Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng) is renowned for its health-promoting properties, attributed to its bioactive compounds, including saponins, polyphenols, and polysaccharides, which possess both antioxidant and anti-aging activities. This study investigated the anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects of compounds isolated from the hot water extract of fresh P. ginseng roots, evaluating their resistance to TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced skin cell damage. Among 14 compounds, ginsenoside Rf (compound 2) showed significant multi-target effects. In NHDFs, ginsenoside Rf and others effectively reduced intracellular ROS, demonstrating strong antioxidant properties. Additionally, they inhibited MMP-1 expression, a key enzyme in collagen degradation, and promoted pro-collagen Type I synthesis, countering the negative effects of TNF-α and supporting skin health. Further analysis showed that ginsenoside Rf reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β and IL-6, exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects. It also promoted the expression of crucial skin barrier proteins, including LOR, AQP3, FLG, and KRT1 in TNF-α/IFN-γ-stimulated NHEKs, enhancing skin hydration and structural integrity. These results suggest that compounds from P. ginseng roots, especially ginsenoside Rf, hold promise as skincare agents targeting skin aging and inflammation. Future research should further explore their mechanisms and optimize their applications in dermatological treatments.

Ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation significantly contributes to skin photoaging, which is characterized by epidermal thickening, collagen degradation, wrinkle formation, barrier dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a key precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, regulates cellular energy metabolism and antioxidant defense and demonstrates anti-aging effects in animal models. Here, we investigated the protective effects of oral NMN supplementation against UV-B-induced photoaging in SKH-1 hairless mice. Over a 10-week experimental period, oral NMN administration significantly alleviated epidermal hypertrophy, reduced wrinkle formation and skin surface roughness, improved hydration and elasticity, and restored transepidermal water loss to near-normal levels. Histological analyses revealed marked preservation of collagen fiber density and attenuation of dermal matrix degradation. Furthermore, NMN supplementation inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPK signaling components (ERK, JNK, and p38), suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) and matrix-degrading enzyme (MMP-1) expression, and restored hyaluronan synthase (HAS-1 and HAS-2) expression. Additionally, NMN enhanced the systemic antioxidant defense, as indicated by the restored superoxide dismutase activity. Thus, NMN has multi-layered protective effects against UV-B–induced skin aging by modulating oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, extracellular matrix remodeling, and hyaluronic acid metabolism.

Skin aging is primarily driven by oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell cycle dysregulation. This study investigated the anti-senescence effects of fermented porcine placenta (FPP) and its dipeptides, leucine–glycine (LG) and proline–hydroxyproline (PH), in human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs), using nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) as a reference for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺)-related pathways. FPP suppressed senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity and Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16) expression while enhancing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)–peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) signaling. LG and PH exhibited distinct actions: LG improved redox balance by increasing the NAD⁺/NADH ratio and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) activity, whereas PH modulated cell cycle regulators and upregulated sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) expression. Although both peptides contributed to FPP’s effects, their combination did not fully replicate its overall activity, suggesting synergistic roles of multiple bioactive constituents. These findings highlight FPP as a multifactorial modulator of keratinocyte senescence, acting via mitochondrial and redox-related mechanisms.

With increasing interest in natural therapeutic strategies for skin aging, plant-derived compounds have gained attention for their potential to protect against oxidative stress and inflammation. In this study, we investigated the anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects of flavonoids isolated from Cercidiphyllum japonicum using a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-stimulated normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) model. The aerial parts of C. japonicum were extracted and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), leading to the identification of four major compounds: maltol, chlorogenic acid, ellagic acid, and quercitrin. Each compound was evaluated for its antioxidant and anti-aging activities in TNF-α-stimulated NHDFs. Among them, ellagic acid exhibited the most potent biological activity and was selected for further mechanistic analysis. Ellagic acid significantly suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) secretion (both p < 0.001), while markedly increasing type I procollagen production (p < 0.01). Mechanistic studies demonstrated that ellagic acid inhibited TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), downregulated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and upregulated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a key antioxidant enzyme. Additionally, ellagic acid attenuated the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), indicating its broad modulatory effects on oxidative and inflammatory pathways. Collectively, these findings suggest that ellagic acid is a promising plant-derived bioactive compound with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, offering potential as a therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of skin aging.

Intrinsic aging and external stimuli such as UV exposure contribute to heightened MMP-1 expression, leading to collagen deterioration and weakening of the skin’s structural framework, hallmarks of aging tissue. Peucedanum japonicum, a plant consumed in East Asia, contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, but its effects on skin aging remain unclear. This study profiled six major bioactive compounds in P. japonicum leaves and roots and evaluated their protective effects in TNF-α-stimulated human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). Phytochemical profiles were determined, and biological activity was evaluated by measuring intracellular ROS, MMP-1 secretion, and COL1A1 expression. Both leaf and root extracts exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, with leaves generally showing stronger effects. Among the six compounds, chlorogenic acid (1) demonstrated the most potent activity. It markedly decreased intracellular ROS, suppressed MMP-1 secretion, and enhanced COL1A1 expression in TNF-α-stimulated NHDFs, indicating protection against inflammation-induced collagen degradation. These findings suggest that P. japonicum, particularly its chlorogenic acid (1) content, may be a promising natural resource for anti-aging skincare and therapies targeting inflammation-associated skin damage.