Ho-Song Cho

Anti-wrinkling effects of the mixture of vitamin C, vitamin E, pycnogenol and evening primrose oil, and molecular mechanisms on hairless mouse skin caused by chronic ultraviolet B irradiation

Background: Naturally occurring antioxidants were used to regulate the skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation because several antioxidants have demonstrated that they can inhibit wrinkle formation through prevention of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and/or increase of collagen synthesis.

Inhibitory Effect of Proanthocyanidin on Ultraviolet B Irradiation-Induced Melanogenesis

Repetitive exposure of the skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces various adverse effects, including skin thickening, wrinkle formation, inflammation, and pigmentation. Various natural and synthetic compounds were studied to determine whether they might prevent UV induction of these adverse effects. In particular, naturally occurring antioxidants were used for regulating skin damage induced by UV radiation since several antioxidants were found to inhibit photoaging through prevention of collagen synthesis via inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and/or decrease of melanin synthesis. The L values in pigmented skin were lower at 4 wk (52.97 ± 2.09) than at the start of this study (0 wk, 62.89 ± 0.56) in the control. In the proanthocyanidin mixture group, the L value was increased (56.83 ± 1.71) similar to the control (52.97 ± 2.09). Proanthocyanidin also suppressed the expression levels of tyrosinase by 20–40%, and blocked the expression of MITF, TRP-1, and TRP-2, which are factors implicated in the control of melanogenesis. Taken together, these data indicate that proanthocyanidin may be useful to attenuate UVB-induced melanogenesis.