Anti-photoageing and anti-melanogenesis activities of chrysin

Abstract

Context: Melanin plays an important role in preventing skin photoageing by blocking ultraviolet B (UVB). However, East Asian women prefer light and fair skin, therefore they want to keep their skin from photoageing and at the same time reduce the melanin in their skin. Chrysin is a kind of natural flavonoid with luxurious biological activities, which has a very promising effect on achieving this goal.

Objective: To elucidate the effects and mechanisms of chrysin on photoageing and melanogenesis.

Materials and methods: Human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) and B16 murine melanoma cells were incubated with chrysin (0–25 μM) for 48 h. Anti-photoageing activity was examined in HDF by assessment of synthesis/degradation of collagen I, antioxidative and antisenescent activities through ELISA and colorimetric method. Anti-melanogenesis activity was tested by assessment of melanin, tyrosinase (TYR), melanogenic proteins inhibition activities in B16 cells using colorimetric and ELISA method.

Results: Chrysin increased collagen I secretion (50–121.54% at 6.25–25 μM) and chrysin showed anti-photoageing activity by decreasing the degradation of collagen I, repairing oxidation damage and reducing the rate of HDF senescence. Furthermore, chrysin exhibited inhibitory activities with 3.00–20.35% reduction of melanin content at 6.25–25 μM, and inhibited melanin synthesis through the inhibition of TYR activity and the suppression of melanogenic proteins (TYR, TYR-related protein-1/2 and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor) expressions.

Discussion and conclusion: Chrysin may have potential for developing a functional cosmetic agent because of its anti-photoageing and anti-melanogenesis activities.

Keywords:

• B16 murine melanoma cells
• flavonoid
• human dermal fibroblasts
• melanogenesis
• photoageing

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Funding information

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central University (WF1113010), the National Special Fund for State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering (2060204) and Shanghai Inoherb Cosmetics Co. Ltd.