Saponins from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum (CKS) have been shown to exhibit many pharmacological activities, including anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities and antioxidant effects. However, anti-skin photoaging effects of CKS have not yet been reported. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of CKS against UVA damage on immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT). We then explored the inhibitory effects of CKS on UVA-induced MMP-1 and investigated the molecular mechanism underlying those effects. CKS increased the cell viability and inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in HaCaT cells exposed to UVA irradiation. Pre-treatment of HaCaT cells with CKS inhibited UVA-induced production of MMP-1 and MMP-9. In addition, CKS decreased UVA-induced expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. Western blot analysis further revealed that CKS markedly suppressed the enhancement of collagen degradation in UVA-exposed HaCaT cells. CKS also suppressed UVA-induced activation of NF-κB or c-Jun and c-Fos, and the phosphorylation of MAPKs, which are upstream modulators of NF-κB and AP-1.
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