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Effect of Ferulago lutea (Poir.) Grande Essential Oil on Molecular Hallmarks of Skin Aging

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16 October 2023

Posted:

23 October 2023

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Abstract
As global life expectancy continues to rise, we are challenged with maintaining health into old age, and research has thus concentrated on various strategies aimed at mitigating the effects of skin aging. Aromatic plants stand out as potential sources of anti-aging compounds due to their secondary metabolites, particularly essential oils (EO). The aim of this study was to ascribe to Ferulago lutea EO several biological activities that could be useful in the context of skin aging. The EO was obtained using hydrodistillation and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The anti-inflammatory potential was assessed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. The effect on cell migration was disclosed using scratch wound assay. Lipogenesis was induced using T0901317, hyperpigmentation with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxantine (IBMX) and senescence with Etoposide. Our results show that the EO was characterized mainly by α-pinene and limonene. The EO was able to decrease nitric oxide (NO) release as well as iNOS and pro-IL-1β protein levels. The EO promoted wound healing while decreasing lipogenesis and having depigmenting effects. The EO also reduced senescence associated β-galactosidase and p21/p53 protein levels and nuclear accumulation of γH2AX. Overall, our study highlights the properties of F. lutea EO that make it a compelling candidate for dermocosmetics applications.
Keywords: 
Lipogenesis
;  
depigmenting activity
;  
aging
;  
senescence
;  
wound healing
Subject: 
Biology and Life Sciences  -   Aging

1. Introduction

In 2015, the World Health Organization World Report on Aging and Health emphasized the pressing need for strategies promoting healthy aging. It specifically underscored the importance of giving more significant focus to skin health as a means of maintaining overall well-being across the entire lifespan [1]. Skin aging is induced and sustained by chronological aging and photoaging, and is clinically characterized by pigmentation, atrophy, a loss of elasticity, and an impaired recovery response against damage, resulting in subsequent pathologic skin disorders [2]. For instance, cutaneous infections are common among the elderly due to a reduction in the skin’s barrier function and its immune defenses. Additionally, impaired wound healing further escalates the risk of infection. It is also widely recognized that senescent cells accumulate in the skin during aging, and even though they can’t proliferate, they continue to be metabolically active. These cells display an altered secretory profile, known as a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which includes proinflammatory cytokines that significantly modify the skin’s microenvironment and contribute to inflammaging [2]. More recently, skin pigmentation during the aging process has been actively discussed, and cellular senescence is thought to be a key player in skin-aging pigmentation [3]. With the rise in life expectancy and a growing demand for solutions to reduce the signs of aging skin, there is a heightened interest in this research field, particularly with a focus on natural cosmetic products taking the spotlight [4].
The significance of natural products is further fueled by consumers’ increasing preference for more environmentally friendly and ecologically conscious products [5]. Furthermore, the research in cosmetics aims not only to improve skin appearance during aging but also to improve the quality of life of individuals by preventing or treating skin-related diseases [4]. In this context, the term “cosmeceutical” has been coined, as is defined as a cosmetic product that include active ingredients with drug-like benefits [5]. Natural products, including plants and their metabolites, have been used as skin care products for millennia, and modern formulations are causing their relevance to reemerge. Plants extracts are of particular interest since they are able to accomplish two tasks at once: skin care and source of nutrients required for the maintenance of skin functions, thus maintaining a healthy skin [5]. This dual function is probably due to their phytochemicals, such as terpenoids, polyphenols, essential oils, vitamins, that altogether exert a plethora of functions such as antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibition, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and UV radiation protection, thus mitigating several hallmarks of skin aging [4,5].
The genus Ferulago W. D. J. Koch is comprised of 48 subordinated taxa [6], that are predominantly found in mild climate zones, such as Europe, Southwest and Middle Asia, the Caucasus and North Africa. Although in the Iberian Peninsula, this genus is represented by 4 species (F. galbanifera (Mill.) W. D. J. Koch; F. brachyloba Boiss. & Reut.; F. lutea (Poir.) Grande and F. granatensis Boiss.) [7], in Portugal only the endemic species F. lutea (Ferulago capillaris (Link ex Spreng.) Cout.) is found [8]. Plants from this genus are widely used in traditional medicines as antiseptic, for wound healing, for bronchitis and immunostimulant [7]. As reviewed elsewhere, the biological properties of plants belonging to the Ferulago genus have been thoroughly investigated. Nonetheless, when comparing F. lutea to other species, studies on this particular plant are notably scarce. [7]. For instance, the antifungal and antibacterial potential of the essential oil from the flowers [9] and roots [10] from Ferulago lutea growing in Tunisia was previously reported. The Algerian F. lutea also presents strong antimicrobial activity [11]. The essential oil from the aerial parts of Ferulago capillaris (=syn F. lutea) growing in Portugal also displays strong antifungal properties against several pathogenic yeasts and filamentous fungi [8]. In addition, several studies have shown that F. lutea exerts anti-acetylcholinesterase activity [9,10] and antioxidant properties [11]. The documented effects of F. lutea underscore its potential for further utilization in the context of dermocosmetics and the development of skincare formulations.
Having this in mind, the present work aims to explore the protective role of Ferulago lutea essential oil collected in Portugal against skin aging hallmarks, particularly inflammation, impaired wound healing, pigmentation, and senescence. For the best knowledge of the authors, the selected bioactivities were never explored for this species. Our findings reveal that the essential oil extracted from F. lutea plants in Portugal exhibits several noteworthy properties. It demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects through the modulation of the NF-κB pathway, supports wound healing, has anti-lipogenic properties, and exhibits depigmenting capabilities. Additionally, our research indicates that the essential oil possesses anti-senescence properties, as it prevents the nuclear accumulation of γ-H2AX and regulates the p53/p21 signaling pathway.

