A recent study shows that hesperidin, a flavonoid commonly found in citrus fruits, can protect against skin degradation after exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. The paper, which appeared in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, also indicated that the flavonoid also prevented UVB-induced skin thickening, wrinkle formation, and inflammation.

• Hesperidin is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune modulatory activities. Researchers looked at whether the flavonoid was effective in preventing photoaging using hairless mice models.
• The mice were divided into three groups: control, UVB-treated vehicle, and UVB-treated hesperidin. In particular, mice in the hesperidin group were given treated with water containing 100 milligrams per kilogram body weight (mg/kg) of hesperidin daily.
• Results showed that mice that were treated with hesperidin had improved length and depth of wrinkles, as well as inhibited the development of skin thickness and epidermal hypertrophy.
• Mice that were treated with hesperidin also exhibited decreased MMP-9 (matrix metallopeptidase 9) and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.

The findings suggest that hesperidin contained potent anti-photoaging activity, through MMP-9 regulation.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

Learn more about the benefits of flavonoids at Phytonutrients.news.

Journal Reference:

Lee HJ, Im AR, Kim SM, Kang HS, Lee JD, Chae S. THE FLAVONOID HESPERIDIN EXERTS ANTI-PHOTOAGING EFFECT BY DOWNREGULATING MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE (MMP)-9 EXPRESSION VIA MITOGEN ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE (MAPK)-DEPENDENT SIGNALING PATHWAYS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 30 January 2018;18(39). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-2058-8