UV is a potent factor in skin photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. Therefore, investigating the inhibiting mechanisms of photoaging would be useful to enable development of agents to slow down the aging process. UV-irradiation increased metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -3, and -9 and then causes collagen and elastin degradation, leading to the formation of coarse wrinkles and sagging skin. Polyphenols, a group of compounds, possessing a variety of biological activities including inhibition of MMP-1 and elastase, are widely distributed in plants including Coffea arabica. In this study, Coffea arabica leaves extract (CAE), its hydrolysates (CAH), chlororgenic acid and caffeic acid, are studied for their anti-photoaging effect. Coffea arabica leaves were extracted with methanol, and the extract was hydrolyzed with different concentrations of hydrochloric acid. The various concentrations of CAE, CAH, chlororgenic acid and caffeic acid were subject to MMPs and elastase inhibition tests. The fibroblast was used for collagen synthesis and MMP-1, -3, -9 inhibition tests on herbal extracts. The results showed that CAE stimulated type I procollagen expression, inhibited MMP-1, -3, -9 expression and inhibited the phosphorylation of JNK, ERK and p38. The results suggest that CAE can prevent photo-damage in skin through inhibiting MMP expression and MAP kinase pathway.
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