2. Results

2.1. Chemical composition

The essential oil from F. lutea growing in Portugal was obtained with a yield of 0.8% (v/w). Monoterpenes hydrocarbons were the principal class of compounds detected by GC and GC/MS analysis (89.2%), being α-pinene (36.5%) and limonene (31.2%) the major compounds.

2.2. Effect of F. lutea on cell viability

With the potential clinical application of F. lutea essential oil in mind, we evaluated its impact on various cell lines that are representative of the skin, namely melanocytes, macrophages, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts. As shown in Figure 1, the dose of 1.25 µL/mL is toxic towards all tested cell lines, particularly macrophages (RAW 264.7) (Figure 1A) and fibroblasts (NIH/3T3) (Figure 1B) cells. For NIH/3T3 cells, the concentration of 0.64 µL/mL also presented significant toxicity. Having these results in consideration, the dose of 0.64 µL/mL was selected for the anti-inflammatory assays; in contrast, for experiments involving NIH/3T3, HaCaT, and B16V cell lines, a dosage of 0.32 µL/mL was employed.

2.2. The essential oil of F. lutea exerts anti-inflammatory effect via inhibition of NF-κB pathway

Considering that several plants from the genus Ferulago are widely used as anti-inflammatory [7], we first started by addressing if the essential oil from F. lutea could also present anti-inflammatory potential. To achieve this, we utilized LPS-stimulated macrophages, which trigger the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, resulting in the synthesis of various pro-inflammatory mediators, including IL-1β and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). iNOS, in turn, promotes the production of nitric oxide (NO). The results achieved demonstrated that the essential oil decreased NO production in a dose dependent manner (IC50 = 0.653 µg/mL) (Figure 2A).
We also aimed at exploring if the reported decrease in NO could be attributed to the modulation of the transcription factor NF-κB. In order to disclose the effect of the EO on this signaling pathway, we assessed the protein levels of two pro-inflammatory mediators associated with this pathway, namely iNOS and pro-IL-1β [12]. As shown in Figure 2B,C, the presence of the EO at 0.64 µL/mL lead to a significant decrease in the protein levels of both mediators, thus suggesting that the EO is able to inhibit NF-κB cascade.

2.3. Ferulago lutea essential oil promotes cell migration

Given that that aged individuals frequently experience impaired wound healing, resulting in chronic wounds and posing significant medical challenges, often in the context of a pro-inflammatory environment [13] , we further assess if the essential oil derived from F. lutea could stimulate fibroblast migration. As depicted in Figure 3, the essential oil increased cell migration at a concentration of 0.32 µL/mL. However, at the other tested concentrations, the promotional effect on cell migration was not observed.

2.4. Ferulago lutea essential oil affects lipogenesis differentially

Given that, on one hand, lipogenesis decreases with age [14], and on the other hand, this process is associated with a higher incidence and more severe forms of acne vulgaris [15], our objective was to determine whether F. lutea essential oil could regulate lipogenesis in the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line. As observed in Figure 4, the presence of the essential oil affects lipogenesis differentially. Indeed, in basal conditions, although not significantly, the essential oil slightly stimulates lipogenesis. However, in the presence of T0901317, a liver X receptor (LXR) ligand known to induce lipogenesis [16], pre-treatment with the essential oil led to a significant decrease in Oil Red content as observed by microscopy analysis (Figure 4A and B) and prior to quantification (Figure 4C), indicative of lipogenesis decrease.

