Anti-ageing activities of nanovesicles derived from Artemisia princeps in human dermal cells and human skin model

Abstract

Plant-derived substances are widely used as cosmeceutical and food materials owing to their beneficial properties that promote human health, such as antioxidant, nutritional supply and regenerative potential. In particular, nanovesicles (NVs) from plants contain various biomolecules, including signal proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites, that participate in cross-kingdom communication. In this study, we isolated NVs from Artemisia princeps (APNVs) based on differential centrifugation and further purification via tangential flow filtration (TFF). Evaluation of the effects of these NVs on the cellular proliferation of fibroblasts clearly indicated their anti-ageing potential for the skin. Specifically, exposure of human dermal fibroblast cells to low concentrations of APNVs (100–200 ng/mL) accelerated cell proliferation over a 7-day period. Treatment with APNVs decreased the senescence level of dermal fibroblast cells, as evidenced by senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity connected with cellular ageing. In the anti-ageing efficacy assessment, inhibition of MMP-1 activity in nanovesicle-treated cells was higher than that induced by the positive control epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). To validate the inhibitory effect of APNVs on anti-ageing in human skin, three-dimensional, reconstituted human keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts were cultured with 1000 ng/mL APNVs. Notably, procollagen type I expression was increased in the culture medium following APNVs treatment. Our collective results suggest that APNVs accelerate type I procollagen production through inhibition of MMP-1. In view of the significant anti-ageing potential of APNVs, we recommend their implementation as an active substance in pharmaceutical and functional cosmeceutical products.