Oral supplementation of sea cucumber and its hydrolysate mitigates ultraviolet A-induced photoaging in hairless mice

BACKGROUND Chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation promotes skin photoaging, which is clinically characterized by dryness, laxity, and wrinkling. Sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) (SC) is a marine organism with culinary and medicinal applications, especially in Asian countries. It is also a potential nutraceutical as it exhibits bioactive effects, such as antioxidant, antitumor, and anticancer activity. This study examined the effects of SC and its hydrolysate (SCH) on ultraviolet A (UVA) induced skin barrier function and wrinkle formation using hairless mice. RESULTS Ultraviolet A significantly induced transepidermal water loss and wrinkle formation, which were significantly mitigated upon oral administration of SC and SCH. Sea cucumber also mitigated the UVA-induced downregulation of epidermal natural moisturizing factors and the upregulation of Aqp3, Mmp13, Tnfa, and Il6 mRNA levels in the mouse skin. CONCLUSION Taken together, these results suggest that dietary SC and SCH exert anti-photoaging effects by modulating filaggrin synthesis and desquamation in the epidermis and regulating the NF-kappa B pathway in the skin. Our research indicates that SC and SCH have potential applications in nutricosmetics for photoaging. (c) 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Automated summary

The study showed that sea cucumber and its hydrolysate can mitigate UV-induced skin barrier function damage and wrinkle formation in hairless mice by regulating epidermal moisturizing factors and gene expression levels. The research suggests that sea cucumber and its hydrolysate have potential anti-aging effects and could be used in nutricosmetics for photoaging.