Anti-aging efficacy of solid-state fermented ginseng with Aspergillus cristatus and its active metabolites

Abstract

Aspergillus cristatus is a beneficial fungus of microbial fermented teas such as China’s Fuzhuan brick tea and Pu-erh tea, and is commonly called golden flower fungus (GFF) because its cleistothecium has a yellow millet or sand grain shape. Since natural materials fermented with GFF exhibit various physiological activities, a new active cosmeceutical ingredient was developed by solid-state fermentation of ginseng, a famous active material for healthy skin, with GFF. The extract of solid-state fermented ginseng with GFF (GFFG) exhibited potent anti-aging efficacy on the skin such as the increase of hyaluronic acid synthesis, aquaporin expression, and mRNA level of filaggrin in HaCaT keratinocyte. GFFG also inhibited the expression of MMP-1 increased by TNF-α in human dermal fibroblast. Sophisticated chromatographic and spectroscopic studies have elucidated isodihydroauroglaucin and flavoglaucin as the metabolites which were not present in ginseng extract nor GFF extract alone. Bioassay of these metabolites revealed that these compounds were part of active principles of GFFG. These results suggest that GFFG would be a potential active ingredient in anti-aging cosmeceutical products.

Research Progress on Bioactive Factors against Skin Aging

“…In addition, GFFG inhibits TNF-α-induced expression of MMP-1 in skin fibroblasts, an enzyme that breaks down collagen and is a key protein in maintaining skin structure and elasticity. Therefore, through this process, GFFG helps to slow the aging of the skin and prevents the development of wrinkles [92].…”

“…Studies have shown that GFF solid fermented ginseng extract (GFFG) has several advantages including promoting anti-aging effects, enhancing the skin's moisturizing function, promoting the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, enhancing the expression of aquaporin, and increasing the level of filagrat mRNA in skin cells [90]. These activities effectively combat the aging process of the skin by reducing the expression of inflammatory factors, such as TNF-α-induced skin MMP-1 [92].…”

Chemical components of Fu brick tea and its potential preventive effects on metabolic syndrome

“…In addition to polysaccharides, FBT is also rich in small molecule secondary metabolites, mainly including flavane‐3‐alcohols, noisoprene, acylated flavonoid glycosides, and triterpenes. Some compounds show good biological activity (Chen, Li, et al., 2021 ; Kong et al., 2019 ; Lu et al., 2019 ; Park et al., 2022 ; Wang, Du, et al., 2021 ; Zhou et al., 2022 ).…”

Structure-Specific Inhibitory Effects of Ginsenosides on Six Uridine 5’-Diphosphoglucuronosyl Transferases in Human Liver Microsomes

“…Ginseng has been used as a traditional Asian medicine in Korea, Japan, and China for thousands of years (Xiang et al 2008;Liu et al 2021;Li et al 2022). Ginsenosides which are main active constituents of ginseng, have a variety of pharmacological properties such as anti-aging (Park et al 2022), anti-cancer (Hwang et al 2022), anti-diabetic (Park et al 2019), anti-hyperlipidemic (Kwak et al 2010), anti-inflammatory (Cho et al 2023), and anti-obesity activities (Yoon et al 2021).…”