Effects of a complex mixture prepared from agrimonia, houttuynia, licorice, peony, and phellodendron on human skin cells

Sci Rep. 2020 Dec 17;10(1):22132. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-79301-2.

Abstract

Active ingredients derived from natural sources are widely utilized in many industries. Cosmetic active ingredients are largely derived from various plants. In this study, we examined whether a mixture of plant extracts obtained from agrimonia, houttuynia, licorice, peony, and phellodendron (hereafter AHLPP), which are well-known for their effects on skin, could affect skin barrier function, inflammation, and aging in human skin cells. We also determined whether AHLPP extracts sterilized using γ-irradiation (to avoid preservatives) retained their skin cell regulating activity. The AHLPP mixture could downregulate representative pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL 1-β and IL 7. Procollagen peptide synthesis was also increased by AHLPP treatment along with mRNA upregulation of barrier proteins such as filaggrin and desmoplakin. The AHLPP mixture showed an anti-aging effect by significantly upregulating telomerase activity in human keratinocytes. We further observed TERT upregulation and CDKN1B downregulation, implying a weakening of pro-aging signal transduction. Co-cultivation of a hydrogel polymer containing the AHLPP mixture with human skin cells showed an alteration in skin-significant genes such as FLG, which encodes filaggrin. Thus, the AHLPP mixture with or without γ-irradiation can be utilized for skin protection as it alters the expression of some significant genes in human skin cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agrimonia / chemistry*
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Senescence / drug effects
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Complex Mixtures / chemistry
  • Complex Mixtures / pharmacology*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dermis / cytology
  • Dermis / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Filaggrin Proteins
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Glycyrrhiza / chemistry*
  • Houttuynia / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Keratinocytes / drug effects
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Paeonia / chemistry*
  • Phellodendron / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Skin / cytology
  • Skin / drug effects*

Substances

  • Complex Mixtures
  • Cytokines
  • FLG protein, human
  • Filaggrin Proteins
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Plant Extracts
  • Collagen