Inhibitory Effect of Opuntia humifusa Fruit Water Extract on Solar Ultraviolet-Induced MMP-1 Expression

Abstract

Opuntia humifusa is a type of cactus whose fruits have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of several diseases. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether O. humifusa fruit water extract (OHE) has inhibitory effects against solar ultraviolet (sUV)-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression. In ex vivo human skin, we found that OHE suppressed sUV radiation-induced MMP-1 expression. The inhibitory effect of OHE was confirmed in human dermal fibroblasts. OHE treatment reduced sUV-induced MMP-1 expression by suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and phosphorylation of c-Jun, a component of transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP-1). On the other hand, OHE recovered the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and type 1 collagen production attenuated by sUV. As upstream signaling pathways for AP-1, MKK4-JNK, MEK-ERK, and MKK3/6-p38 phosphorylation were downregulated by OHE treatment. In addition, OHE exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity. These findings demonstrate that OHE has a preventive effect against sUV-induced skin damage via suppression of pathways triggered by ROS.

Effects of Microwave-Assisted Opuntia humifusa Extract in Inhibiting the Impacts of Particulate Matter on Human Keratinocyte Skin Cell

“…The data also indicated that MA-OHE possessed a higher antioxidant activity, nearly 98% of DPPH radical scavenging efficiency, while the maximum percentage of DPPH radical scavenging efficiency reported in other studies was only 80% [32]. While MA-OHE showed similar effects to those of other advanced technologies (e.g., ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE)) in terms of yield (UAE: 31.7%) [12], MA-OHE possessed a lower viscosity as compared with the UAE method. This was due to the fact that the acoustic energy (mechanical energy) used in the UAE process was not absorbed by molecules, but was only transmitted throughout the medium [21], whereas the microwave method used high energy to heat molecules by a dual mechanism of ionic conduction and dipole rotation, which reduced the attractive forces between the molecules.…”

“…According to the results, the MA-OHE presented not only low viscosity, but also enhanced antioxidant capacity (phenolic and flavonoid compounds) relative to raw O. humifusa. As compared with the conventional methods, MA-OHE exhibited several remarkable advantages regarding the yield, viscosity, and antioxidant activity [11,12,17,21]. For illustration, MA-OHE showed a significantly higher yield (33.5%), compared with extracts prepared by conventional methods such as solvent extraction and the hot water method (10.5-23.1%) [11,17].…”

“…Among biomedical plants, O. humifusa, known as Korean Cheonnyuncho, is rich in nutrients (i.e., betalains, vitamins, minerals, phenolic compounds, flavonoid compounds, and polysaccharides) [11][12][13][14]. Therein, phenolic acids include vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, salicylic acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, and sinapic acid, while flavonoid compounds include rutin, narcissi, kaempferol, and quercetin [15].…”

“…Therein, phenolic acids include vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, salicylic acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, and sinapic acid, while flavonoid compounds include rutin, narcissi, kaempferol, and quercetin [15]. Based on O. humifusa's outstanding features (e.g., high moisturization, high antioxidant activity, anti-inflammation, and anti-diabetes), its extract has been widely applied for topical-cosmetic, biomedical, and food-additive purposes [11][12][13]. For example, Yoon et al (2009) reported that O. humifusa had been successfully applied to treat various diseases, including arteriosclerosis, gastritis, diabetes mellitus, and hyperglycemia [16].…”

Anti-Metastatic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibition by Ginsenosides

“…MMPs also have stimulatory or inhibitory effects on angiogenesis. Of many kinds of MMPs, MMP-2 and MMP-9 play the most important roles in angiogenesis process [ 22 ]. MMP-9 proteolytically digests ECM and releases vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an ECM-bound factor that is important in the stimulation of angiogenesis.…”