Anti-photoaging effect of fermented agricultural by-products on ultraviolet B-irradiated hairless mouse skin

Processed products from agricultural produce generate a large number of agricultural by-products that contain a number of functional substances. These are often discarded owing to the lack of suitable processing methods. The present study investigated the anti-photoaging properties of fermented rice bran (FRB), soybean cake (FSB) and sesame seed cake (FSC) on ultraviolet B (UVB)-irradiated hairless mouse skin. Results indicated that the oral administration of FRB, FSB and FSC effectively inhibited the UVB irradiation-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, MMP-3 and MMP-13. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction results also demonstrated that FRB, FSB and FSC significantly inhibited the UVB-induced expression of the genes encoding tumor necrosis factor-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β when compared with the UVB-vehicle group (P<0.05). Additionally, collagen degradation and mast cell infiltration were reduced in hairless mouse skin. Furthermore, UVB-induced wrinkle formation was also significantly reduced in mouse skin compared with the UVB-vehicle group (P<0.05). These results reveal that fermented agricultural by-products may serve as potential functional materials with anti-photoaging activities.