The protective effect of Schisandra chinensis oil on H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage of HaCaT cells is evaluated by 3D skin model. Schisandra chinensis oil was extracted by steam distillation, and its chemical constituents analyzed by GC-MS. And the antioxidant activity of schisandra chinensis oil was evaluated by DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging experiments, combined with 2D and 3D skin models induced by H₂O₂. The results showed that Schisandra chinensis oil mainly contained 37 compounds including ylenene, β-cimarene and L-α-pinene. Schisandra chinensis oil had good scavenging effect on DPPH and ABTS free radicals, with IC₅₀ of 5.6 mg/mL and 9.4 mg/mL, respectively. What’s more, Schisandra chinensis oil can improve the survival rate of HaCaT cells after H₂O₂ treatment, increasing the epidermal thickness of 3D skin model, decreasing the level of Interleukin-6(IL-6), and up-regulating the activities of SOD and CAT enzymes. The results confirmed that Schisandra chinensis oil had protective effect on H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress injury model of HaCaT cells, which could lay a foundation for the development of anti-aging products of schisandra chinensis oil.

Glabridin is the main ingredient of hydrophobic fraction in licorice extract and has been shown to have anti-melanogenesis activity in skins. However, the underlying mechanism(s) remain not completely understood. The aim of this study is thus to elucidate the possible mechanisms related to the melanogenesis suppression by glabridin in cultured B16 murine melanoma cells and in UVA radiation induced hyperpigmentation model of BALB/c mice as well. Molecular docking simulations revealed that between catalytic core residues and the compound. The treatment by glabridin significantly downregulated both transcriptional and/or protein expression of melanogenesis-related factors including melanocyte stimulating hormone receptor (MC1R), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), TYR-related protein-1 (TRP-1) and TRP-2 in B16 cells. Both PKA/MITF and MAPK/MITF signaling pathways were found to be involved in the suppression of melanogenesis by glabridin in B16 cells. Also in vivo glabridin therapy significantly reduced hyperpigmentation, epidermal thickening, roughness and inflammation induced by frequent UVA exposure in mice skins, thus beneficial for skin healthcare. These data further look insights into the molecular mechanisms of melanogenesis suppression by glabridin, rationalizing the application of the natural compound for skin healthcare.