Water-Soluble Extract from Actinidia arguta (Siebold & Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq. and Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton, ACTPER, Ameliorates a Dry Skin-Induced Itch in a Mice Model and Promotes Filaggrin Expression by Activating the AhR Signaling in HaCaT Cells

Abstract

With a complex etiology involving multiple factors, the condition known as itch is a primary symptom of many skin diseases. Current treatment methods are ineffective for addressing itches caused by dry skin, for example. We developed a botanical extract, ACTPER, made from a mixture of Actinidia arguta and Perilla frutescens, which have traditionally been used to treat itch. The quality of ACTPER as a research agent was controlled in our experiment by cell-based bioassays, as well as by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), using two chemical markers. In the acetone-induced dry skin mice model, the oral administration of ACTPER alleviated dry skin-related skin properties and itching behavior. The RNA and protein expression of the filament aggregating protein (filaggrin) gene, a key factor involved in the regulation of skin barrier function, was significantly increased, as measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence assay. To understand the underlying mechanism(s) at the molecular level, HaCaT cells, a human keratinocyte-derived cell line, were treated with various concentrations of ACTPER. We found that the protein expression of filaggrin was indeed upregulated by ACTPER in a dose dependent manner. Data from experiments involving the reporter plasmid containing the xenobiotic response element (XRE), and the chemical antagonist for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), indicated that the ACTPER-mediated upregulation of filaggrin was controlled through the activation of the AhR signaling pathway. The molecular docking simulation study predicted that ACTPER might contain chemical compounds that bind directly to AhR. Taken together, our results suggest that ACTPER may provide the platform, based upon which a variety of safe and effective therapeutic agents can be developed to treat itch.

Ceriporia lacerata Mycelium Culture Medium as a Novel Anti-Aging Microbial Material for Cosmeceutical Application

“…As presented in Figure 3c, when HaCaT cells were treated with CLEPS (30-300 µg/ml), the level of filaggrin expression at 300 µg/ml was significantly increased by 36% in contrast to the untreated group, confirming CLEPS could enhance or preserve the capability of skin barrier and moisturize through upregulation of filaggrin. To evaluate effective anti-dry skin function via filaggrin upregulation, plant extracts derived from Artemisia princeps [23], Rhodiola crenulate [24], or a mixture of Actinidia arguta and Perilla frutescens [25] were studied, while a fungal metabolite such as GFF [26] were investigated. In this regard, CLEPS would be a new filaggrin-enhancing ingredient based on a fungal metabolite if further developed.…”

Botanical formulation HX110B ameliorates PPE-induced emphysema in mice via regulation of PPAR/RXR signaling pathway

“…The luciferase reporter assay was performed following a previously described method [ 54 , 64 , 65 ]. Briefly, BEAS-2B cells were transfected with a PPRE-reporter plasmid (QIAGEN) or RXRE-reporter plasmid (QIAGEN) using Lipofectamine 3000 (Invitrogen).…”

Botanical formulation, TADIOS, alleviates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Induced acute lung injury in mice via modulation of the Nrf2-HO-1 signaling pathway

“…An inducible AREs-responsive luciferase reporter assay kit was purchased from QIAGEN (Valencia, USA), and the assay was performed as described before ( Lee, W. et al, 2019b ; Lee et al, 2018a ; Lee et al, 2018b ). RAW264.7 cells were briefly transfected with either ARE-reporter plasmid or negative control plasmid using lipofectamine 3000 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA).…”