Elastase/Collagenase Inhibition Compositions of Citrus unshiu and Its Association with Phenolic Content and Anti-Oxidant Activity

Abstract

Citrus fruits are rich sources of different phytochemicals for human health due to their high anti-oxidant capacity. However, the anti-aging effect of citrus fruits has not been well understood. In this study, methanol extracts taken at various developmental stages from tissues of Citrus unshiu was used to investigate its anti-aging effect by an elastase/collagenase inhibition assay, and a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was carried out to identify the potential anti-aging compositions. The elastase/collagenase inhibitory activity was greatest in the flesh of immature green fruit (i.e., early July flesh (EJF)), and four candidate compounds were selected by GC-MS and evaluated by a collagenase inhibition assay. Three of the four candidate compounds (heptadecanoic acid, D-allose, and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF)) showed anti-aging activity, and the activity was highest in heptadecanoic acid, followed by D-allose and HMF. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and anti-oxidant activity (DPPH and ferric reducing anti-oxidant power (FRAP) assay) were also investigated. Interestingly, the patterns of the total phenolic/flavonoid content and the anti-oxidant activity were different from that of the elastase/collagenase inhibitory activity. Flowers had the most anti-oxidant activity followed by immature fruit, and the fruit peels had more anti-oxidant activity than its flesh at all stages of development. This study demonstrated that the flesh of immature fruit and flowers of C. unshiu could be sources of anti-aging and anti-oxidant agents for human health, respectively.

Chemical Composition, Antiaging Activities and Molecular Docking Studies of Essential Oils from Acca sellowiana (Feijoa)

“…The targeted enzymes included: (i) Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), The most important enzyme controlling ACh levels in the healthy brain, [40] (ii) β‐ Secretase 1 (BACE1), an important protease involved in the formation of myelin sheaths in peripheral nerves and cleaves the transmembrane amyloid precursor protein APP generating amyloid‐β peptides (Aβ) that aggregate in the brain of AD patients, [41] (iii) Collagenase, responsible for remodeling the extracellular matrix through breaking of the peptide bonds in collagen, [42] (iv) Elastase, a member of family of proteases which is primarily responsible for the breakdown of elastin [43] and (v) tyrosinase (Tyr), a rate‐limiting enzyme that converts tyrosine to melanin [44] . The results of the docking are presented in Table 2.…”

Salicornia ramosissima: A New Green Cosmetic Ingredient with Promising Skin Effects

“…Consequently, their inhibition may maintain skin youth and elasticity, retarding aging, being one of the most successful strategies. Elastin, an elastic protein of the connective tissue [ 57 ], plays an important role in the prevention of wrinkles, skin firmness and elasticity [ 57 ]. The levels of elastin naturally decline with age, inducing the development of wrinkles and skin sagging [ 57 ].…”

“…Elastin, an elastic protein of the connective tissue [ 57 ], plays an important role in the prevention of wrinkles, skin firmness and elasticity [ 57 ]. The levels of elastin naturally decline with age, inducing the development of wrinkles and skin sagging [ 57 ]. Alternatively, hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan, promotes skin rejuvenation and resilience [ 56 ] by increasing viscosity and reducing the permeability of extracellular fluid [ 56 ].…”

Scavenging peptides, antioxidant activity, and hypoglycemic activity of a germinated amaranth ( Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) beverage fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum

“…The total phenolic compounds were determined according to Eun et al (2020). Volumes of 20 μl of sample and 100 μl of 10% (v/v) Folin–Ciocalteu regent were mixed.…”