Effects of red ginseng on the elastic properties of human skin

Abstract Background Red ginseng contains components that can be used in skincare to delay the aging process, including microelements, vitamins, essential oils, and fatty acids. We investigated the effects of red ginseng treatment on skin elasticity by assessing cellular stiffness and measuring collagen protein synthesis. Methods Human dermal fibroblasts were treated with red ginseng, and the resulting changes in stiffness were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cytoskeletal changes and the mRNA expression of biomarkers of aging, including procollagens I and VII, elastin, and fibrillin-1, were investigated. Collagen in a human skin equivalent treated with red ginseng was visualized via hematoxylin and eosin staining, scanning electron microscopy, and AFM. Results and conclusion The stiffness of fibroblasts was significantly reduced by treatment with red ginseng concentrations of ≥ 0.8 mg/mL. The F-actin to G-actin ratio decreased after treatment, which corresponded with a change in fibroblast stiffness. The storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of skin equivalent were both lowered by red ginseng treatment. This result indicates that the viscoelasticity of skin equivalent can be restored by red ginseng treatment.