Inhibitory effects of Pomegranate concentrated solution on the activities of Hyaluronidase, Tyrosinase, and Metalloproteinase 1

INhIbITory effeCTS of PomegraNaTe CoNCeNTraTed SoluTIoN oN The aCTIVITIeS of hyaluroNIdaSe, TyroSINaSe, aNd meTalloProTeINaSe 1 S.J. Kang; B.R. Choi; S.H. Kim; H.Y. Yi; H.R. Park; S.J. Park; C.H. Song; J.H. Park; Y.J. Lee; and S.K. Ku The Medical Research Center for Globalization of Herbal Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Deagu Haany University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea; Research Institute, Health-Love Co., Ltd., Anyang, Republic of Korea; Department of Histology and Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea; and Department of Herbology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea Background: Botanical antioxidants have attracted much attention as useful preventatives of skin damage. Pomegranate is consumed throughout the world for its beneficial health effects, including its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Objectives: We investigated whether pomegranate concentrated solution (PCS) could serve as a potential functional cosmetic ingredient that exerts a skin-whitening effect and anti-wrinkle activity. Methods: To investigate the moisturizing effect of PCS, hyaluronidase activity was examined in human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Elastase and pro-collagenase activities were assessed in normal human primary dermal fibroblast-neonatal (HDF-N) cells to determine their anti-wrinkle effects. Metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) activity was also assessed following UVA irradiation. Whitening effects were measured by a tyrosinase inhibition assay and melanin formation test in mouse melanocytes (Melan-a). In addition, histopathological analysis was performed to determine the number of microfolds formed on the epithelial surface, mean epithelial thickness, mean number of inflammatory cells infiltrating the dermis, and collagen fiber-occupied regions within the dermis. Results: Hyaluronan synthesis was significantly increased by PCS in HaCaT cells, while pro-collagenase and elastase activities were decreased in HDF-N cells. A significant decrease in UVA-induced MMP-1 activity was also observed in PCS-treated HDF-N cells, compared with UVA-exposed cells. PCS effectively reduced melanin production and mushroom tyrosinase activity in Melan-a cells. Moreover, UVB-induced histopathological dermal sclerosis and inflammatory signs were significantly attenuated in PCS-administered mice compared with UVB-exposed mice. Conclusions: Our results suggest that PCS prevents signs of aging, including those related to photo-aging. These effects are associated with enhanced hyaluronan synthesis, as well as suppressed elastase, collagenase, MMP-1, and tyrosinase activities and melanin production. UVB-induced photo-aging, such as histopathological dermal sclerosis and inflammatory signs, were effectively reduced upon the addition of PCS. These results also suggest that skin aging can be prevented and reduced by the antioxidant effects of PCS.