Abstract & Overview
Skin anti-aging effect of Forsythia viridissima L. extract was evaluated by using antioxidant assay, expression of type I procollagen, and UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human dermal fibroblasts. Matairesinol-rich Forsythia viridissima L. extract was showed the scavenging activity of radicals and reactive oxygen species with the IC 50 values of 4.50 ㎍/ml against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazly radical and 542.43 ㎍/ml against superoxide radicals in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system, respectively. The type I procollagen was increased 33.76% by treatment with matairesinol-rich Forsythia viridissima L. extract, and UVA-induced MMP-1 was reduced 35.78% in a dose dependent manner. In the human skin irritation test, 2% matairesinol-rich Forsythia viridissima L. extract did not show any adverse effect. Also, the clinical study indicated that a cream group treated with 0.2% matairesinol-rich Forsythia viridissima L. extract significantly reduced skin wrinkles, as compared with a non-treated cream group (p < 0.05). These results suggest that Forsythia viridissima L. extract may be useful as a potential source of functional anti-aging cosmetics.