2.5. Ferulago lutea essential oil exerts depigmenting properties

Even though active melanocytes decrease with skin aging, it’s worth noting that hyperpigmentation is the predominant characteristic of older sun-exposed skin [17]. Indeed, abnormal pigmentation is a common symptom accompanying aging skin, such as mottled pigmentation (senile lentigo) and melasma. Considering the beneficial effects of F. lutea on wound healing and lipogenesis, we then wondered whether the essential oil could modulate hyperpigmentation in B16V melanocytes. As expected, the use of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), an inducer of skin hyperpigmentation, led to an increase in both the melanin content and the activity of tyrosinase, a crucial enzyme involved in melanogenesis (Figure 5). The presence of the essential oil (0.32 µL/mL) led to a decrease in both parameters, thus suggesting that the essential oil possesses depigmenting properties.

2.6. Ferulago lutea essential oil has anti-senescence properties

Having in mind the potential of F. lutea essential oil on several age-related skin dysfunctions, we then assessed whether the essential oil could have a direct effect on cell senescence. For that we resorted to three complementary techniques, namely activity of senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, the nuclear accumulation of yH2AX histone and the protein levels of p21, all key players in cellular senescence [17].
Regarding the activity of β-galactosidase activity, we observed that etoposide led to the activation of this enzyme, as observed by the increased amount of X-galactose (Figure 6). However, when the essential oil was added in the recovery phase, the amount of X-gal positive cells was significantly decreased, thus suggesting that F. lutea essential oil could exert anti-senescent properties.
Considering that F. lutea essential oil was able to decrease the activity of senescence-associated β-galactosidase, we then proceeded to unveil the underlying mechanism of action, by assessing the protein levels of p21 nad p53, a key player in senescence via the p53/p21 axis and the nuclear accumulation of phosphorylated H2AX (γH2AX). As observed in Figure 7, the presence of the essential oil greatly decreases the phosphorylation of H2AX, thus validating the anti-senescence potential of the essential oil. Considering that nuclear accumulation of γH2AX leads to cell cycle arrest via p53/p21 signaling pathway, we then assessed whether the essential oil could decrease the expression of these markers. As expected, the etoposide-only treated cells had an accumulation of both p53 and p21. When the essential oil was added in the recovery phase, both p53 and p21 protein levels were significantly decreased (Figure 8) thus suggesting that F. lutea essential oil prevents cell cycle arrest in the presence of DNA damage.

