Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) Leaf Extract suppresses the activity of caspase 1 by NLRP3 inflammasome formation, and is expected to show an effective anti-aging effect.
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Presented by: WEIJIAN TANG
[Introduction]
The skin damages with aging such as wrinkles, spots and dryness are related to inflammatory cytokines secreted by various stimuli. Among various mechanisms of cytokine secretion, IL-1β and IL-18 have unique mechanisms and show rapid reactivity, prodromal IL-1β and prodromal IL-18 synthesized by transcription, are processed by various stimuli, and then active IL-1β and active IL-18 are secreted.
In order to solve skin problems involving inflammatory cytokines, we focused on the mechanism of this rapid reaction and researched on natural products with excellent anti-inflammatory effects that act at this point.
It is the activity of caspase 1 through inflammasome formation regulates this rapid response. The inflammasome is a protein complex that exists in cells. It is activated primarily by bacterial and viral infections, but it has been reported that the NLRP3 inflammasome also can be activated by reactive oxygen species produced intracellularly caused by ultraviolet rays and stress responses.
This is considered to be one of the mechanisms of inflammation caused by ultraviolet rays.
Caspase 1 is one of the proteins that build up the inflammasome, which is involved in the processing of prodromal IL-1β and prodromal IL-18.
As a result of searching for a substance that suppresses the activity of caspase 1 through inflammasome formation that regulates the processing of IL-1β and IL-18, we found the Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) Leaf Extract.
[About Kanuka]
Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides), commonly known as “white tea tree”, is a traditional medicinal plant endemic to New Zealand. Although it is a low tree, sometimes it can grow up to a height of 20 to 30 m, and small white flowers blooming on the top of branches like a piece of brocade from September to the following February. The Maori, New Zealand's indigenous, use its leaves as medicine, and kanuka honey is also a popular health food.
[Preparation of Kanuka Leaf Extract]
Extraction was prepared from dried Kanuka leaves using a polar solvent, and then the mixture was filtered and purified to prepare Kanuka Leaf Extract.
INCI name : Kunzea Ericoides Leaf Extract
[Test method]
Caspase 1 assay
Cultured cells were seeded in a 24-well plate, test samples were added after culturing for 1 day. After culturing for another day, 100 mJ/cm2-UVB was irradiated. After further culturing for 4 hours, the activity of caspase 1 was detected by Pyroptosis / Caspase-1 Assay Green (Immunochemistry Technologies, LLC, USA). After that, the cells were collected using trypsin, and the average fluorescence intensity was then calculated by flow cytometry.
DPPH radical scavenging assay
A mixture of DPPH solution, ethanol and acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer (pH5.5) was added to each extract. After standing at 37℃ for 20 minutes, the absorbance at 550 nm of the reaction solution was measured to calculate the residual amount of DPPH radicals.
[Result]
Evaluation of activity of caspase 1
The activity of caspase 1 through inflammasome formation in cultured cells was enhanced by UV-B irradiation. Compared with the UV-B Irradiation Control, the suppression was observed in Kanuka Leaf Extract added group in a concentration-dependent manner. And a significant inhibitory effect was especially confirmed in the group added with 2% Kanuka Leaf Extract.
DPPH radical scavenging assay
It was confirmed that Kanuka Leaf Extract can eliminate effectively DPPH radical in a concentration-dependent manner.
[Discussion]
It has been reported that IL-1β and IL-18, which are activated by caspase 1 through inflammasome formation, can reduce the expression of filaggrin 2, which moisturizes the skin, and it’s the one of causes of skin dryness induced by inflammation.
IL-1β is one of the SASPs (Senescence Associated Secretory phenotype), which has a great impact on skin aging such as wrinkles by accelerating the aging of other cells and inducing tissue destruction by activated neutrophils.
It is considered that the caspase 1 activity inhibitory effect of Kanuka Leaf Extract exerts an effective anti-inflammatory effect by acting on the early stage of inflammation, and can suppress the dryness and aging of the skin due to inflammation.
