The protective effect of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seed extract containing polysaccharides on human keratinocytes and fibroblasts

Authors

Keywords:

alfalfa, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, Medicago sativa L, polysaccharides

Abstract

Paper description:

  • The skin protective effect of alfalfa seed extract containing polysaccharides (APE) has not been well studied.
  • The expression of epidermal proteins was assessed to monitor differentiation and skin barrier function in APE-treated keratinocytes, and the anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects of APE on dermal fibroblasts.
  • APE upregulated the genes encoding filaggrin, involucrin and claudin1, but inhibited elastase activity, matrix metalloproteinase-1 secretion and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 production.
  • We show the protective effect of APE on human skin cells for the first time, which suggests that APE may be a potent beneficial component for promoting skin health in cosmetic and medicinal applications.

Abstract: To protect the body against environmental threats, cosmetics can play important antiinflammatory and anti-aging roles. Many researchers have developed cosmetic ingredients using natural plant extracts or the active compounds of such extracts. In this study, we assessed the ability of extracts from the seeds of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to affect skin cells. In a keratinocyte-derived cell line (HaCaT cells), alfalfa polysaccharide extract (APE) treatment triggered cornified envelope formation and increased the gene expression levels of filaggrin and involucrin, suggesting that APE increased epidermal cell differentiation. In addition, APE dramatically increased the mRNA and protein levels of claudin1, suggesting that it enhances tight junction formation. Finally, APE exerted antiinflammatory effects in keratinocytes by decreasing the LPS-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines. In primary normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF), APE increased procollagen synthesis and decreased elastase activity and metalloproteinase-1 (MMP) secretion. APE also showed superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity in a cell-free system, resulting in antioxidant effects. Finally, we found that the polysaccharides from alfalfa seeds used in our experiments consist mainly of galactose and mannose. Based on our findings, we conclude that APE may have potent skin-protective and skin-improving effects and could be developed as an important ingredient in cosmetics and medicines.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Blanpain C, Fuchs E. Epidermal stem cells of the skin. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 2006;22:339-73. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.cellbio.22.010305.104357

Kazanci A, Kurus M, Atasever A. Analyses of changes on skin by aging. Skin Res Technol. 2017;23(1):48-60. https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.12300

Furue M. Regulation of Filaggrin, Loricrin, and Involucrin by IL-4, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-22, AHR, and NRF2: Pathogenic Implications in Atopic Dermatitis. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(15):5382. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21155382

Proksch E, Brandner JM, Jensen JM. The skin: an indispensable barrier. Exp Dermatol. 2008;17(12):1063-72. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0625.2008.00786.x

Günzel D, Yu AS. Claudins and the modulation of tight junction permeability. Physiol Rev. 2013;93(2):525-69. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00019.2012

Yokouchi M, Kubo A, Kawasaki H, Yoshida K, Ishii K, Furuse M, Amagai M. Epidermal tight junction barrier function is altered by skin inflammation, but not by filaggrin-deficient stratum corneum. J Dermatol Sci. 2015;77(1):28-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdermsci.2014.11.007

Haque A, Woolery-Lloyd H. Inflammaging in Dermatology: A New Frontier for Research. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(2):144-9. https://doi.org/10.36849/JDD.5481

Ledwoń P, Papini AM, Rovero P, Latajka R. Peptides and Peptidomimetics as Inhibitors of Enzymes Involved in Fibrillar Collagen Degradation. Materials (Basel). 2021;14(12):3217. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14123217

Karimi E, Oskouian E, Oskouian A, Omidvar V, Hendra R, Nazeran H. Insight into the functional and medicinal properties of Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) leaves extract. J Med Plant Res. 2013;7(7):290-7.

Bora KS, Sharma A. Phytochemical and pharmacological potential of Medicago sativa: a review. Pharm Biol. 2011;49(2):211-20. https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209.2010.504732

Rana MG, Katbamna RV, Padhya AA, Dudhrejiya AD, Jivani NP, Sheth NR. In vitro antioxidant and free radical scavenging studies of alcoholic extract of Medicago sativa L. Rom J Biol Plant Biol. 2010;55(1):15-22.

