Preventive effect of fermented Gelidium amansii and Cirsium japonicum extract mixture against UVB-induced skin photoaging in hairless mice

Chronic ultraviolet (UV) light causes skin photoaging, characterized by fine and coarse wrinkle formation and dryness. In this study, the effect of fermented Gelidium amansii and Cirsium japonicum extract mixture (FGCM) with lactic acid bacteria on UVB-induced photoaging was evaluated in human dermal fibroblasts and SKH-1 hairless mice. In vitro, FGCM increased type I procollagen levels and suppressed UVB-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression more effectively than G. amansii and C. japonicum extract mixture (GCM). In vivo, oral administration of FGCM significantly inhibited UVB-induced the number and total depth of wrinkles in the dorsal skin of mice. FGCM suppressed UVB-induced epidermal thickening, and attenuated UVB-induced MMP-13 expression and MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in dermal tissue. Furthermore, FGCM increased skin hydration and blocked transepidermal water loss in the dorsal skin of mice compared with the UVB-irradiated group. These data indicate that FGCM exerts potent anti-photoaging activities by improving wrinkle formation and dryness.