Antiphotoaging and Antimelanogenic Effects of Penthorum chinense Pursh Ethanol Extract due to Antioxidant- and Autophagy-Inducing Properties

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological Relevance. Penthorum chinense Pursh (Penthoraceae) is a traditional herbal plant that has been used in China for the treatment of jaundice, cholecystitis, edema, and infectious hepatitis. In addition, the Korea Medicinal Plant Dictionary states that Penthorum chinense Pursh can be used to treat contusions and skin bruises by improving blood flow. Recent studies have shown that Penthorum chinense Pursh ethanol extract (Pc-EE) exhibits strong antioxidant effects. In this study, we examined the effects of Pc-EE on UVB-induced or H2O2-induced oxidative stress, as well as its antimelanogenic properties. Cell viability, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression, cyclooxygenease-2 (COX-2), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression and moisturizing factors were investigated in keratinocytes. Collagen synthesis induction was measured in HEK293T cells. For melanogenesis, the effects of Pc-EE on melanin content and tyrosinase activity were measured. Additionally, the antimelanogenic- and autophagy-inducing activities of Pc-EE were examined using immunoblotting and confocal microscopy. Pc-EE protected HaCaT cells against death from UVB irradiation- or H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Pc-EE increased the promoter activity of the type 1 procollagen gene Col1A1 and decreased the expression of MMPs, COX-2, IL-6, and hyaluronidase induced by UVB irradiation- or H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Pc-EE showed a strong antioxidant effect in the DPPH assay. In α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone- (α-MSH-) stimulated B16F10 cells, Pc-EE reduced melanin production, decreased tyrosinase expression and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) protein levels, and decreased the phosphorylation levels of p38 and JNK. In HEK293T cells, Pc-EE promoted the expression of GFP-LC3B. In B16F10 cells, the LC3B and melanin contents were reduced by Pc-EE and were restored by the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). These results suggest that Pc-EE can be used as a skin protection agent due to its antiapoptotic, antiaging, anti-inflammatory, and antimelanogenic properties.

An Overview of the Mechanism of Penthorum chinense Pursh on Alcoholic Fatty Liver

“…However, PCP-EE has antiapoptotic, antiaging, and anti-inflammatory properties that protect HaCaT cells from UVB radiation or H 2 O 2 lethal-induced oxidative stress and increases the promoter activity of the type 1 collagen gene Col1A1 and decreases the UVB radiation or H 2 O 2 induced oxidative stress induced MMPs, COX-2, IL-6, and hyaluronan [ 12 ], suggesting that the treatment of alcohol liver-induced oxidative stress by autophagy is a novel mechanism [ 102 ], combined with quercetin, and the therapeutic results of resveratrol in alcohol liver suggest that it may regulate autophagy through the core regulator of autophagy; the transcription factor forkhead box protein O3 (FOXO3a) [ 103 ] plays an important role in the pathogenesis of alcohol liver [ 104 ], and there is crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis; PCP and its active ingredients inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway through SIRT1 activation [ 105 ] by promoting Bcl-xl, the expression of Bcl2, and caspases proteins to regulate apoptosis, and it has been shown that Bcl-2 protein not only counteracts the activity of proapoptotic proteins to downregulate apoptosis but also interacts with Beclin-1 to prevent autophagy. The results suggest that there is some crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis, providing a new thought on the mechanism of action of PCP in the treatment of alcohol liver [ 106 ].…”

“…In China, Penthorum chinense Pursh (PCP) has been used for hundreds of years traditionally with the functions of “promote diuresis and reduce swelling,” “circulation of blood,” “circulation of blood stasis,” and “soothing liver and invigorating spleen,” for alleviating symptoms by excessive intake of alcohol as well as in the treatment of traumatic injury, edema, and liver diseases. Recently, it has a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as antiaging [ 12 ], antioxidant [ 13 ], anti-inflammatory [ 14 ], hypoglycemic [ 15 ], antibacterial [ 12 ], and promoting immune regulation. Modern studies have shown that PCP protects the liver and treats acute viral hepatitis and chronic liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, and other alcohol liver diseases [ 13 ].…”

Anti-Melanogenic Effects of Ethanol Extracts of the Leaves and Roots of Patrinia villosa (Thunb.) Juss through Their Inhibition of CREB and Induction of ERK and Autophagy

“…Many recent studies have shown that autophagy regulates melanin formation [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. We conducted a study on plant extracts that regulate melanogenesis through autophagy [ 20 ] and confirmed that Pv-EE induces autophagy. In this paper, we analyzed the regulation of melanogenesis using the ability of Pv-EE to induce autophagy.…”

Photoaging Protective Effects of Ranunculus bulumei Methanol Extract

“…Total RNA was then isolated with TRIzol reagent according to the manufacturer's instructions. RT-PCR was performed as described previously [28]. Primers used in this study are listed in Table 1.…”