Protective effect of mixture of Acanthopanax sessiliflorum and Chaenomeles sinensis against ultraviolet B-induced photodamage in human fibroblast and hairless mouse

Skin photoaging, characterized by collagen degradation and upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), is a major concern caused by UVB irradiation. In this study, we investigated the potential of Acanthopanax sessiliflorum extract (ASE) and Chaenomeles sinensis (CSE) extracts to mitigate the effects of UVB-induced photodamage in human fibroblast and hairless mice. Water extracts of AS (ASE) and CS (CSE) were found to inhibit the expression of MMP-1/-3 in vitro. Furthermore, the extract of mixture of AS and CS (ACE) showed more potent inhibitor effect, as compared to ASE and CSE. In UVB-irradiated hairless mice, oral administration of ACE effectively reduced wrinkle formation, skin roughness, and epidermal thickness while promoting the deposition of collagenous fibers. These results indicate that ACE has the potential to protect against skin photoaging by restoring the impaired skin via downregulation of MMP-1/-3 expression and secretion. Our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of ACE in mitigating skin photoaging.