Abstract:[Objective] This study aims to investigate the in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Yunnan tea flower extract (TFE) and its Inhibitory effect on cell aging. [Method] The main active components in TFE were determined by ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of TFE were determined by the free radical scavenging assay and UV-induced photoaging model of human keratinocytes (HaCaT), respectively. After the aging model of fibroblasts was established, the aging level of cells was assessed by the β-galactosidase (β-gal) staining assay, and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and type Ⅰ procollagen (PC-1) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. [Result] The mass fractions of total flavonoids, tea polyphenols, total proteins, and total sugars in TFE were 14.51%, 12.83%, 9.57%, and 50.34%, respectively. Ester-type catechins were the main tea polyphenols. The IC50 in scavenging DPPH and ABTS free radicals were 34.32 μg/mL and 227.79 μg/mL, respectively. TFE significantly inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production-induced by UV in HaCaT cells, down-regulated the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α, up-regulated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). In addition, TFE inhibited the aging of fibroblasts, down-regulated the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3, and up-regulated the expression of PC-1. [Conclusion] TFE had strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. It can down-regulated the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 and up-regulated the expression of PC-1 to prevent cell aging, demonstrating potential anti-aging activity.
