Tea flavonoids and polyphenols are well known for their extraordinary antioxidant activity which is considered important for anti-aging processes in animals. This study evaluated the anti-wrinkle effects of three different kinds of tea (Camellia sinensis) water extracts (CSWEs) including green, white, and black teas using a photoaged hairless mouse model. Data showed that the CSWE-treatment greatly improved skin conditions of mice suffering from UVB-induced photoaging, based on the parameters including the skin erythema index, moisture capacity, and transepidermal water loss. In addition, the wrinkle measurement and image analysis of skin replicas indicated that CSWEs remarkably inhibited wrinkle formation. In histological examination, the CSWE-treated mice exhibited diminished epidermal thickness and increased collagen and elastic fiber content, key signatures for skin restoration. Furthermore, the reduced expression of MMP-3, a collagen-degradative enzyme, was observed in the skin of CSWE-treated animals. Interestingly, comparative data between green, white, and black tea indicated that the anti-wrinkle activity of white tea and black tea is equally greater than that of green tea. Taken together, these data clearly demonstrated that CSWEs could be used as an effective anti-wrinkle agent in photoaged animal skin, implying their extended uses in therapeutics.
Keywords: Aging; Antioxidant; Camellia sinensis; MMP-3; Polyphenols.