1-4-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-7-methylanthraquinone and 1-4-dihydroxyanthraquinone

In previous studies we found that Morinda citrifolia (Noni) fruit extract up-regulated biosynthesis of type I collagen and glycosaminoglycans in primary cultures of normal human fibroblasts. The objective of this study was to identify the active ingredients in Noni fruit extract. An active single compound having a type I collagen-stimulating effect was isolated and identified as 1,4-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-7-methylanthraquinone by nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, and mass analysis. It was revealed that anthraquinone showed significantly increased elaboration of procollagen type I C-terminal peptide and glycosaminoglycans and reduced expression of the collagenase matrix metalloproteinase-1 dose-dependently in human dermal fibroblasts. Furthermore, in a clinical trial, a nano-emulsion containing anthraquinone predominantly increased the dermal type I procollagen in nude mouse skin. These results suggest that anthraquinone derived from Noni extract is a good candidate for use as a new anti-wrinkle agent due to its strong induction of biosynthetic activity of extracellular matrix components.

Topics: Animals; Anthraquinones; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Collagen Type I; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Fibroblasts; Fruit; Gene Expression; Glycosaminoglycans; Humans; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; Mice; Mice, Nude; Morinda; Peptide Fragments; Plant Extracts; Procollagen; Skin