Asian J Beauty Cosmetol. 2009; 7(2): 123-136.

Inhibitory effects of Gardeniae fructus water extract on skin wrinkle formation in hairless mice

Soon-Hee Hyung, Kyung-Jin Min, and Young-Chul) Kim

To investigate the inhibitory effects of Gardeniae fructus water extract on the skin wrinkle formation, both their radiation of UVB and the application of squalene monohydroperoxide (Sq-OOH) were applied to the backs of experimental animals for 4 weeks and at the same time, experimental materials were applied topically. Six to seven weeks female SKH-1 hairless mice were divided into five groups including normal (N; saline), control (C;UVB + Sq-OOH + saline), vehicle control(VC; UVB + Sq-OOH + vehicle), positive control (PC; UVB + Sq-OOH + 0.01% retinoic acid) and experimental(E; UVB + Sq-OOH + Gardeniae fructus water extract) groups, five animal seach group. Wrinkles for the C group were formed as a pattern of deep furrows and thick crests.Whereas wrinkles for the PC and E groups were formed as a pattern of shallow furrows and thin crests which were similar to that of the N group. Collagen fibers in the dermis of C group were broken severely and the density was sparse. Whereas collagen fibers in the dermis of PC and E groups were almost intact with a regular arrangement. Elastosis was found in the dermis of C group with the infiltration of degenerated and clotted elastin. Whereas elastic fibers in the dermis of PC and E groups were considerably intact with a regular arrangement. The activity of xanthine oxidase was significantly higher in C group compared to N group, but there was no significant difference between E group and N group. MMP-3 mRNA expression in C group was significantly higher than N group, and that of PC and E groups showed significantly lower than C group. Taken the results together, Gardeniae fructus water extract could have a considerable inhibitory efficacy on skin wrinkle formationin hairless mice, probably due to reducing oxidative stress caused by UVB irradiation and Sq-OOH application.

Keywords : Gardeniae fructus, Wrinkles, Collagen fiber, Antioxidant enzymes, MMP-3