Sargahydroquinoic acid from Sargassum macrocarpum attenuates TNF-α and UV-induced skin aging in human dermal fibroblasts

Both pro-inflammatory cytokines and ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause skin aging by reducing collagen synthesis and enhancing the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Sargahydroquinoic acid (SHQA), a meroterpenoid purified from Sargassum macrocarpum, has demonstrated a range of pharmacological properties, including anti-senescence, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. Despite these properties, the protective effect of SHQA against skin aging has not been thoroughly examined. In this study, we investigated the impact of SHQA on collagen and MMPs using human skin fibroblast culture Hs68 subjected to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha challenge or UVB irradiation. Our findings reveal that both TNF-alpha (20 ng/mL) and UVB (10 mJ/cm2) induced mRNA expression and extracellular activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which was significantly inhibited by SHQA. While SHQA reduced the MMP-1 mRNA level, its impact on MMP-1 protein levels, both intracellular and extracellular, was not significant. Furthermore, SHQA mitigated the TNF-alpha-induced reduction in collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1), whereas low-dose UVB did not significantly affect COL1A1 protein expression. The inhibition of Akt and p38 signaling pathways by SHQA is implicated in this process. In summary, our findings demonstrate that SHQA effectively attenuates skin aging induced by both TNF-alpha and low-dose UV irradiation in dermal fibroblasts, through attenuating MMP hyperactivation and maintaining the level of COL1A1. This suggests that SHQA has the potential to serves as a natural skin-protective cosmeceutical ingredient.