Download PDF
CC BY 4.0 · Pharmaceutical Fronts 2025; 07(02): e105-e113
DOI: 10.1055/a-2559-2071
Original Article

Inhibitory Effect of Major Terpenoids of Essential Oil from Agathosma betulina Leaves on Collagenase and Elastase Enzymes Involved in Skin Aging

Azeemat Titilola Abdulazeez
1   Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
,
Mubarak Musa
1   Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
,
Fatimoh Aluko Abubakar
2   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
,
Oluremi Aduke Saliu
3   Department of Environmental Health Science, Biochemical and Environmental Toxicology Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
,
Habibu Tijjani
3   Department of Environmental Health Science, Biochemical and Environmental Toxicology Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
,
Oluwafemi Ayodeji Idowu
3   Department of Environmental Health Science, Biochemical and Environmental Toxicology Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
4   Centre of Excellence in Functional Foods and Gastronomy, Faculty of Agro-industry, Prince of Songkhla University, Thailand
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.
› Further Information
Also available at
  Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Collagenase and elastase enzymes that cause the degradation of collagen and elastase have both been implicated in skin aging. Agathosma betulina is a popular plant in South Africa used in aromatherapy and folk medicine but the scientific knowledge regarding its anti-aging activity is yet to be explored. This study aimed to investigate the roles of the essential oil of A. betulina leaves on skin aging and its inhibitory effect on collagenase and elastase activities. In this work, the chemical profiling of essential oils of A. betulina leaves was explored. The antioxidant activity of essential oil of A. betulina leaves at different concentrations (0.07–10 µg/mL) was assessed using standard assay methods for 1,1-dihenyl-2-picryhydrayl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS). Standard procedures for elastase and collagenase assays were also employed to determine the anti-aging skin activity of the essential oil at the same concentrations. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis showed the presence of 43 constituents with menthone (29.2%), limonene (23.7%), and pulegone (8.4%) as the major compounds. The oil expressed strong radical scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS radicals at higher concentrations, with over 90% inhibition, particularly at 2.5, 5, and 10 µg/mL compared to the control (butylated hydroxytoluene). The oil also demonstrated stronger inhibitory activity against elastase at higher concentrations (5 and 10 µg/mL) and concentration-dependent inhibitory activity against collagenase compared to the control (ursolic acid). The essential oil of A. betulina leaves could be a potential candidate for the cosmetic industry to retard skin wrinkles and other manifestations of skin aging particularly associated with extrinsic factors.

Keywords

anti-aging - antioxidant - essential oil - collagenase - elastase - Agathosma betulina


Publication History

Received: 27 September 2024

Accepted: 14 March 2025

Article published online:
28 April 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

