Antioxidative Activities and Inhibitory Activities of Biological Enzymes from Selaginella martensii Extracts

Abstract

In this study, we assessed the anti-oxidant, pore-contracting, and anti-wrinkling effects of extracts of Selaginella martensii (SM). Total phenolic compound (TPC) contents in SM extracts obtained under optimal extraction conditions were 2.92 mg/g for the hot water extract (SMDW) and 3.65 mg/g for the 80% ethanol extract (SME). DPPH radical scavenging activities of SMDW and SME were 79.47% and 100%, respectively, at a TPC concentration of 100 μg/mL. ABTS radical inhibition assays showed SMDW and SME had high antioxidant activities (≥80.00%) at the same TPC concentration. The antioxidant protection factors of SMDW and SME were 1.27 and 1.13, respectively, at a TPC concentration of 100 μg/mL. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances of SMDW and SME were 96.09% and 91.31%, respectively, at 100 μg/mL. Notably, the astringency of SMDW (a measure of pore-tightening activity) was 19.78% at a TPC concentration of 400 μg/mL, and the elastase and collagenase inhibitory activities of SMDW were 31.94% and 41.60%, respectively. Lastly, SMDW showed a hyaluronidase inhibitory activity of 75.17%, suggesting that they may have an anti-inflammatory effect. These results, show that SMDW has remarkable antioxidant, pore-tightening effects, and anti-inflammatory and suggest that it might be a useful component of anti-skin wrinkling preparations.