Effects of red ginseng extract on UVB irradiation-induced skin aging in hairless mice.
Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Korean herb medicine, has been widely used in China and Japan for fatigue and enhancement of resistance to many diseases.


OBJECTIVE
This study is aimed to assess the effects of Korean red ginseng extract on UVB irradiation induced skin aging in hairless mice.


METHODS
Red ginseng extracts prepared with ethanol were used in this study. To standardize Korean red ginseng, it was analyzed by HPLC. And inhibitory effects of red ginseng extract on UVB irradiation-induced skin aging in hairless mice were determined by the measurement of wrinkle, expression of type I procollagen and MMP-1 and immunohistology.


RESULTS
Based on the HPLC quantitative analysis, ginsenoside Rb1 content in Korean red ginseng was 43.5mg/g of extract. In the result of body weight gain and food efficiency rate, body weights of all groups were increased during experimental periods. In the wrinkle measurement and image analysis of skin replicas, the results showed that the dietary supply containing red ginseng extract significantly inhibited wrinkle formation caused by chronic UVB irradiation. In the changes of expression of procollagen type I and MMP-1 in the skin of UV irradiated hairless mice fed dietary supplement containing 2.5% red ginseng extract, level of mRNA of procollagen type I was decreased. But protein level of that was increased. And in terms of MMP-1, either mRNA or protein levels of MMP-1 were significantly decreased. These results showed anti-wrinkle effect of Korean red ginseng involved the inhibition of collagen degradation rather than increased collagen synthesis.


CONCLUSIONS
It is shown that Korean red ginseng may be functional food candidate for skin photoaging.
Kang
Tong Ho
TH
Department of Oriental Medicinal Materials & Processing, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Global Campus, Seocheon-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 446-701, Republic of Korea.
Park
Hye Min
HM
Kim
Yoon-Bum
YB
Kim
Hyunae
H
Kim
Nami
N
Do
Jae-Ho
JH
Kang
Chulhun
C
Cho
Yunhi
Y
Kim
Sun Yeou
SY
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011347:Procollagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
D036145:Ginsenosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011347:Procollagen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C442759:ginsenoside Rb1; D003094:Collagen; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1