Antioxidant Activity of Cercis chinensis and Its Protective Effect on Skin Aging

Reactive oxygen species are capable of damaging biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, and DNA, which can not only lead to various diseases, but also oxidative damage resulting aging. In our previous study, Cercis chinensis (Leguminosae) showed a potent antioxidant activity. Nineteen compounds were isolated through antioxidant activity-guided fractionation. The C. chinensis extract and some of the constituents exhibited a potent antioxidant activity on the free radicals and lipid peroxidation and a notable protective effect on the t-BuOOH induced oxidative damage. In vivo test of skin damage induced by UVB irradiation, the extract of C. chinensis and a constituent, piceatannol, exhibited a significant protective effect. The life-span of the HEK-N/F cells were extended by 1.21-2.12 fold as a result of the continuous administration of 3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of the C. chinensis extract and the active constituents compared to that of the control. These observations were attributed to the inhibitory effect of the C. chinensis extract and its constituents on the age-dependent shortening of the telomere. Thus, C. chinensis was demonstrated to protect the skin cells against oxidative stress and inhibit thereby the cellular aging, followed by expectation as anti-aging cosmetic ingredient.