROS scavenger (NAC) suppressed KPE-induced cell death and ROS generation. These results clearly pointed out KPE-induced mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic cell death as the mechanism behind the inhibition of the human melanoma cells. Future studies exploring the role of specific ROS sources and their interaction with mitochondrial dynamics could deepen the existing understanding on KPE-induced apoptosis.

Anti-photoaging effect and the mechanism of Coreopsis tinctoria okanin against UVB-induced skin damage in mice

Long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation may cause photoaging of skin tissues. Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. riches a variety of flavonoids with strong antioxidant activities. In the present study, the main antioxidant flavonoid was isolated from C. tinctoria and identified as okanin by Mass spectrum and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Okanin was found to effectively reduce the malondialdehyde content, increase various intracellular antioxidant enzyme activities, relieve epidermal hyperplasia and dermal damage caused by UVB irradiation, and increase the collagen fibers' content in the dorsal skin tissue of mice. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that okanin effectively counteracted the photoaging effect of UVB-induced by down-regulating IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and COX-2, and up-regulating COL-1, COL-3, and HYP expression. In addition, okanin can inhibit skin photoaging by regulating TNF-β/Smad2-3, MAPK, P13K/AKT, and NF-κB signaling pathways. In particular, the three key markers of photoaging, MMP (MMP-1/-3/-9), were down-regulated and five collagen synthesis genes (COL1A1, COL3A1, COL5A2, COL6A1, and COL7A1) were up-regulated, underlines the direct anti-photoaging mechanism of okanin in preventing collagen degradation and promoting collagen synthesis. The current investigation provides new insights into the great potential of okanin in alleviating skin photoaging and lays theoretical references for the development ofanti-photoaging products.

Skin Rejuvenation Efficacy and Safety Evaluation of Kaempferia parviflora Standardized Extract (BG100) in Human 3D Skin Models and Clinical Trial

Polymethoxyflavones from Kaempferia parviflora rhizomes have been shown to effectively combat aging in skin cells and tissues by inhibiting senescence, reducing oxidative stress, and enhancing skin structure and function. This study assessed the anti-aging effects and safety of standardized K. parviflora extract (BG100), enriched with polymethoxyflavones including 5,7-dimethoxyflavone, 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone, 3,5,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone, 3,5,7-trimethoxyflavone, and 3,5,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone. We evaluated BG100's impact on skin rejuvenation and antioxidant properties using photoaged human 3D full-thickness skin models. The potential for skin irritation and sensitization was also assessed through studies on reconstructed human epidermis and clinical trials. Additionally, in vitro genotoxicity testing was performed following OECD guidelines. Results indicate that BG100 promotes collagen and hyaluronic acid production, reduces oxidative stress, and minimizes DNA damage in photoaged full-thickness 3D skin models. Furthermore, it exhibited non-irritating and non-sensitizing properties, as supported by tests on reconstructed human epidermis and clinical settings. BG100 also passed in vitro genotoxicity tests, adhering to OECD guidelines. These results underscore BG100's potential as a highly effective and safe, natural anti-aging agent, suitable for inclusion in cosmeceutical and nutraceutical products aimed at promoting skin rejuvenation.

Super-Antioxidant Vitamin A Derivatives with Improved Stability and Efficacy Using Skin-Permeable Chitosan Nanocapsules

Retinyl palmitate (RP) is a retinol ester with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as an antiwrinkle agent. However, it has poor aqueous solubility and easily degrades into inactive forms for topical applications. Therefore, we developed chitosan-coated nanocapsules (ChiNCs) to encapsulate RP using a simple nanoprecipitation method for protection against physiological conditions and to enable deep skin penetration. The as-prepared RP-loaded nanocapsules (RP@ChiNCs) loaded with approximately 5 wt.% RP exhibited a hydrodynamic diameter of 86 nm and surface charge of 24 mV. They had adequate stability to maintain their physicochemical properties after lyophilization in a biological buffer. Notably, ChiNCs provided RP with remarkable protection against degradation for 4 weeks at 37 °C. Thus, RP@ChiNCs exhibited good antioxidant activity in situ for sufficiently long periods without considerable changes in their efficacy. Furthermore, ChiNCs enhanced the skin penetration of lipophilic RP based on the inherent nature of chitosan. RP@ChiNCs exhibited good in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects without causing any cytotoxicity in dermal fibroblasts. Accordingly, they promoted cell proliferation in a wound-scratch test and enhanced collagen synthesis. These results suggest that RP@ChiNCs are promising candidates for cosmetic and biomedical applications.

Combination of UHPLC-MS/MS with context-specific network and cheminformatic approaches for identifying bioactivities and active components of propolis

Discovering new bioactivities and identifying active compounds of food materials are major fields of study in food science. However, the process commonly requires extensive experiments and can be technically challenging. In the current study, we employed network biology and cheminformatic approaches to predict new target diseases, active components, and related molecular mechanisms of propolis. Applying UHPLC-MS/MS analysis results of propolis to Context-Oriented Directed Associations (CODA) and Combination-Oriented Natural Product Database with Unified Terminology (COCONUT) systems indicated atopic dermatitis as a novel target disease. Experimental validation using cell- and human tissue-based models confirmed the therapeutic potential of propolis against atopic dermatitis. Moreover, we were able to find the major contributing compounds as well as their combinatorial effects responsible for the bioactivity of propolis. The CODA/COCONUT system also provided compound-associated genes explaining the underlying molecular mechanism of propolis. These results highlight the potential use of big data-driven network biological approaches to aid in analyzing the impact of food constituents at a systematic level.

