Screening the Chemical Composition and Bioactivity of Cerasus serrulata Flower Extracts Using Two Extraction Methods

Abstract

Background Cerasus serrulata has an excellent antioxidative, antibacterial, and anti-alopecia effect, but its active ingredients and the underlying mechanism are currently unclear, in addition to the fact that the active products vary with the extraction methods. Aim Therefore, this study aims to clarify the active components and antioxidative property of C. serrulata extracted by two different methods (low-temperature vacuum extraction and ethanol extraction) and explore its potential biofunction. Materials and Methods First, the compositions in extracts were characterized by gas chromatographic mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrography (LC-MS). Then, the antioxidative activity of both extracts was evaluated using free radical scavenging assay (ABTS) and ORAC. Next, the antibacterial activity of both extracts was measured via a bacteriostatic circle experiment. The anti-alopecia effects of both extracts were studied using a mouse model of alopecia. The hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to evaluate hair follicles; vascular endothelial-derived growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in mouse skin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, while β-catenin expression in tissues was used by immunofluorescence. The expression of FGFR and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the skin was determined to evaluate using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The levels of DHT and 5α-reductase in the experimental mice were determined by ELISA. Results The GC-MS analysis results showed that the extracts were rich in alkanes and aromatic compounds, specifically benzaldehyde, which was the highest component in the cold vacuum extraction, while pipecolic acid was the main component in the ethanol extract. This indicates that C. serrulata has components that exhibit strong inhibitory ability against the growth of five common bacterial strains, expressing excellent free radical scavenging ability. In addition, the active ingredients in C. serrulata were found to significantly deregulate the protein levels in the skin of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) mice, with the levels of IL-6. They were also able to significantly inhibit VEGF reduction. The β-catenin was being significantly upregulated in skin tissue. In addition, FGFR and IGF-1 gene expression also increased. The 5α-reductase and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can be reduced in the C. serrulata treatment. Conclusion Our data indicate that C. serrulata extract could be beneficial supplements of natural antioxidative, antibacterial, and anti-alopecia agents.

Review: The Potential of Herbal Plants as Anti-Alopecia Medicines

“…The research conducted by Zhang et al (2023) on the anti-alopecia effects of Cerasus serrulata was carried out using two different extraction methods, namely cold vacuum extraction and ethanol extraction. The results of the study showed that the composition of compounds in the Cerasus serrulata extract varied depending on the extraction method used.…”

“…Additionally, the extract also exhibited strong antioxidant activity in scavenging free radicals and demonstrated good antibacterial abilities in inhibiting the growth of five common bacterial strains. Studies on the alopecia rat model showed that the use of Cerasus serrulata extract had a positive effect on maintaining hair follicles, regulating the expression of VEGF, IL-6, β-catenin, FGFR, and IGF-1 proteins, and reducing DHT and 5α-reductase levels (Zhang et al, 2023).…”

“…Firstly, the extract can regulate key proteins in the skin, such as reducing IL-6 levels and preventing the decrease in VEGF, as well as increasing the expression of βcatenin, FGFR, and IGF-1. Secondly, the extract is also capable of reducing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels and the 5α-reductase enzyme in experimental rats, which are important factors in alopecia (Zhang et al, 2023).…”