  • References

  • 1 Zhang S, Dong Z, Peng Z, Lu F. Anti-aging effect of adipose-derived stem cells in a mouse model of skin aging induced by D-galactose. PLoS One 2014; 9 (05) e97573
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 2 Thring TS, Hili P, Naughton DP. Anti-collagenase, anti-elastase and anti-oxidant activities of extracts from 21 plants. BMC Complement Altern Med 2009; 9: 27
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Kim YH, Kim KS, Han CS. et al. Inhibitory effects of natural plants of Jeju Island on elastase and MMP-1 expression. J Cosmet Sci 2007; 58 (01) 19-33
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Kammeyer A, Luiten RM. Oxidation events and skin aging. Ageing Res Rev 2015; 21: 16-29
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Jagetia GC, Baliga MS. The evaluation of nitric oxide scavenging activity of certain Indian medicinal plants in vitro: a preliminary study. J Med Food 2004; 7 (03) 343-348
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Ibrahim FA, Usman LA, Akolade JO, Idowu OA, Abdulazeez AT, Amuzat AO. Anti-diabetic potentials of Citrus aurantifolia leaf essential oil. Drug Res (Stuttg) 2019; 69 (04) 201-206
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Gattefosse RM. Gattefosse's Aromatherapy. New York: Random House; 1993
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 8 Molla J, Van Vuuren SF, Van Zyl RL, Viljoen AM. Biological activity and toxicity profile of 17 Agathosma (Rutaceae) species. S Afr J Bot 2007; 73: 588-592
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 9 van Wyk BE, Gericke N. People's Plants. Pretoria, South Africa: Briza Publications; 2000
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 10 Simpson D. Buchu—South Africa's amazing herbal remedy. Scott Med J 1998; 43 (06) 189-191
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Watt J, Breyer-Brandwijk M. The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa. 2nd ed. London: E. and S. Livingstone Ltd.; 1962
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 12 Campbell WE, Williamson BK. Composition of Agathosma capensis essential oil. Planta Med 1991; 57 (03) 291-292
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Evans WC. Trease and Evans Pharmacognosy. 14th ed. London: W. B. Saunders Company Ltd.; 1996
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 14 Skosana B, Aboua G, du Plessis SS. Buchu—the multi-purpose ethnomedicinally important specie and its benefits in the reproductive system, antioxidant-antidiabetic agents and human health. Intech Open 2014; 13: 288-316
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 15 Viljeon MA, Molla A, van Vuuren FS. et al. The biological activity and essential oil composition of 17 Agathosma (Rutaceae) species. J Essent Oil Res 2006; 18: 2-16
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 16 Verma K, Singh A, Deep P, Srivastava V, Verma S. Pharmacognostical properties and medicinal uses of Agathosma betulina (Rutaceae): a review. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res 2020; 64 (01) 92-95
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 17 Lis-Balchin M, Stanley GD, Eaglesham E. Relationship between bioactivity and chemical composition of commercial essential oils. Flavour Fragrance J 1998; 13: 98-104
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 18 Braca A, De Tommasi N, Di Bari L, Pizza C, Politi M, Morelli I. Antioxidant principles from Bauhinia tarapotensis. J Nat Prod 2001; 64 (07) 892-895
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 Re R, Pellegrini N, Proteggente A, Pannala A, Yang M, Rice-Evans C. Antioxidant activity applying an improved ABTS radical cation decolorization assay. Free Radic Biol Med 1999; 26 (9-10): 1231-1237
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 Kong Y, Yoo D, Nam M, Kim H. Excellent anti-aging effects of ursoloc acid and oleanolic acid present in Ligustrum lucidum . J Soc Cosmet Sci Korea 2012; 38 (02) 181-187
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 21 Van Wart HE, Steinbrink DR. A continuous spectrophotometric assay for Clostridium histolyticum collagenase. Anal Biochem 1981; 113 (02) 356-365
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 22 Tu PT, Tawata S. Anti-oxidant, anti-aging, and anti melano genic properties of the essential oils from two varieties of Alpinia zerumbet. Molecules 2015; 20 (09) 16723-16740
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 23 Yang W, Chen X, Li Y, Guo S, Wang Z, Yu Z. Advances in pharmacological activities of terpenoids. Nat Prod Commun 2020; 15: 3
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 24 Collins NF, Graven EH, van Beek TA, Lelyveld GP. Chemotaxonomy of commercial buchu species (Agathosma betulina and A. crenulata). J Essent Oil Res 1996; 8: 229-235
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 25 Flamini G, Cioni PL, Puleio R, Morelli I, Panizzi L. Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Calamintha nepeta and its constituent pulegone against bacteria and fungi. Phytother Res 1999; 13 (04) 349-351
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 26 Khallouki F, Hmamouchi M, Younos C, Soulimani R, Bessiere JM, Essassi EM. Antibacterial and molluscicidal activities of the essential oil of Chrysanthemum viscidehirtum. Fitoterapia 2000; 71 (05) 544-546
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 27 Cobos MI, Rodriguez JL, Oliva ML, Demo M, Faillaci SM, Zygadlo JA. Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Baccharis notosergila. Planta Med 2001; 67 (01) 84-86
