A recent study shows that hesperidin, a flavonoid commonly found in citrus fruits, can protect against skin degradation after exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. The paper, which appeared in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, also indicated that the flavonoid also prevented UVB-induced skin thickening, wrinkle formation, and inflammation.
Hesperidin is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune modulatory activities. Researchers looked at whether the flavonoid was effective in preventing photoaging using hairless mice models.
The mice were divided into three groups: control, UVB-treated vehicle, and UVB-treated hesperidin. In particular, mice in the hesperidin group were given treated with water containing 100 milligrams per kilogram body weight (mg/kg) of hesperidin daily.
Results showed that mice that were treated with hesperidin had improved length and depth of wrinkles, as well as inhibited the development of skin thickness and epidermal hypertrophy.
Mice that were treated with hesperidin also exhibited decreased MMP-9 (matrix metallopeptidase 9) and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.
The findings suggest that hesperidin contained potent anti-photoaging activity, through MMP-9 regulation.
Lee HJ, Im AR, Kim SM, Kang HS, Lee JD, Chae S. THE FLAVONOID HESPERIDIN EXERTS ANTI-PHOTOAGING EFFECT BY DOWNREGULATING MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE (MMP)-9 EXPRESSION VIA MITOGEN ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE (MAPK)-DEPENDENT SIGNALING PATHWAYS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 30 January 2018;18(39). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-2058-8