Chemical Constituents from Leaves of Hydrangea serrata and Their Anti-photoaging Effects on UVB-Irradiated Human Fibroblasts

Hydrangea serrata (THUNB.) SER. (Hydrangeaceae) leaves have been used as herbal teas in Korea and Japan. The objective of this study was to identify anti-photoaging compounds in aqueous EtOH extract prepared from leaves of H. serrata and their effects on UVB-irradiated Hs68 human foreskin fibroblasts. Phytochemical study on H. serrata leaves led to the isolation and characterization of ten compounds: hydrangenol, thunberginol A, thunberginol C, hydrangenoside A, hydrangenoside C, cudrabibenzyl A, 2,3,4'-trihydroxystilbene, thunberginol F, quercetin 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1-2)-β-D-galactopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1-2)-β-D-glucopyranoside. Cudrabibenzyl A, 2,3,4'-trihydroxystilbene, quercetin 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1-2)-β-D-galactopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1-2)-β-D-glucopyranoside were firstly isolated from H. serrata. We estimated the effects of 10 compounds on cell viability and production of pro-collagen Type I, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and hyaluronic acid (HA) after UVB irradiation. Of these compounds, hydrangenol showed potent preventive activities against reduced cell viability and degradation of pro-collagen Type I in UVB-irradiated Hs68 fibroblasts. Hydrangenol had outstanding inductive activities on HA production. It suppressed mRNA expression levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, hyaluronidase (HYAL)-1, HYAL-2, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-1β in UVB-irradiated Hs68 fibroblasts. When Hs68 fibroblasts were exposed to hydrangenol after UVB irradiation, UVB-induced Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production was suppressed. Hydrangenol also inhibited the activation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and signal transduction and activation of transcription 1 (STAT-1) by downregulating phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Our data indicate that hydrangenol isolated from H. serrata leaves has potential protective effects on UVB-induced skin photoaging.