Mechanisms for Anti-wrinkle Activities from Fractions of Black Chokeberries

Abstract

Black chokeberries (scientific name Aronia melanocarpa) have been reported to have major effects due to anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer capabilities. In this study, we investigated the anti-wrinkle effects of A. melanocarpa, including collagenase inhibition effects and their molecular biological mechanisms, such as oxidative stress-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, and activator protein (AP)-1 expression and/or phosphorylation. In collagenase inhibition activity, the ethyl acetate fraction of black chokeberry (AE) was 77.2% at a concentration of 500 μg/ml, which was a significant result compared to that of Epigallocatechin gallate (positive control, 83.9% in 500 μg/ml). In the reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, the AE produced 78% of ROS in 10 μg/ml and 70% of ROS in 75 μg/ml, which was a much lower percentage than the ROS production of H2O2-induced CCRF S-180II cells. In the MTT assay, cell viability was increased dose-dependently with AE in H2O2-induced cells. In protein expression by western blot assay, the AE suppressed the expression and phosphorylation of MMPs (MMP-1, -3, -9), MAPK (ERK, JNK, and p38), and AP-1 (c-Fos and c-Jun), and expressed the pro-collagen type I in H2O2-induced cells. These results suggest that black chokeberries have anti-wrinkle and collagen-production effects, and they may be used in applications for material development in the functional food and cosmetic industries.

Herbal Infusions as a Valuable Functional Food

“…The compounds of plant origin, both as pure substances and in the form of plant extracts, can effectively inhibit metalloproteinases [66,67], which was especially proven for flavonoids (including rutin and potent inhibitor of collagenase EGCG [68]), phenolic acids (in chlorogenic acid and gallic acid), anthocyanins (including from blackcurrant (delphinidin derivatives)) or procyanidins [69]. Moreover, collagenase-inhibiting properties were noted for extracts from nettle [70], and black chokeberries [71], present in the examined HBs. Our results indicated moderate anti-collagenase activity of all the tested HBs, with the exception of HB3.…”