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 28 Vieira AJ, Beserra FP, Souza MC, Totti BM, Rozza AL. Limonene: aroma of innovation in health and disease. Chem Biol Interact 2018; 283: 97-106
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 29 Baylac S, Racine P. Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase by essential oils and other natural fragrant extracts. Inter J Aromatherapy 2003; 13: 138-144
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 30 Cowan MM. Plant products as antimicrobial agents. Clin Microbiol Rev 1999; 12 (04) 564-582
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 31 Saliu OA, Akanji AM, Idowu OA, Saliu BN. Free radical and reactive oxygen species scavenging potentials of Luffa cylindrica leaf extracts. J Cell Biol Biochem 2020; 4 (01) 013-019
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 32 Torres-Martínez R, García-Rodríguez YM, Ríos-Chávez P. et al. Antioxidant activity of the essential oil and its major terpenes of Satureja macrostema (Moc. and Sessé ex Benth.). Pharmacogn Mag 2018; 13 (Suppl. 04) S875-S880
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 33 Ben Hsouna A, Hamdi N, Ben Halima N, Abdelkafi S. Characterization of essential oil from Citrus aurantium L. flowers: antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. J Oleo Sci 2013; 62 (10) 763-772
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 34 Lin X, Cao S, Sun J, Lu D, Zhong B, Chun J. The chemical compositions, and antibacterial and antioxidant activities of four types of citrus essential oils. Molecules 2021; 26 (11) 3412
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 35 Oulebsir C, Mefti-Korteby H, Djazouli Z, Zebib B, Merah O. Essential oil of Citrus aurantium L. leaves: composition, antioxidant activity, elastase and collagenase inhibition. Agronomy (Basel) 2022; 12: 1466
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 36 Tzaphlidou M. The role of collagen and elastin in aged skin: an image processing approach. Micron 2004; 35 (03) 173-177
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 37 Solano F. Metabolism and functions of amino acids in the skin. In: Wu GY. eds. Amino Acids in Nutrition and Health. SpringerCham; Switzerland: 2020: 187-199
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 38 Kang J, Kim MJ, Hyun JM. et al. Antibacterial, whitening, and anti-wrinkling effects of essential oil from Curcuma aromatica leaves. Pharma Chem 2016; 8 (18) 95-99
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 39 Fraternale D, Flamini G, Ascrizzi R. In vitro anticollagenase and antielastase activities of essential oil of Helichrysum italicum subsp. italicum (Roth) G. Don. J Med Food 2019; 22 (10) 1041-1046
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 40 Ashmawy NS, Gad HA, El-Nashar HAS. Comparative study of essential oils from different organs of Syzygium cumini (pamposia) based on GC/MS chemical profiling and in vitro antiaging activity. Molecules 2023; 28 (23) 7861
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 41 Oboh G, Olasehinde TA, Ademosun AO. Essential oil from lemon peels inhibit key enzymes linked to neurodegenerative conditions and pro-oxidant induced lipid peroxidation. J Oleo Sci 2014; 63 (04) 373-381
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 42 Mori M, Ikeda N, Kato Y, Minamino M, Watabe K. Inhibition of elastase activity by essential oils in vitro . J Cosmet Dermatol 2002; 1 (04) 183-187
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 43 Franklin LU, Cunnington GD, Young D. Terpene based pesticide treatments for killing terrestrial arthropods including, amongst others, lice, lice eggs, mites, and ants. U.S. Patent 19990379268. August, 1999
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 44 Fahmy NM, Elhady SS, Bannan DF, Malatani RT, Gad HA. Citrus reticulata leaves essential oil as an antiaging agent: a comparative study between different cultivars and correlation with their chemical compositions. Plants 2022; 11 (23) 3335
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 45 Aumeeruddy-Elalfi Z, Lall N, Fibrich B, van Staden AB, Hosenally M, Mahomoodally MF. Selected essential oils inhibit key physiological enzymes and possess intracellular and extracellular antimelanogenic properties in vitro . Yao Wu Shi Pin Fen Xi 2018; 26 (01) 232-243
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 46 Gad HA, El Hassab MA, Elhady SS, Fahmy NM. Insights on Citrus clementina essential oil as a potential antiaging candidate with a comparative chemometric study on different cultivars. Ind Crops Prod 2023; 194: 116349
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 47 Prommaban A, Chaiyana W. Microemulsion of essential oils from citrus peels and leaves with anti-aging, whitening, and irritation reducing capacity. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2022; 69: 103188
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 48 Mangena T, Muyima NY. Comparative evaluation of the antimicrobial activities of essential oils of Artemisia afra, Pteronia incana and Rosmarinus officinalis on selected bacteria and yeast strains. Lett Appl Microbiol 1999; 28 (04) 291-296
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 49 Tzakou O, Pitarokili D, Chinou IB, Harvala C. Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Salvia ringens. Planta Med 2001; 67 (01) 81-83
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar