Studies on the Anti-Aging Effect of Ellagic Acid from Pomegranate and Its Mechanism of Action

Abstract:

The anti-aging effects and mechanisms of ellagic acid from pomegranate have been studied. Firstly, free radical scavenging activity of ellagic acid was determined according to the elimination of DPPH ·OH and ·O2- radicals by spectrophotometry as well as the elastase inhibition activity. Secondly, the mechanism of interaction between ellagic acid and elastase was investigated with fluorescence spectra. An 88.26% inhibition rate could be reached when the ellagic acid-elastase complex was formed if the concentration of ellagic acid was 4.57 mg mL-1. The fluorescence quenching of elastase when interacted with ellagic acid was regarded as a static quenching when the concentration of ellagic acid was lower than 4.0×10-5 mol L-1. The dynamic quenching increased when raised the ellagic acid concentration. Ellagic acid, a natural free radical scavenger and inhibitor, has great potential in the cosmetics industry as an anti-aging ingredient.