Pueraria montana var. lobata Root Extract Inhibits Photoaging on Skin through Nrf2 Pathway

Pueraria montana var. lobata is a bioactive substance with various beneficial health effects and has long been extensively used as a traditional medication for the treatment of fever, acute dysentery, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in Northeast Asian countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytoprotective activity of Pueraria montana var. lobata ethanol extract (PLE) for ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced oxidative stress in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). It was hypothesized that PLE treatment (25-100 mu g/ml) would reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels as well as increase collagen production in UVB-irradiated HDF. The results confirmed this theory, with collagen production increasing in the PLE treatment group in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, regulators of cellular ROS accumulation, including HO-1 and NOQ-1, were activated by Nrf2, which was mediated by PLE. Hence, intracellular levels of ROS were also reduced in the PLE treatment group in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, PLE increases collagen production and maintains hyaluronic acid (HA) levels in human dermal fibroblasts exposed to UVB-irradiation, thereby inhibiting photoaging.