Anti-aging activity of silymarin and its components

(Photo)aging is a term used for functional and aesthetic changes in skin after chronic exposure to UV radiation causing oxidative modification of proteins and modulation of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes and tyrosinase. Silymarin (SM), a seed extract from Silybum marianum and its components (silybin, dehydrosilybin, silydianin, isosilybin and silychristin) seem to be suitable candidates to modulate (photo)aging due to their antioxidant properties. To test their effects the isolated enzymes (collagenase from Clostridium histolyticum, human leukocytes elastase, bovine testes hyaluronidase and mushroom tyrosinase) were used. After incubation of enzymes with compounds, the reactions were started with specific substrates and colour/fluorescence changes were monitored at specific wavelength. After 1 h treatment with studied compounds dermal fibroblasts were irradiated with UVA and the carbonyl protein level was estimated by using fluorescein-5-thiosemicarbazide. SM and its components have anti-collagenase and anti-elastase effect, decrease carbonyl protein level and activate tyrosinase, but no effect on hyaluronidase activity was found. SM and its components can be recommended in skin protection and prevention of (photo)aging.