In my past blog posts, I have discussed that exposure to the sunlight
is one of the major causes of skin aging.
In a recent article published in the journal Aging Cell, the scientists from the University of British Columbia reported
a biological target for developing a drug that could ultimately prevent the
sunlight-related aging of skin. (See, Parkingson, L.G. et
al.; Granzyme B mediates both direct and indirect
cleavage of extracellular matrix in skin after chronic low-dose ultraviolet
light irradiation, Aging Cell DOI: 10.1111/acel.12298,
11 Dec. 2014).
UV irradiation from the sun causes increased and enhanced
extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Granzyme B (GzmB), a serine protease that is expressed by a variety of
cells, accumulates in the extracellular milieu
during chronic inflammation and cleaves a number of ECM proteins. A team led by
UBC's Prof. David Granville hypothesized
that GzmB contributes to ECM degradation in the skin after UV irradiation through
both direct cleavage of ECM proteins and indirectly through the induction
of other proteinases. To test out this hypothesis, wild-type
(i.e., the regular mice with GzmB) and GzmB-knockout mice (i.e., the mutant
mice without GzmB) were repeatedly exposed to minimal erythemal doses of
solar-simulated UV irradiation for 20 weeks. GzmB expression was
significantly increased in the skin of regular mice with UV exposure when
compared to non-UV exposed mice. However, in the mutant mice, GzmB
deficiency significantly protected against the formation of wrinkles and the
loss of dermal collagen density. The observation suggests that GzmB
accelerates UV-caused skin aging and collagen break-down. Therefore,
inhibition of GzmB should protect the skin against UV damage.
When I read the
article, the first quest I asked myself is that--is there an herb medicine that
would inhibit GzmB activity? A little more
search indicates that Sappen wood (also known as sappanwood, Caesalpinia
sappan, sapanwood, sapang, sepang), an herb that has long been used
in Chinese medicines, has just such property.
Medicinally Sappen wood refers to the dried heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L.,
which is a species flowering tree belonging to the legume or pea family
(fabaceae). This is a small evergreen
tree, with a few small thorns and bipinnate leaves. It blooms from June to
September each year. Yellow flowers have 5 petals and form panicles. Wooden pod
is red-brown, no cracking. It can be harvested after 8 years of transplanting.
The preferred sappan heartwood is with older and deeper color. Main chemical constituents of sappan lignum
include 3-deoxysappanone, sappanone, 3′-deoxysappanone, sappanol, episappanol,
3′-O-methyl brazilin, brazilin, brazilin derivatives, ombuin, rhamnetin,
quercetin, sappanchalcone, 4-4′-dihydroxy- 2′-methoxy-chalcone, protosappanin,
10-O-methylpro-tosappanin, calsalpin, octacosanol, β-sitosterol, and taraxerol.
Sappan wood is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine
and the “Compendium of Materia Medica” reviews that it is able to promote blood
circulation and disperse stasis. Modern pharmacological research has shown that
extract of sappan wood can increase coronary blood flow and
promote micro-circulation, inhibit
ADP-induced platelet aggregation, has sedative and hypnotic effects on central nervous
system, protect against cellular
oxidative damage and thus, encourage proper cellular function.
Additional studies have shown sappan to be an-inflammatory, an anti-arthritic,
specifically protecting against collagen-related arthritis.
The
Chinese Pharmacopoeia says that sappan wood is sweet and salty in flavor and
neutral in nature. It goes to meridians of heart, liver, and spleen. Prime
functions are promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis and decreasing
swelling to relieve pain. Major sappan wood uses and indications include
amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, postpartum blood stasis, stabbing pain in abdomen and
chest, and traumatic swelling and pain.
Here is a suggested recipe on making an anti-aging and
anti-sagging skin toner using sappan wood:
Soak 20 g of sappan wood herb in 100mL of Vodka (or any
other liquor with high concentration of alcohol) at the room temperature at a
dark place for 3 days. Decant the liquid
into an amber glass bottle, add 50mL of glycerol, 2mL of calendela oil, 2 drops
of rose oil, 10 drops of geranium oil, 10 drops of sage OIL and 10 drops of
clover oil. Add water to a total volume
of 500mL. Shake well. Use on a clean
face before application of any other lotion or cream.
Thanks for reading.
Connie
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