[Knowledge]
We have confirmed that there is inflammasome-related inflammation in skin cells as well. Then, we found a natural functional ingredient that can suppress it and prevent skin aging.
The skin damages with aging such as wrinkles, spots and dryness are related to inflammatory cytokines secreted by various stimuli. Among various mechanisms of cytokine secretion, IL-1β and IL-18 have unique mechanisms and show rapid reactivity, prodromal IL-1β and prodromal IL-18 synthesized by transcription, are processed by various stimuli, and then active IL-1β and active IL-18 are secreted.
In order to solve skin problems involving inflammatory cytokines, we focused on the mechanism of this rapid reaction and researched on natural products with excellent anti-inflammatory effects that act at this point.
It is the activity of caspase 1 through inflammasome formation regulates this rapid response. The inflammasome is a protein complex that exists in cells. It is activated primarily by bacterial and viral infections, but it has been reported that the NLRP3 inflammasome also can be activated by reactive oxygen species produced intracellularly caused by ultraviolet rays and stress responses.
This is considered to be one of the mechanisms of inflammation caused by ultraviolet rays.
Caspase 1 is one of the proteins that build up the inflammasome, which is involved in the processing of prodromal IL-1β and prodromal IL-18.
As a result of searching for a substance that suppresses the activity of caspase 1 through inflammasome formation that regulates the processing of IL-1β and IL-18, we found the Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) Leaf Extract.
[About Kanuka]
Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides), commonly known as “white tea tree”, is a traditional medicinal plant endemic to New Zealand. Although it is a low tree, sometimes it can grow up to a height of 20 to 30 m, and small white flowers blooming on the top of branches like a piece of brocade from September to the following February. The Maori, New Zealand's indigenous, use its leaves as medicine, and kanuka honey is also a popular health food.
[Preparation of Kanuka Leaf Extract]
Extraction was prepared from dried Kanuka leaves using a polar solvent, and then the mixture was filtered and purified to prepare Kanuka Leaf Extract.
INCI name : Kunzea Ericoides Leaf Extract
[Test method]
Caspase 1 assay
Cultured cells were seeded in a 24-well plate, test samples were added after culturing for 1 day. After culturing for another day, 100 mJ/cm2-UVB was irradiated. After further culturing for 4 hours, the activity of caspase 1 was detected by Pyroptosis / Caspase-1 Assay Green (Immunochemistry Technologies, LLC, USA). After that, the cells were collected using trypsin, and the average fluorescence intensity was then calculated by flow cytometry.
DPPH radical scavenging assay
A mixture of DPPH solution, ethanol and acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer (pH5.5) was added to each extract. After standing at 37℃ for 20 minutes, the absorbance at 550 nm of the reaction solution was measured to calculate the residual amount of DPPH radicals.
[Result]
Evaluation of activity of caspase 1
The activity of caspase 1 through inflammasome formation in cultured cells was enhanced by UV-B irradiation. Compared with the UV-B Irradiation Control, the suppression was observed in Kanuka Leaf Extract added group in a concentration-dependent manner. And a significant inhibitory effect was especially confirmed in the group added with 2% Kanuka Leaf Extract.
DPPH radical scavenging assay
It was confirmed that Kanuka Leaf Extract can eliminate effectively DPPH radical in a concentration-dependent manner.
[Discussion]
It has been reported that IL-1β and IL-18, which are activated by caspase 1 through inflammasome formation, can reduce the expression of filaggrin 2, which moisturizes the skin, and it’s the one of causes of skin dryness induced by inflammation.
IL-1β is one of the SASPs (Senescence Associated Secretory phenotype), which has a great impact on skin aging such as wrinkles by accelerating the aging of other cells and inducing tissue destruction by activated neutrophils.
It is considered that the caspase 1 activity inhibitory effect of Kanuka Leaf Extract exerts an effective anti-inflammatory effect by acting on the early stage of inflammation, and can suppress the dryness and aging of the skin due to inflammation.
[Knowledge]
We have confirmed that there is inflammasome-related inflammation in skin cells as well. Then, we found a natural functional ingredient that can suppress it and prevent skin aging.