3. Discussion

The current study underscores the positive effect of F. lutea essential oil on skin aging hallmarks. We have demonstrated that this essential oil possesses anti-inflammatory properties, supports wound healing, reduces lipogenesis, exhibits depigmenting abilities and displays anti-senescent properties. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that the chemical composition of F. lutea from Portugal is consistent with earlier studies on this species [8]. This underscores that the essential oil extracted from plants growing in Portugal is primarily characterized by the presence of α-pinene and limonene. Overall, we suggest that F. lutea essential oil constitutes a likely promising source for prioritizing molecules with anti-aging properties.
A pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the skin is often associated with the onset and progression of several skin disorders [18]. Undoubtedly, the cutaneous immune response plays a critical role in the regulation of skin aging and the development of immune-mediated skin conditions, notably eczema, acne, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis. [19,20]. Because of the adverse effects reported for the conventional therapies (glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants), research has focused on the development of new therapeutic alternatives [21,22]. Based on the reported findings, we propose that F. lutea EO may hold promise in the management of inflammatory skin conditions. While specific studies regarding the anti-inflammatory potential of F. lutea are still pending, it’s worth noting that one study showed that F. campestris, which is rich in myrcene, α-pinene, and γ-terpinene, reduced mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and iNOS. [23]. The anti-inflammatory effect might be attributed to the high amounts of α-pinene and limonene. Indeed, a study has shown that both major compounds from F. lutea exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in an acute model of pancreatitis [24]. Other studies also demonstrated the anti-inflammatory potential of limonene [25,26] and α-pinene [27,28,29] thereby confirming their roles in the activity of F. lutea essential oil.
Skin aging often leads to impaired wound healing due to the prolongation of the inflammatory phase in the wound healing process [30], thus contributing to the emergence of chronic wounds [13]. Considering that the essential oil from F. lutea exerts anti-inflammatory properties, we then hypothesize that it could also contribute beneficially to the wound healing process. Indeed, our results show that the essential oil promotes wound healing in a dose-dependent manner. Regarding studies with plants from the genus Ferulago, no studies have been conducted as far; however, some studies have shown that the major compounds from the essential oil reported herein have wound healing potential. For instance, α-pinene have been shown to promote the formation of stress-resistant scars and wound contractions by eliciting collagen deposition [31]. Other studies have also demonstrated wound healing properties for limonene [32,33,34], including in a diabetic animal model, where a decrease in the pro-inflammatory environment was also observed [33], similarly to our present study, thus suggesting that limonene might be the biggest contributor to the wound healing promotion capability of F. lutea growing in Portugal.
During skin aging, sebaceous cells in the skin lose their functionality leading to a decrease in surface lipid levels and xerosis [35]. In opposition, acne vulgaris promotes the production of sebum by activation of the enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) [15]. Our findings indicate that F. lutea essential oil may offer advantageous outcomes in mitigating the decline in lipogenic capabilities associated with aging skin. Additionally, when applied in conditions characterized by elevated lipogenesis, such as acne vulgaris, it could potentially alleviate excessive sebum production. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is a lack of studies conducted on the impact of other Ferulago species on lipogenesis.
Regarding isolated compounds, only limonene has been explored in lipogenesis. A study demonstrated that limonene exhibited a dual effect on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. On one hand, it increased lipid accumulation in adipocytes by activating the PPARγ, C/EBP-α, and C/EBP-β pathways. On the other hand, at higher doses, it had an opposing effect by reducing lipid accumulation [36]. In another study, limonene was able to modulate AMPK-mediated expression of mRNA genes related to adipogenesis (PPARγ, C/EBPα, FABP4), and lipogenesis (SREBP-1c, ACC, FAS) [37]. Having these results in mind, we suggest that limonene might be the major contributor to the anti-lipogenic effects reported herein for F. lutea essential oil.
Although the number of melanocytes decrease, abnormal pigmentation is a common symptom accompanying aging skin. Furthermore, chronic UV exposure also leads to loss of function in fibroblasts, that help in the regulation of melanogenesis [38]. Indeed, the crosstalk between melanocytes as pigmentary cells and other adjacent types of aged skin cells such as senescent fibroblasts play a role in skin-aging pigmentation. Our results show that the presence of F. lutea essential oils decreases melanin, probably due to the inhibitory effect on tyrosinase, a key player in melanin production [39]. Our study is the first addressing the depigmenting properties of extracts obtained from plants from the genus Ferulago. Regarding isolated compounds, few studies have been conducted using limonene or α-pinene. Limonene was shown to protect keratinocytes against UVB-induced photodamage and photoaging [40]. In addition, this compound is part of the commercial product Garnier Dark Spot Corrector [41], thus reinforcing its skin lightening properties.
It is known that senescent cells contribute to skin aging [42,43], thus leading to the emergence of aged skin-related pathologies. Indeed, it has been shown that fibroblasts exposed to UVB exhibit DNA damage and consequent cell cycle arrest, in addition to the expression of senescence markers, particularly senescence associated β-galactosidase activity and p16, p21 and p53 activation [42]. Importantly, senescent cells display an altered SASP, which includes proinflammatory cytokines. Our results show that F. lutea essential oil reduces the activity of senescence-associated β-galactosidase, thus suggesting anti-senescence properties for this oil. The accumulation of γH2AX is a response to damaged DNA, that ultimately leads to cell cycle arrest and cellular senescence [44]. Furthermore, as reviewed elsewhere [45], double strand breaks only lead to cellular senescence, when they are resistant to repair processes, leading to a subset of γH2AX called persistent γH2AX. Having in mind that the essential oil decreases the accumulation of this marker, we hypothesize that it could prevent more serious damage to the DNA thus allowing its repair, which in turn prevent the activation of the p21/p53 axis for cell cycle arrest and consequent cellular senescence. Indeed, our results demonstrate that the essential oil is able to decrease the protein levels of both p53 and p21, thus reinforcing the anti-senescent potential of the essential oil. Our study highlights for the first-time anti-senescence properties for plants from the genus Ferulago. The reported activity might be attributed to the presence of limonene and α-pinene. Indeed, limonene protects HaCaT cells from H2O2-induced aging [46] and human keratinocytes from UVB-induced photoaging by activating Nrf2-dependent antioxidants [40]. UVA-induced photoaging was also prevented by α-pinene by inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases expression [47].
Overall, our study is the first to point out several properties to F. lutea essential oil that are relevant in the management of skin aging and associated pathologies. However, further studies need to be addressed in order to further validate these effects using more physiologically relevant models.

4. Materials and Methods

4.1. Plant material and essential hydrodistillation

Aerial parts (umbels with mature seeds) of F. lutea were collected in the flowering stage in Central Portugal (Celorico da Beira). A voucher specimen was deposited at the Herbarium of the University of Coimbra. Prior to the hydrodistillation, the plant material was air-dried in the dark.
The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus, for 3h, as recommended by the European Pharmacopoeia [48].

4.2. Chemical characterization of the essential oil

The essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) as previously described by our group [49].
The identity of the volatile compounds was achieved by their retention indices (RI) on two GC columns (SPB-1 and SupelcoWax-10) and mass spectra. RI were matched with those from a home-made database and/or from literature data [50,51,52,53]. Mass spectra were compared with reference spectra from our own database, Wiley/NIST library [54] and literature data [50,55].

4.3. Cell culture

The cell lines RAW 264.7 (mouse leukemic macrophage cell line) and NIH 3T3 (mouse embryonic fibroblast) were obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC TIB-71 and ATCC CRL-1658, respectively) and were cultured as described by the team [56]. The cell lines HaCaT (human keratinocyte cell line) and B-16V (mouse melanoma cell line) were obtained from Cell Line Services (CLS 3004993) and German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ ACC-370), respectively, and were culture as previously reported [57].

4.4. Effect on cell viability

The effect of different concentrations of the essential oil on the viability of macrophages, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and melanocytes was evaluated through the resazurin reduction test [58]. RAW 264.7 macrophages (0.6 x 106 cells/mL), NIH/3T3 fibroblasts (5 x 104 cells/mL), HaCaT keratinocytes (1 x 105 cells/mL) and B-16V melanocytes (6 x 104 cells/mL) were seeded in 48-well plates. After a 24h incubation with the essential oil (0.08 – 1.25 µL/mL), cell viability was determined as previously reported [58].

4.5. Anti-inflammatory potential

4.5.1. Nitric oxide production

The capacity of the essential oil to decrease the nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages was assessed using the methodology described in our group [49,59].

4.5.2. Western blot analysis of pro-inflammatory mediators

RAW 264.7 cells (0.8 × 106 cells/well) were cultured in 6-well plates and stabilized overnight. Cells were then subjected to 1 h incubation with the essential oil (0.64 µL/mL), followed by 24 h of LPS activation (50 ng/mL). Negative and positive controls comprising untreated and LPS-only treated cells, respectively, were included. Cell lysates preparation follow the protocol previously performed in Zuzarte et al. [60].
The protein levels of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and IL-1β pro form (pro-IL-1β), with tubulin used as loading control, were assessed by Western blot, as previously described [61].

4.6. Cell migration

The effect of the extract on cell migration was investigated through the scratch wound assay according to Martinotti et al., [62] with slight modifications, as reported by our team [61].

4.7. Inhibition of lipogenesis

4.7.1. Lipogenesis induction

Lipogenesis was induced using T0901317, an activator of the LXR [63]. Briefly, HaCaT cells were seeded in a 12-well plate at 3 x 104 cells/mL and left to adhere for 24h. Afterwards, cells were pre-treated with 0.32 µL/mL of the essential oil for 1h before being stimulated with 5 µM of T0901317 for 24h. At the end, medium was removed, and cells were washed three times with PBS and then fixated for 30 min with 4% paraformaldehyde at room temperature. Then, cells were washed with PBS, and stored at 4ºC until further analysis.

4.7.2. Oil Red-O fluorescent staining

After cell fixation, cells were staining with Oil Red-O dye (6:4, 0.6% Oil Red-O dye in water) for 15 min. Cells were washed three times with PBS and images were acquired using a bright-field microscope and Oil Red-O staining was quantified using the Threshold function in image J/Fiji software.

4.7.3. Lipid accumulation quantification by Oil Red O staining

After the procedure described in 4.7.2., Oil Red O staining was dissolved in 200 µL of isopropanol, the contents of each well were transferred to a new 96-well plate, and the absorbance was measured at 500 nm using an automated plate reader. Oil Red O content in each condition was determined using the following equation, normalized to control conditions:
Oil Red O content = Abst/AbsCT
Where Abst is the absorbance at 500 nm of each condition, and AbsCT is the absorbance at 500 nm in control cells (untreated cells).

4.8. Depigmenting effect

The depigmenting activity, by assessing melanin content as well as tyrosinase activity, was determined resorting to the methodology previously described by our team [57].

4.9. Anti-senescence potential

4.9.1. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity

Senescence was evaluated using the senescence inducer etoposide, as reported elsewhere [57].

