Echinochrome A Protects against Ultraviolet B-induced Photoaging by Lowering Collagen Degradation and Inflammatory Cell Infiltration in Hairless Mice

Echinochrome A (Ech A, 7-ethyl-2,3,5,6,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) has been known to exhibit anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. However, no study has been carried out on the efficacy of Ech A against skin photoaging; this process is largely mediated by oxidative stress. Six-week-old male SKH-1 hairless mice (n = 36) were divided into five groups. Except for a group that were not treated (n = 4), all mice underwent ultraviolet-B (UVB) exposure for 8 weeks while applying phosphate-buffered saline or Ech A through intraperitoneal injection. UVB impaired skin barrier function, showing increased transepidermal water loss and decreased stratum corneum hydration. UVB induced dermal collagen degeneration and mast cell infiltration. Ech A injection was found to significantly lower transepidermal water loss while attenuating tissue inflammatory changes and collagen degeneration compared to the control. Furthermore, Ech A was found to decrease the relative expression of matrix metalloproteinase, tryptase, and chymase. Taken together, these results suggest that Ech A protects against UVB-induced photoaging in both functional and histologic aspects, causing a lowering of collagen degradation and inflammatory cell infiltration.