Biological activity of leaves of three Morinda species detected by stimulation and suppression of gene expression of collagen, elastin, melanin and other related genes

Morinda coreia , M. elliptica and M. tomentosa leaves were investigated. α-EG and pinoresinol were found by GC-MS and GC-FID. MTT and comet assays did not reveal toxicity in normal PBMCs and DHFa cells, but the ethanol and hexane M. coreia and M. tomentosa extracts were toxic to CHL-1 cancer cells. Biological activities were detected by gene expression through qRT-PCR. Ethanol M. tomentosa extract can stimulate collagen type I, II, III and elastin creation through expression of COL1A , COL1A2 , COL2A1 , COL-II , COLL2 , COL3A and ELN genes; inhibit enzyme synthesis for collagen and elastin degradation through ELANE , MMP1 , MMP13 , TIMP1 genes; does not affect DHFa cells, but does affect CHL-1 cells through the NRF2 gene; can stimulate DHFa cell proliferation through the FGF1 and FGF7 genes; has anti-inflammatory effects on DHFa cells, and has no effects on CHL-1 cells through the TGF-β gene. Ethanol M. tomentosa extract can suppress melanin production through the α-MSH and TYR genes. In summary, M. tomentosa can be used in human health and skin care products, the research was accomplished with the aim of deducing how more plant species with high bioactivities can be utilized without toxicity, the leaves of M. tomentosa can be easier to use correctly than fruits depending on the season and smell.