4.9.2. yH2AX staining

For the assessment of the nuclear staining of histone yH2AX, NIH/3T3 fibroblasts were seeded at 1 x 105 cells/mL in glass coverslips and treated as reported in section 4.9.1. At the end of the treatment, cells were fixated with 4% paraformaldehyde for 15 min. Then, cells were washed followed by permeabilization with 0.1% Triton X-100 for 15 min. Cells were then blocked with blocking solution (3% bovine serum albumin, 10% goat serum in PBS) for 1h, followed by an overnight incubation at 4ºC with a primary antibody against yH2AX (1:500, Cell Signalling 9718) prepared in blocking solution. At the end of the incubation period, coverslips were washed with PBS, and further incubated for 1h at room temperature with the secondary antibody goat anti-rabbit Alexa Fluor 564 (1:500) and DAPI (1:2000) prepared in blocking solution. After washes with PBS, coverslips were mounted in glass slides with Mowiol mounting medium. Images were acquired in a confocal point-scanning microscope (Zeiss LSM710; Carl Zeiss, Germany) in 40x objective.

4.9.3. p21 and p53 protein levels

NIH/3T3 fibroblasts (2.5 x 105 cells/mL) were plated in 6-well plate and then treated as reported in section 4.9.1. At the end, cell lysates were prepared as reported by Zuzarte et al. [60]. Protein separation and immunoblotting were performed as previously reported in our group [64]. After the blocking step, membranes were incubated with specific p21 antibody (1:1000, Abcam ab188224) and p53 (1:1000, Proteintech 10442-1-AP) overnight at 4ºC. Then, membranes were washed with TBS-T followed by 1h incubation at room temperature with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibodies (1:20,000). Then proteins were detected with a chemiluminescence scanner (Image Quant LAS 500, GE).

4.10. Statistical analysis

The experiments were performed at least in duplicate for at least three independent experiments. Mean values ± SEM (standard error of the mean) are presented in the results. Statistical significance was evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), or Mann-Whitney test followed by the appropriate post-hoc test analysis using GraphPad Prism version 9.3.0. P values <0.05 were accepted as statistically significant.

5. Conclusions

The present study highlights several activities of the essential oil of F. lutea growing in Portugal, that are particularly relevant in the context of skin aging and skin-related pathologies. We demonstrate that the essential oil exerts its anti-inflammatory effects probably via modulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, we report wound healing promotion, anti-lipogenic and depigmenting properties to the essential oil, thus highlighting its relevance in skin aging and associated pathologies. We hypothesize that these effects might be due to the anti-senescence properties that we report to the essential oil, due to modulation of p21/p53 pathway.
Overall, these results promote the industrial interest in Ferulago lutea, particularly for dermocosmetics. In addition, it brings new insights into the management of skin aging and associated pathologies resorting to natural products.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, Lígia Salgueiro and Teresa Cruz; methodology, Jorge Alves-Silva and Patrícia Moreira; validation, Cláudia Pereira, Lígia Salgueiro and Teresa Cruz.; formal analysis, Jorge Alves-Silva and Carlos Cavaleiro; investigation, Jorge Alves-Silva; resources, Carlos Cavaleiro; data curation, Jorge Alves-Silva; writing—original draft preparation, Jorge Alves-Silva; writing—review and editing, Cláudia Pereira, Lígia Salgueiro and Teresa Cruz; visualization, Jorge Alves-Silva; supervision, Lígia Salgueiro and Teresa Cruz; project administration, Lígia Salgueiro and Teresa Cruz; funding acquisition, Teresa Cruz All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.”

