Natural substances derived from edible cyanobacteria may fight skin aging by strengthening collagen

Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, have existed for billions of years, adapting to diverse environments. Their remarkable ability to photosynthesize and make their own food and their adaptability to a variety of habitats have made them the focus of the research fraternity.

One such cyanobacterium native to Japan, Aphanothece sacrum (also known as Suizenji seaweed), has been extensively studied for its bioactive properties and potential health benefits. In particular, A. sacrum accumulates natural compounds known as sacripins A and B in response to drought stress. These compounds are important due to their ability to absorb ultraviolet (UV)-A and UV-B rays, making them potential skin protectants.

In 2023, Professor Shiro Kageyama, dean of the Graduate School of Environmental and Human Sciences at Meijo University, along with his colleagues, discovered saclipin in A. sacrum. Their research paper highlights the unique properties of sacripin, including its ability to absorb ultraviolet light and anti-aging properties such as antioxidant and anti-glycation effects.

Professor Kageyama said, “This unique property makes sacripin ideal for application to the skin and for use as an oral supplement. Furthermore, this discovery provides an impetus to explore further activities of sacripin that can be applied in the skin care and cosmetics industry.” ” said.

Based on the initial findings, Professor Kageyama, along with Yoshie Uchida and Masaki Honda from Meijo University and Rangaroon Waditi Sirisatta from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, conducted further research to evaluate the anti-aging properties of sacripin. was implemented in 2024. The study was published in ACS Agriculture Science & Technology.

In this study, the researchers dried and powdered A. sacrum to extract sacripin and tested its anti-aging properties. The researchers investigated the chemical properties of sacripin by examining its stability under conditions of light and heat. Next, they tested the scavenging activity of singlet oxygen to analyze its antioxidant power and physiological effects on skin health.

“We investigated how sacripin affects skin-related processes such as elastase inhibition and the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid, which contribute to skin firmness and hydration,” explains Professor Kageyama.

In addition, the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of sacripin was also evaluated in this study. Tyrosinase plays an important role in melanin production and contributes to skin pigmentation.

Researchers observed that saclipin has strong inhibitory activity against elastase and promotes collagen and hyaluronic acid production in human skin fibroblasts. These results indicate that sacripin is effective in improving skin quality. Furthermore, sacripin inhibited tyrosinase and suppressed melanin production in mouse B16 melanoma cells.

The research team used both purified sacripin A and B and a sacripin-containing extract prepared from dried A. sacrum for their evaluation. The results demonstrated that the extract exhibited similar activity compared to the fresh one.

Professor Kageyama said, “The extract showed the same or higher activity than the purified one.This suggests that it is easy to formulate and cheap to manufacture, making it a promising option for skin care products.” ” he said.

As is well known, skin aging is a widespread concern around the world, driving the global market for skin care products.

“Increasing demand for the endangered species A. sacrum and the discovery of sacripin also have the potential to promote its large-scale production, revitalize the aquaculture industry, promote conservation efforts, and prevent extinction.”Kageyama the professor added.

Therefore, these findings, along with other known beneficial activities, provide valuable insight into the role of saclipin as an antiaging formulation in the edible cyanobacterium A. sacrum.