Anti-aging and anti-inflammation effect of Polygonum viscosum Buch. in HaCaT keratinocyte cells and LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

Abstract

The skin is prone to increased wrinkle formation and induction of inflammation from accumulated ROS due to various external factors. Therefore, it is important to reduce oxidative stress by inhibiting the accumulation of ROS to reduce the expression of MMPs and inflammatory mediators that degrade skin structure. Polygonum viscosum Buch., a native Korean plant, has been shown to be active against pain, infection, fever, tumor, and inflammation in previous studies, but its mechanisms of wrinkle reduction and anti-inflammation have not yet been studied. In this study, the anti-wrinkle, anti- inflammatory, and antioxidant activities of Polygonum viscosum ethanolic extract (PVE) were investigated using the HaCaT of human keratinocyte cell line and murine macrophage RAW264.7 cell. Through elastase and collagenase inhibition assays, it was confirmed that PVE effectively inhibited the activities of collagen and elastin degrading enzymes. The cytotoxicity of PVE against HaCaT and RAW264.7 was tested using the WST-1 assay, which showed cytotoxicity at 200 μg/ml in HaCaT and no significant toxicity in RAW264.7. The ABTS+ and DCFH-DA assays confirmed that PVE was active in scavenging intracellularly generated ROS as well as ABTS+ radicals. It also showed activity in inhibiting intracellular elastase and reduced the production of NO in LPS-treated RAW264.7. Western blot results showed that PVE downregulated p- ERK1/2 and the NF-κB pathway and upregulated the Nrf-2 pathway in HaCaT. And PVE reduced the expression of inflammatory mediators such as iNOS and COX-2 by downregulating the NF-κB pathway in RAW264.7. RT-qPCR results confirmed that PVE has the effect of reducing MMPs, antioxidants, and inflammatory mediator expression by regulating mRNA levels. Therefore, PVE has protective effects on the skin through its anti-wrinkle, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, indicating its potential as a cosmetic material.