Anti-acne effects of Castanea crenata bur extract and identification of active compound

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a common disease of the pilosebaceous unit. Hyperseborrhea, a follicular colonization by Cutibacterium acnes and a complex inflammatory state are pathogenic factors of acne vulgaris. In the present study we investigated the anti-acne efficacy of Castanea crenata bur extract (CBE) in vitro and searched active compound for mitigating hyperseborrhea. In sebocytes, CBE inhibited the sebum synthesis through downregulation of sterol response element-binding protein-1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ expression. CBE also inhibited the 5-alpha reductase activity which is associated with androgen-induced sebum production. Moreover, CBE showed anti-inflammatory effect in C. acnes and free fatty acid-induced inflammatory condition through suppressing Toll-like receptor 2 activity. Anti-inflammatory effect was also observed in keratinocytes via inhibition of NF-κB translocation into nuclei. Finally, we identified the ellagic acid as an active compound for inhibiting sebum production in CBE. These findings suggest that CBE have potential to be a multi-target agent for acne vulgaris and a good source of ellagic acid as an anti-sebum compound.