A Review of Classification, Biosynthesis, Biological Activities and Potential Applications of Flavonoids

Flavonoids represent the main class of plant secondary metabolites and occur in the tissues and organs of various plant species. In plants, flavonoids are involved in many biological processes and in response to various environmental stresses. The consumption of flavonoids has been known to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases due to their antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. In the present review, we summarize the classification, distribution, biosynthesis pathways, and regulatory mechanisms of flavonoids. Moreover, we investigated their biological activities and discuss their applications in food processing and cosmetics, as well as their pharmaceutical and medical uses. Current trends in flavonoid research are also briefly described, including the mining of new functional genes and metabolites through omics research and the engineering of flavonoids using nanotechnology. This review provides a reference for basic and applied research on flavonoid compounds.

Effects of Bacterial Lysates and Metabolites on Collagen Homeostasis in TNF-α-Challenged Human Dermal Fibroblasts

During skin aging, the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, such as type I collagen, decreases and the synthesis of ECM-degrading matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) rises, leading to an imbalance in homeostasis and to wrinkle formation. In this study, we examined the effects of bacterial lysates and metabolites from three bifidobacteria and five lactobacilli on collagen homeostasis in human dermal fibroblasts during challenge with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), modeling an inflammatory condition that damages the skin's structure. Antiaging properties were measured, based on fibroblast cell viability and confluence, amount of type I pro-collagen, ratio of MMP-1 to type I pro-collagen, cytokines, and growth factors. The TNF-α challenge increased the MMP-1/type I pro-collagen ratio and levels of proinflammatory cytokines, as expected. With the probiotics, differences were clearly dependent on bacterial species, strain, and form. In general, the lysates elicited less pronounced responses in the biomarkers. Of all strains, the Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis strains Bl-04 and B420 best maintained type I pro-collagen production and the MMP-1/collagen type I ratio under no-challenge and challenge conditions. Metabolites that were produced by bifidobacteria, but not their lysates, reduced several proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) during the challenge, whereas those from lactobacilli did not. These results indicate that B. animalis ssp. lactis-produced metabolites, especially those of strains Bl-04 and B420, could support collagen homeostasis in the skin.

Methoxyflavones from Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker) and their Inhibitory Effect on Melanogenesis in B16F10 Mouse Melanoma Cells

Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker (Zingiberaceae), commonly known as Thai ginseng or black ginger, is a tropical medicinal plant in many regions. It has been traditionally used to treat various ailments, including ulcers, dysentery, gout, allergies, abscesses, and osteoarthritis. As part of our ongoing phytochemical study aimed at discovering bioactive natural products, we investigated potential bioactive methoxyflavones from K. parviflora rhizomes. Phytochemical analysis aided by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) led to the isolation of six methoxyflavones (1-6) from the n-hexane fraction of the methanolic extract of K. parviflora rhizomes. The isolated compounds were structurally determined to be 3,7-dimethoxy-5-hydroxyflavone (1), 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (2), 7,4'-dimethylapigenin (3), 3,5,7-trimethoxyflavone (4), 3,7,4'-trimethylkaempferol (5), and 5-hydroxy-3,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone (6), based on NMR data and LC-MS analysis. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-melanogenic activities. In the activity assay, 7,4'-dimethylapigenin (3) and 3,5,7-trimethoxyflavone (4) significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin content in IBMX-stimulated B16F10 cells. In addition, structure-activity relationship analysis revealed that the methoxy group at C-5 in methoxyflavones is key to their anti-melanogenic activity. This study experimentally demonstrated that K. parviflora rhizomes are rich in methoxyflavones and can be a valuable natural resource for anti-melanogenic compounds.

Ginsenoside Rk1 Prevents UVB Irradiation-Mediated Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Response, and Collagen Degradation via the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo

Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, especially UVB, can trigger destructive intracellular effects, including various types of DNA damage, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses, leading to accelerated skin aging. Ginsenoside Rk1, a rare ginsenoside pertaining to panaxadiol saponins, has been certified to possess underlying anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, the efficiency of Rk1 against the photoaging of human skin and the latent molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Here, UVB-irradiated HaCaT keratinocytes were used as an in vitro model, and UVB-irradiated BALB/c nude mouse dorsal skin was established as an in vivo model to explore the mechanism by which Rk1 protects skin. Consequently, we found that Rk1 administration significantly attenuated oxidative stress by suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and strengthening the activities of antioxidant enzymes. The UVB-induced inflammatory response was alleviated by Rk1 application via regulation of the secretion of various proinflammatory cytokines. Additionally, western blot assays illustrated that Rk1 intervention inhibited collagen degradation by reducing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases. Further studies revealed that Rk1 could suppress the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo. Molecular docking results indicated that Rk1 might effectively bind to the active pockets of PI3K, AKT, and NF-κB. The PI3K activator 740 Y-P clearly reversed the effects of Rk1 on oxidative stress, the inflammatory response, and collagen degradation in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Moreover, histological and Masson staining verified that the administration of Rk1 to BALB/c nude mice remarkably ameliorated UVB-induced skin roughness, epidermal thickening, collagen fiber arrangement disorder, and wrinkles. Overall, the evidence provided in this study suggested that Rk1 could be applied for the development of effective natural antiphotoaging agents for skin health.

