Betulinic Acid-Enriched Dillenia indica L. Bark Extract Attenuates UVB-Induced Skin Aging via KEAP1-Mediated Antioxidant Pathways

Abstract

The bark of Dillenia indica L. is a rich source of phenolic and triterpenoid compounds, including betulinic acid (BA), known for their antioxidant and anti-aging properties. This study investigated the antioxidant potential of a BA-enriched extract through a multidisciplinary approach combining computational, experimental, and cell-based evaluations. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that BA binds stably to Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), suggesting activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. Extraction conditions were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) modeling, yielding the maximum total phenolic content (TPC; 85.33 ± 2.26 mg gallic acid equivalents/g) and total flavonoid content (TFC; 75.60 ± 1.66 mg catechin equivalents/g), with ANN demonstrating superior predictive performance compared to RSM. Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) confirmed the presence of BA in the optimized extract. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion revealed reductions in TPC, TFC, and radical scavenging activity during the gastric phase. In ultraviolet B (UVB)-irradiated human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells, the optimized extract significantly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulated the KEAP1-Nrf2-heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway, confirming its antioxidant mechanism. These findings highlight the extract’s stability, bioactivity, and mechanistic efficacy, supporting its application as a nutraceutical ingredient for combating oxidative stress and skin aging.