Amentoflavone-Enriched Protects against Ultraviolet- and Oxidative Stress-Induced Aging in Skin Cells.

Selaginellaceae plants are used in cosmetics to limit skin aging. This study is the first to investigate the anti-aging effects of (SR) on ultraviolet B (UVB)- and oxidative stress-induced skin cells. The 95% ethanol extract of (SR95E) contained much higher amounts of amentoflavone (AMF), an active compound, than other Selaginellaceae plants and was more effective in inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 expression in CCD-986sk fibroblasts. SR95E significantly decreased UVB-induced , , and expression and enhanced procollagen type I C-peptide content and mRNA expression of collagen type I alpha ( and in CCD-986sk fibroblasts. In HaCaT keratinocytes, SR95E treatment also dose-dependently decreased UVB-induced MMP-1 concentration and , , and mRNA expression. Moreover, SR95E treatment markedly inhibited UVB-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and nuclear factor kappa-B signaling in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, SR95E and AMF markedly regulated the 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced expression of cellular senescence-related markers, including , and , in HaCaT cells. Overall, this study indicates that SR may have potential as a functional material on preventing UVB- and AAPH-induced skin aging and wrinkles.