Synergistic anti-photoaging and anti-inflammatory effects of Eucommia ulmoides, Styphnolobium japonicum, and Portulaca oleracea extracts via TGF-β/Smad/IL-17 pathway

IF 5.2 2区 农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
Fangli Zhu, Liping Qu, Rui Xu, Yonglei Yuan, Shuhong Zhang, Yueyue Chen
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (PE), Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott (PS) and Portulaca oleracea L. (PP) are well-characterized medicinal botanicals with established therapeutic profiles. PE exhibits anti-psoriatic and anti-aging properties through bioactive constituents, as demonstrated in vitro and in vivo research. PS flowers contain sophoricoside, a validated modulator of atopic dermatitis pathways, while PP displays broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Given their complementary mechanisms and the limited efficacy of single-agent approaches against UVB-driven oxidative stress/inflammation, we hypothesized that a tripartite extract (ESP: PE/PS/PP) would demonstrate synergistic photoprotection. This study evaluated the efficacy of ESP through integrated experimental cell models, a murine model of acute UVB-induced photoaging, and transcriptome analysis.

Results

ESP extracts demonstrated synergistic antioxidant and photoprotective activities through multi-target mechanisms, effectively attenuating UVB-induced photoaging in vitro and in vivo. LC-QTOF-MS analysis identified major bioactive components comprising organic acids, polysaccharides, iridoids, and flavonoids. In a paracrine signaling model using conditioned medium from UVB-exposed HaCaT cells to stimulate HFF cells, ESP significantly inhibited UVB-induced secretion of inflammatory mediators (PGE2, TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-6). Transcriptome sequencing coupled with RT-qPCR validation revealed that ESP attenuated photoaging via the IL-17 signaling pathway, downregulating key mediators including matrix metalloproteinases (MMP1/3/13), chemokines (CXCL3/8, CCL7), and colony-stimulating factors (CSF2/3). Furthermore, ESP reduced mitochondrial ROS generation, stabilized membrane potential, activated the TGF-β/Smad pathway, and upregulated COL1A1 and COL3A1 expression. Significantly, in a murine model of acute UVB-induced photoaging, ESP treatment produced dose-dependent restoration of UVB-damaged skin. It markedly attenuated epidermal hyperplasia, and increased collagen density. Concurrently, it improved skin elasticity and barrier function (TEWL), while suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17) and MMP3 expression, and upregulating collagen genes (COL1A1, COL3A1). These findings demonstrated that ESP inhibits photoaging through four integrated pathways: (1) attenuating inflammatory cytokines, (2) scavenging ROS, (3) enhancing collagen synthesis, and (4) restoring structural and functional integrity to the skin.

Conclusion

Our data established ESP as a potent anti-photoaging agent that protects against UVB-induced damage via coordinated modulation of the TGF-β/Smad pathway and IL-17 signaling. Its dose-dependent efficacy, demonstrated through effective ROS scavenging, enhanced collagen synthesis, and significant anti-inflammatory activity, validates ESP as a novel, multi-target strategy against skin aging.

Graphical Abstract

杜仲、日本蓟和马齿苋提取物通过TGF-β/Smad/IL-17途径的协同抗光老化和抗炎作用
杜仲(杜仲);(PE), Styphnolobium japonicum (l)Schott (PS)和马齿苋L. (PP)是具有良好特征的药用植物,具有建立的治疗概况。PE通过生物活性成分表现出抗银屑病和抗衰老的特性,这在体外和体内研究中得到了证明。PS花含有苦参皂苷,是一种有效的特应性皮炎通路调节剂,而PP花具有广谱的抗炎和抗氧化活性。考虑到它们的互补机制和单药方法对uvb驱动的氧化应激/炎症的有限功效,我们假设三组分提取物(ESP: PE/PS/PP)可能表现出协同光保护作用。本研究通过综合实验细胞模型、急性uvb诱导的光老化小鼠模型和转录组分析来评估ESP的功效。结果esp提取物通过多靶点机制表现出协同抗氧化和光保护活性,在体外和体内均能有效减弱uvb诱导的光老化。LC-QTOF-MS分析鉴定出主要的生物活性成分,包括有机酸、多糖、环烯醚萜和类黄酮。在使用uvb暴露的HaCaT细胞的条件培养基刺激HFF细胞的旁分泌信号模型中,ESP显著抑制uvb诱导的炎症介质(PGE2, TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-6)的分泌。转录组测序结合RT-qPCR验证表明,ESP通过IL-17信号通路减弱光老化,下调基质金属蛋白酶(MMP1/3/13)、趋化因子(CXCL3/8、CCL7)和集落刺激因子(CSF2/3)等关键介质。此外,ESP减少线粒体ROS生成,稳定膜电位,激活TGF-β/Smad通路,上调COL1A1和COL3A1表达。值得注意的是,在急性uvb诱导的光老化小鼠模型中,ESP治疗产生了uvb损伤皮肤的剂量依赖性修复。它明显减轻表皮增生,并增加胶原蛋白密度。同时改善皮肤弹性和屏障功能(TEWL),抑制促炎因子(TNF-α、IL-6、IL-17)和MMP3的表达,上调胶原蛋白基因(COL1A1、COL3A1)。这些发现表明ESP通过四个综合途径抑制光老化:(1)减弱炎症细胞因子,(2)清除ROS,(3)促进胶原合成,(4)恢复皮肤的结构和功能完整性。结论ESP是一种有效的抗光老化剂,通过TGF-β/Smad通路和IL-17信号的协同调节来保护uvb诱导的损伤。其剂量依赖性功效,通过有效清除活性氧、增强胶原合成和显著的抗炎活性证明了ESP是一种新的、多靶点的抗皮肤衰老策略。图形抽象
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来源期刊
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology-Biotechnology
CiteScore
6.80
自引率
3.00%
发文量
83
审稿时长
15 weeks
期刊介绍: Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture is an international, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed forum for the advancement and application to all fields of agriculture of modern chemical, biochemical and molecular technologies. The scope of this journal includes chemical and biochemical processes aimed to increase sustainable agricultural and food production, the evaluation of quality and origin of raw primary products and their transformation into foods and chemicals, as well as environmental monitoring and remediation. Of special interest are the effects of chemical and biochemical technologies, also at the nano and supramolecular scale, on the relationships between soil, plants, microorganisms and their environment, with the help of modern bioinformatics. Another special focus is the use of modern bioorganic and biological chemistry to develop new technologies for plant nutrition and bio-stimulation, advancement of biorefineries from biomasses, safe and traceable food products, carbon storage in soil and plants and restoration of contaminated soils to agriculture. This journal presents the first opportunity to bring together researchers from a wide number of disciplines within the agricultural chemical and biological sciences, from both industry and academia. The principle aim of Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture is to allow the exchange of the most advanced chemical and biochemical knowledge to develop technologies which address one of the most pressing challenges of our times - sustaining a growing world population. Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture publishes original research articles, short letters and invited reviews. Articles from scientists in industry, academia as well as private research institutes, non-governmental and environmental organizations are encouraged.
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