Skin moisturizing effects of Elaeagnus umbellata fruit extract in ICR mouse

In the current study, we investigated the skin moisturizing effects of Elaeagnus umbellata fruit extract (Elaea) and compared those effects with L-ascorbic acid (L-AA), a representative antioxidant.Oral administration of 50-200 mg/kg Elaea once daily for 56 days to ICR mice resulted in no change in body weight compared to vehicle-administered mice.However, Elaea administration significantly improved skin moisture content in a dose-dependent manner.In addition, Elaea significantly enhanced the skin content of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and ceramide along with the induction of type I collagen and hyaluronic acid synthase mRNA.Moreover, Elaea significantly increased the mRNA as well as protein levels of transforming growth factor-β1 in skin tissue.The effects of enhancing skin moisture and extracellular matrix in mice administered 100 mg/kg Elaea was statistically similar to those in mice administered 100 mg/kg L-AA, but the beneficial effects by 200 mg/kg Elaea administration were more potent than those by L-AA.Taken together, these results suggest that Elaea will be a promising nutraceutical to enrich skin moisture through transforming growth factor-β1-dependent accumulation of extracellular matrix.