Anti-Photoaging Effect of Korean Mint (Agastache rugosa Kuntze) Extract on UVB-Irradiated Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation-induced photoaging leads to wrinkles, dryness, and skin roughness. UVB irradiation activates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and stimulates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling pathway, which promotes expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inflammatory cytokines. The current study aimed to assess the anti-photoaging activity of Agastache rugosa extract (ARE) on UVB-treated human dermal fibroblasts. ARE treatment reduced the overproduction of ROS and promoted mRNA expression of anti-oxidant enzymes. ARE treatment significantly inactivated the MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathway, which downregulated the expression of MMPs. Moreover, ARE promoted the production of type-I procollagen and upregulated mRNA expression of collagen genes. Additionally, ARE suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8, by preventing expression of nuclear factor-kappa B. Collectively, our findings show that ARE could be a potential candidate for anti-photoaging treatment.