Protective Effects of Withagenin A Diglucoside from Indian Ginseng (Withania somnifera) against Human Dermal Fibroblast Damaged by TNF-α Stimulation

Human skin is constructed with many proteins such as collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin play a key role in providing strength and elasticity to the human skin and body. However, damage to collagen causes various symptoms such as wrinkles and freckles, which suggests that they are important to maintain skin condition. Extrinsic or intrinsic skin aging produces an excess of skin destructive factors such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which is a major mediator of the aging process. In aged skin, TNF-α provokes the generation of intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species). It triggers the excessive secretion of MMP-1, which is a collagen-degrading enzyme that causes the collapse of skin collagen. Therefore, we aimed to search for a natural-product-derived candidate that inhibits the skin damage caused by TNF-α in human dermal fibroblasts. In this study, the protective effect of withagenin A diglucoside (WAD) identified from Withania somnifera against TNF-α-stimulated human dermal fibroblasts is investigated. W. somnifera (Solanaceae), well-known as 'ashwagandha', is an Ayurvedic medicinal plant useful for promoting health and longevity. Our experimental results reveal that WAD from W. somnifera suppresses the generation of intercellular ROS. Suppressing intracellular ROS generation inhibits MMP-1 secretion and the collapse of type 1 collagen. The effect of WAD is shown to depend on the inhibition of MAPK phosphorylation, Akt phosphorylation, c-Jun phosphorylation, COX-2 expression, and NF-κB phosphorylation. Further, WAD-depressed expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 triggers various inflammatory reactions in human skin. These findings suggest that WAD has protective effects against skin damage. Accordingly, our study provides experimental evidence that WAD can be a potential agent that can be applied in various industrial fields, such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals related to skin aging.

Antiskin Aging Effects of Indole Alkaloid N-Glycoside from Ginkgo Fruit (Ginkgo biloba fruit) on TNF-α-Exposed Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Human skin aging has internal and external factors, both of which are characterized by TNF-α overproduction. Therefore, we aimed to identify a natural product that suppresses the damage that occurs in cutaneous dermal fibroblasts exposed to TNF-α. The protective effects of the indole alkaloid N-glycoside, ginkgoside B dimethyl ester (GBDE), isolated from ginkgo fruit (Ginkgo biloba fruit) were evaluated in TNF-α stimulated human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). GBDE inhibited TNF-α-induced MMP-1 expression to 2.2 ± 0.1-fold (p < 0.01) and reversed the decrease in collagen levels to 0.4 ± 0.00-fold (p < 0.01) at 50 μM. The effect of GBDE was due to the suppression of the phospolylaton of MAPKs (ERK, 0.47 ± 0.05; JNK, 1.21 ± 0.07; p38, 0.77 ± 0.07-folds, p < 0.001) and Akt (0.14 ± 0.03-fold, p < 0.001) compared to the TNF-α group. GBDE also reduced the expression of COX-2 to 2.06 ± 0.12-fold (p < 0.001) and increased the expression of HO-1 to 10.64 ± 0.2-fold (p < 0.001). In addition, GBDE inhibited the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-8, 2.2 ± 0.0; IL-1β, 1.6 ± 0.0; IL-6, 2.0 ± 0.10-folds, p < 0.05). These results provide experimental evidence that GBDE can protect against skin damage, including aging.

Protective activity of tert-butylhydroquinone against oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by glutamate agonizts in R28 cells and mice retina

Glutamate excitotoxicity can cause cell damage and apoptosis and play an important role in a variety of retinal diseases. Tertiary-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) is an approved food-grade phenolic antioxidant with antioxidant activity in a variety of cells and tissues. We observed the protective effect of tBHQ on glutamatergic agonist-induced retina and explored its possible mechanism of action through in vitro cell experiments. The results showed that tBHQ had protective effects on NMDA-induced mouse retinal excitotoxicity and glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in rat retinal precursor cells (R28 cells). tBHQ reversed glutamate-induced apoptosis, production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, and reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blot analysis showed that tBHQ could increase the expression of procaspase-3, Bcl-2, AIF precursor, CAT, SOD2, Nrf2, NQO1, HO-1 and NF-κB in glutamate-treated cells, and decrease the expression of AIF cleavage products. Furthermore, we discovered that tBHQ activated müller glial cells. Based on these results, tBHQ may have antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, thus serving as a potential retinal protective agent. Its anti-oxidative stress effect was attributed to up-regulation of Nrf2, and its anti-apoptotic effect was related to its up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression and inhibition of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.