Funding

This research was funded by national funds through FCT—in the scope of the projects UIDB/04539/2020, UIDP/04539/2020 and LA/P/0058/2020 from CIBB.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Data will be available upon request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Effect of F. lutea essential oil on cell viability. Cell viability was assessed using resazurin metabolization assay. Effect on RAW 264.7 (A), NIH/3T3 (B), B16V (C) and HaCaT (D) cell lines. Results show the mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments performed in duplicate. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ****p<0.0001, when compared to control (black bars) after one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.
Figure 1. Effect of F. lutea essential oil on cell viability. Cell viability was assessed using resazurin metabolization assay. Effect on RAW 264.7 (A), NIH/3T3 (B), B16V (C) and HaCaT (D) cell lines. Results show the mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments performed in duplicate. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ****p<0.0001, when compared to control (black bars) after one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.
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Figure 2. Effect of F. lutea essential oil on LPS-stimulated macrophages. A) Nitric oxide production quantified as nitrites in the culture medium using the Griess reaction, after cells treatment with 0.64 µL/mL of the EO for 1h followed by stimulation with 50 ng/mL of LPS for 24h. ****p<0.0001, when compared to control; ###p<0.001; ####p<0.0001, when compared to LPS, after one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparison test. B) Representative western blots for iNOS and pro-IL-1β. C) iNOS protein levels. D) Pro-IL-1β protein levels. Tubulin was used as loading control and values were normalized to LPS. Results represent mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments. ****p<0.0001, when compared to control; ##p<0.01, when compared to LPS, after one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test.
Figure 2. Effect of F. lutea essential oil on LPS-stimulated macrophages. A) Nitric oxide production quantified as nitrites in the culture medium using the Griess reaction, after cells treatment with 0.64 µL/mL of the EO for 1h followed by stimulation with 50 ng/mL of LPS for 24h. ****p<0.0001, when compared to control; ###p<0.001; ####p<0.0001, when compared to LPS, after one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparison test. B) Representative western blots for iNOS and pro-IL-1β. C) iNOS protein levels. D) Pro-IL-1β protein levels. Tubulin was used as loading control and values were normalized to LPS. Results represent mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments. ****p<0.0001, when compared to control; ##p<0.01, when compared to LPS, after one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test.
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Figure 3. The essential oil from F. lutea promotes cell migration. A) Representative bright-field images of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts 0h and 18h after scratch in the absence (Control) or presence of increasing doses of the essential oil (032 – 0.08 µL/mL). B) Percentage of closed wound determined using an ImageJ/FIJI plugin. Results represent mean ± SEM of at least three independent assays made in duplicate. *p<0.05 when compared to control after one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.
Figure 3. The essential oil from F. lutea promotes cell migration. A) Representative bright-field images of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts 0h and 18h after scratch in the absence (Control) or presence of increasing doses of the essential oil (032 – 0.08 µL/mL). B) Percentage of closed wound determined using an ImageJ/FIJI plugin. Results represent mean ± SEM of at least three independent assays made in duplicate. *p<0.05 when compared to control after one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.
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Figure 4. F. lutea essential oil modulates lipogenesis in HaCaT keratinocytes. A) Representative bright-field images of HaCaT pre-treated with 0.32 µL/mL of F. lutea essential oil followed by 24h in the presence of T0901317 and then neutral lipids were stained with Oil Red O staining. B) Neutral lipid content in HaCaT keratinocytes quantified using ImageJ/FIJI. C) Neutral lipid content in HaCaT keratinocytes after Oil Red O stain solubilization in isopropanol and absorbance read at 500 nm. A minimum of 5 images were quantified in each replicate. Results shown as mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments made in duplicate, ***p<0.001, ****p<0.0001 when compared to control, #p<0.05, ###p<0.001 when compared to T0901317 after one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.
Figure 4. F. lutea essential oil modulates lipogenesis in HaCaT keratinocytes. A) Representative bright-field images of HaCaT pre-treated with 0.32 µL/mL of F. lutea essential oil followed by 24h in the presence of T0901317 and then neutral lipids were stained with Oil Red O staining. B) Neutral lipid content in HaCaT keratinocytes quantified using ImageJ/FIJI. C) Neutral lipid content in HaCaT keratinocytes after Oil Red O stain solubilization in isopropanol and absorbance read at 500 nm. A minimum of 5 images were quantified in each replicate. Results shown as mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments made in duplicate, ***p<0.001, ****p<0.0001 when compared to control, #p<0.05, ###p<0.001 when compared to T0901317 after one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.
