Potential Antioxidant and Antiphotoaging Effects of Fagopyrum esculentum Honey on Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Purpose: The present study investigated the potential use of Fagopyrum esculentum (F. esculentum) honey as a functional skin cosmetic by examining its antioxidant and antiaging effects on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs).Methods: Total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of F. esculentum honey were analyzed. HDF cell viability was examined after treatment with F. esculentum honey and expression of genes encoding collagen and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis.Results: Analysis of antioxidant activity showed that total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, and DPPH radical scavenging activity of F. esculentum honey increased in a dose-dependent manner. qRT-PCR analysis revealed an increase in mRNA expression of the collagen-producing genes, collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1) and collagen type III alpha 1 chain (COL3A1), whereas MMP1 and MMP3 expression decreased in HDFs treated with F. esculentum honey. Furthermore, F. esculentum honey protected HDFs from ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced cytotoxicity and reduced reactive oxygen species production. Expression of COL1A1 and COL3A1, which was reduced by UV irradiation, was restored in a dose-dependent manner, whereas expression of MMP1 and MMP3, which was increased by UV irradiation, was reduced in a dose-dependent manner in HDFs pretreated with F. esculentum honey.Conclusion: These findings indicate that F. esculentum honey is a natural antioxidant that is enriched in phenols and flavonoids and has the potential to act as an antiaging cosmetic ingredient due to its protective effects on UV irradiation-damaged skin cells.