Abstract
This study was undertaken to determine the effects of enzyme-treated Zizania latifolia (ETZL) and of its major compound tricin on skin photo-aging and to investigate the mechanisms involved. It was found ETZL and tricin suppressed matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production and increased type I-procollagen production in UVB-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Furthermore, ETZL and tricin significantly up-regulated the expressions of the antioxidant enzymes HO-1 and SOD1, reduced UVB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) induction by ROS and thereby attenuated activator protein-1 (AP-1) expression. In addition, ETZL and tricin both reduced the phosphorylations of IκBα and IKKα/ß and κB blocked the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65. These results show that ETZL have skin protective effects against UVB and suggest tricin as major efficacious material in ETZL protecting skin photoaging.