Zagórska-Dziok M, Ziemlewska A, Nizioł-Łukaszewska Z, Bujak T. Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxicity of Medicago sativa L. Seeds and Herb Extract on Skin Cells. Biores Open Access. 2020;9(1):229-42. https://doi.org/10.1089/biores.2020.0015

Caunii A, Pribac G, Grozea I, Gaitin D, Samfira I. Design of optimal solvent for extraction of bio-active ingredients from six varieties of Medicago sativa. Chem Cent J. 2012;6(1):123. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-153X-6-123

Horbowicz M, Obendorf RL, McKersie BD, Viands DR. Soluble saccharides and cyclitols in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) somatic embryos, leaflets, and mature seeds. Plant Science. 1995;109(2):191-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9452(95)04155-N

Proksch E, Brandner JM, Jensen JM. The skin: an indispensable barrier. Exp Dermatol. 2008;17(12):1063-72. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0625.2008.00786.x

Baroni A, Buommino E, De Gregorio V, Ruocco E, Ruocco V, Wolf R. Structure and function of the epidermis related to barrier properties. Clin Dermatol. 201230(3):257-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2011.08.007

Yokouchi M, Kubo A. Maintenance of tight junction barrier integrity in cell turnover and skin diseases. Exp Dermatol. 2018;27(8):876-83. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.13742

Xie Y, Wang L, Sun H, Shang Q, Wang Y, Zhang G, Yang W, Jiang S. A polysaccharide extracted from alfalfa activates splenic B cells by TLR4 and acts primarily via the MAPK/p38 pathway. Food Funct. 2020;11(10):9035-47. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0FO01711F

Wang L, Xie Y, Yang W, Yang Z, Jiang S, Zhang C, Zhang G. Alfalfa polysaccharide prevents H2O2-induced oxidative damage in MEFs by activating MAPK/Nrf2 signaling pathways and suppressing NF-κB signaling pathways. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):1782. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-38466-7

Xie Y, Wang L, Sun H, Wang Y, Yang Z, Zhang G, Jiang S, Yang W. Polysaccharide from alfalfa activates RAW 264.7 macrophages through MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Int J Biol Macromol. 2019;126:960-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.12.227

Choi KC, Hwang JM, Bang SJ, Kim BT, Kim DH, Chae M, Lee SA, Choi GJ, Kim DH, Lee JC. Chloroform extract of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation by downregulating ERK/NF-κB signaling and cytokine production. J Med Food. 2013;16(5):410-20. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2012.2679

Yang Z, Hu Y, Yue P, Luo H, Li Q, Li H, Zhang Z, Peng F. Physicochemical Properties and Skin Protection Activities of Polysaccharides from Usnea longissima by Graded Ethanol Precipitation. ACS Omega. 2021;6(38):25010-8. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c04163

Luo J, Li Y, Zhai Y, Liu Y, Zeng J, Wang D, Li L, Zhu Z, Chang B, Deng F, Zhang J, Zhou J, Sun L. D-Mannose ameliorates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in mice and TNF-α-induced inflammation in human keratinocytes via mTOR/NF-κB pathway. Int Immunopharmacol. 2022;113(Pt A):109378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109378

Li L, Huang T, Liu H, Zang J, Wang P, Jiang X. Purification, structural characterization and anti-UVB irradiation activity of an extracellular polysaccharide from Pantoea agglomerans. Int J Biol Macromol. 2019;137:1002-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.06.191

Migone C, Scacciati N, Grassiri B, De Leo M, Braca A, Puppi D, Zambito Y, Piras AM. Jellyfish Polysaccharides for Wound Healing Applications. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(19):11491. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231911491

Downloads

Published

2023-10-26

How to Cite

1.
Kim J, Bang WJ, Woo J, Kim Y, Shin HJ, Kim J, Kim M-G, Joo YH, Lee C-S. The protective effect of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seed extract containing polysaccharides on human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Arch Biol Sci [Internet]. 2023Oct.26 [cited 2024Dec.3];75(3):279-86. Available from: https://www.serbiosoc.org.rs/arch/index.php/abs/article/view/8609

Issue

Section

Articles