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Figure 5. F. lutea essential oil exerts depigmenting effect on B16V melanocytes. A) Melanin content in B16V melanocytes after 48h of cells treatment with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxantine (IBMX) in the absence or presence of 0.32 µL/mL of F. lutea essential oil. B) Tyrosinase activity in B16V melanocytes after 48h of cells treatment with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxantine (IBMX) in the absence or presence of 0.32 µL/mL of F. lutea essential oil. Results show mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments made in triplicate.*p<0.05 when compared to control, #p<0.05 when compared to IBMX after one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test.
Figure 5. F. lutea essential oil exerts depigmenting effect on B16V melanocytes. A) Melanin content in B16V melanocytes after 48h of cells treatment with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxantine (IBMX) in the absence or presence of 0.32 µL/mL of F. lutea essential oil. B) Tyrosinase activity in B16V melanocytes after 48h of cells treatment with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxantine (IBMX) in the absence or presence of 0.32 µL/mL of F. lutea essential oil. Results show mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments made in triplicate.*p<0.05 when compared to control, #p<0.05 when compared to IBMX after one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test.
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Figure 6. F. lutea essential oil decreases senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity. A) Representative bright-field images of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts treated for 24h with 12.5 µM Etoposide, followed by 24h in etoposide-free medium in the absence (black bar) or presence (gray bar) of 0.32 µL/mL of F. lutea essential oil. *p<0.05 when compared to Eto 12.5 µM, after Mann-Whitney test.
Figure 6. F. lutea essential oil decreases senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity. A) Representative bright-field images of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts treated for 24h with 12.5 µM Etoposide, followed by 24h in etoposide-free medium in the absence (black bar) or presence (gray bar) of 0.32 µL/mL of F. lutea essential oil. *p<0.05 when compared to Eto 12.5 µM, after Mann-Whitney test.
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Figure 7. F. lutea essential oil decreases the nuclear accumulation of the phosphorylated form of H2AX (γ-H2AX). A) Representative confocal images of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts after 24h treatment with Etoposide (12.5 µM) followed by 24h in the presence of F. lutea essential oil (0.32 µL/mL). γH2AX was stained with Alexa Fluor 564 and nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. B) Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) per nucleus quantified using threshold function in ImageJ/Fiji. A minimum of 6 images were used per condition in three independent assays. Results show the mean ± SEM of three independent assays. **** p<0.0001 when compared to control; #### p<0.0001 when compared to Eto.
Figure 7. F. lutea essential oil decreases the nuclear accumulation of the phosphorylated form of H2AX (γ-H2AX). A) Representative confocal images of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts after 24h treatment with Etoposide (12.5 µM) followed by 24h in the presence of F. lutea essential oil (0.32 µL/mL). γH2AX was stained with Alexa Fluor 564 and nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. B) Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) per nucleus quantified using threshold function in ImageJ/Fiji. A minimum of 6 images were used per condition in three independent assays. Results show the mean ± SEM of three independent assays. **** p<0.0001 when compared to control; #### p<0.0001 when compared to Eto.
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Figure 8. F. lutea essential oil modulates p53/p21 signaling pathway. A) Representative western blot of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts treated with etoposide 12.5 µM for 24h followed by an additional 24h in the absence (black bars) and presence (gray bars) of 0.32 µL/mL of F. lutea essential oil. B) Relative expression of p21 protein levels. C) Relative expression of p53 protein levels. Tubulin was used as loading control and values were normalized to etoposide. Results represent mean ± SEM of at least three independent assays. ****p<0.0001 when compared to control, #p<0.05 and ####p<0.0001 when compared to etoposide after one way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison tests.
Figure 8. F. lutea essential oil modulates p53/p21 signaling pathway. A) Representative western blot of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts treated with etoposide 12.5 µM for 24h followed by an additional 24h in the absence (black bars) and presence (gray bars) of 0.32 µL/mL of F. lutea essential oil. B) Relative expression of p21 protein levels. C) Relative expression of p53 protein levels. Tubulin was used as loading control and values were normalized to etoposide. Results represent mean ± SEM of at least three independent assays. ****p<0.0001 when compared to control, #p<0.05 and ####p<0.0001 when compared to etoposide after one way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison tests.
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Table 1. Main compounds of the essential oil from Ferulago lutea.
Table 1. Main compounds of the essential oil from Ferulago lutea.
Compounds * RI
SPB-1a 		RI
SW 10b 		% Peak area
α-Pinene 930 1030 36.5
Camphene 943 1077 1.5
Sabinene 964 1128 0.5
β-Pinene 970 1118 1.5
Myrcene 980 1161 5.0
p-Cymene 1009 1271 1.5
Limonene 1020 1206 31.2
β-Phellandrene 1020 1215 5.5
Z-β-Ocimene 1025 1235 3.5
E-β-Ocimene 1035 1253 1.0
γ-Terpinene 1046 1249 0.5
Z-Linalool oxyde 1055 1439 1.0
Terpinolene 1076 1288 1.0
p-Cymenene-8-ol 1160 1621 0.5
α-Copaene 1364 1487 0.5
E-Caryophyllene 1408 1590 0.5
Germacrene-D 1466 1699 0.5
δ-Cadinene 1508 1751 0.6
Total identified 92.8
* Compounds listed in order of elution in the SPB-1 column. a RI SPB 1: GC retention indices relative to C9-C23 n-alkanes on the SPB-1 column; b RI SW 10: GC retention indices relative to C9-C23 n-alkanes on the Supelcowax-10 column.
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