Potential use of medicinal plants from Argentinean highland as agent anti-photoaging

Background The overexposure to sun ultraviolet (UV) radiation produce photoaging by effect of free radicals on lipid, protein, and nucleic acid or by direct activation of responsible enzymes of cleavage of extracellular matrix components (EMC). Aims To develop new anti-photoaging agents, the anti-aging activity of four "jarillas" standardized extracts from Argentina (Zuccagnia punctataCav.,Larrea divaricataCav.,Larrea cuneifoliaCav., andLarrea nitidaCav.) were examined. Methods The effect on the activity and expression of enzymes related to photoaging (collagenase, hyaluronidase, elastase, tyrosinase) and the antioxidant capacity of four "jarillas" extracts were examined. Results The results suggest that "jarillas" extracts could protect EMC by inhibition of skin aging-related enzymes and suppression of the expression of metalloproteinases (MMP-1) in human skin fibroblasts from photoinduced damage. Modulation of MMP-1 expression induced by UV radiation in human skin cells could be associated, at least in part, with the ROS scavenging capacity of "jarilla" extracts. The extract ofZ punctatawas more active thanLarreaspecies extracts in all the trials. The activity ofZ punctataandLarreaextracts could be ascribed to chalcones and lignans, major constituents of "jarillas," respectively. Conclusions The results obtained would indicate the potential of these adapted species to live in arid zones of Argentina, exposed to high ultraviolet radiation in production of cosmetic products and justify the promotion of their sustainable use and the development of crops.