Despite a large number of studies reporting a variety of biological and pharmacological activities of Momordica charantia, its skin\nprotective properties are poorly understood. The present study aimed to explore the skin protective properties of Momordica\ncharantia methanol extract (Mc-ME) and the underlying mechanism in keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and melanocytes. Mc-ME\nexhibited an antioxidative property by decreasing radical levels in HaCaT keratinocytes and a cytoprotective property in H2O2-\ndamaged HaCaT cells, which was mediated by increasing the expression or activation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1\n(KEAP1), HO-1, p85/PI3K, and AKT. Mc-ME was also active against wrinkle formation by regulating the activity or expression\nof tissue remodeling factors such as elastase, type 1 collagen, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and -9 and tissue-protecting\nenzymes such as hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) inNIH3T3 fibroblasts andHaCaT cells, in addition to increasing the\nproliferation of HaCaT cells. Mc-ME also showed antidehydration properties by inducing the expression of natural moisturizing\nfactors such as filaggrin (FLG), transglutaminase-1 (TGM-1), and hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS)-1, -2, and -3 in HaCaT cells.\nMoreover, Mc-ME showed an antimelanogenic property by inhibiting the synthesis and secretion of melanin from B16F10\nmelanoma cells via suppression of tyrosinase activity. Taken together, these results suggest that Mc-ME plays a skin protective\nrole through its antioxidative, cytoprotective, skin remodeling, moisturizing, and antimelanogenic properties and might be a new\nand promising skin protective cosmeceutical.
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