• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2023

Objective : UVB damages skin health by causing skin redness and intense inflammation, sunburn, and skin cancer. Paeoniae Radix Alba has been used to relieve gynecological symptoms, muscle spasms, and skin ailments. This study was conducted to confirm whether it has a protective effect against UVB photodamage. Methods : Ethanol extract of Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA) was prepared by extracting 100 g Paeoniae Radix Alba in 1 L of ethanol for 48 h. Apoptosis was monitored by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and expression levels of apoptosis indicator proteins, and tyrosinase activity was measured with a colorimetric commercial kit. Results : In human keratinocyte HaCaT cells, PRA reduced UVB-induced cell death through apoptosis by inhibiting PARP cleavage and caspase-3 and -9. UVB-induced increase in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was suppressed by PRA pretreatment. PRA also showed dose-dependent ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of tyrosinase activity by PRA was confirmed. Conclusion : These results demonstrated the protective role of PRA in UVB photodamage of human keratinocytes, mainly due to its antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. We also suggest that PRA can be considered as an effective natural agent to prevent skin photodamage.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2012

Objective : Paeoniae radix alba(PRA) can enrich the blood and regulate menstruation, astringe yin and arrest sweating, calm the liver and arrest pain. This study was designed to investigate effects of PRA on skin whitening and elasticity using melanoma cells. Methods : In this experiment, effect of PRA on cell viability, inhibition of melanin synthesis and inhibitory effect on tyrosinase and elastase. Results : 1. More than $1,000\;{\mu}g/ml$ of PRA treated group showed lowered proliferation rates significantly compared to non-treated control group. 2. All of treated groups were lower levels of melanin synthesis respectively. 3. PRA did not show inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activities in vitro. But, PRA suppressed tyrosinase activities in B16F10 cells significantly. 4. PRA suppressed elastse type 1 activities in dose-dependent manner in vitro. But, PRA slightly suppressed elastase type 4 activities in vitro, and PRA also slightly suppressed elastase activities in vivo. Conclusion : These results suggest that PRA can inhibit melanin synthesis through ihhibitory action on tyrosinase activity and inhibt elastase activity, and also suggest that these results can be used for the study on maintaining skin whitening or elasticity.