Effects of donkey milk on UVB-induced skin barrier damage and melanin pigmentation: A network pharmacology and experimental validation study

Anqi Li; Hailun He; Yanjing Chen; Feng Liao; Jie Tang; Li Li; Yumei Fan; Li Li; Lidan Xiong

doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1121498

Effects of donkey milk on UVB-induced skin barrier damage and melanin pigmentation: A network pharmacology and experimental validation study

Front Nutr. 2023 Mar 9:10:1121498. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1121498. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Anqi Li^{1

2

3}, Hailun He^{1

2

3}, Yanjing Chen^{1

2

3}, Feng Liao⁴, Jie Tang^{1

2}, Li Li⁵, Yumei Fan⁴, Li Li^{1

2

3}, Lidan Xiong^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Cosmetics Safety and Efficacy Evaluation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
² NMPA Key Laboratory for Human Evaluation and Big Data of Cosmetics, Chengdu, China.
³ Department of Dermatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
⁴ National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd., Shandong, China.
⁵ Laboratory of Pathology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Abstract

Introduction: Dairy products have long been regarded as a controversial nutrient for the skin. However, a clear demonstration of donkey milk (DM) on skincare is required.

Methods: In this study, spectrum and chemical component analyses were applied to DM. Then, the effects of DM on UVB-induced skin barrier damage and melanin pigmentation were first evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Cell survival, animal models, and expression of filaggrin (FLG) were determined to confirm the effect of DM on UVB-induced skin barrier damage. Melanogenesis and tyrosinase (TYR) activity were assessed after UVB irradiation to clarify the effect of DM on whitening activities. Further, a network pharmacology method was applied to study the interaction between DM ingredients and UVB-induced skin injury. Meanwhile, an analysis of the melanogenesis molecular target network was developed and validated to predict the melanogenesis regulators in DM.

Results: DM was rich in cholesterols, fatty acids, vitamins and amino acids. The results of evaluation of whitening activities in vitro and in vivo indicated that DM had a potent inhibitory effect on melanin synthesis. The results of effects of DM on UVB‑induced skin barrier damage indicated that DM inhibited UVB-induced injury and restored skin barrier function via up-regulation expression of FLG (filaggrin). The pharmacological network of DM showed that DM regulated steroid biosynthesis and fatty acid metabolism in keratinocytes and 64 melanin targets which the main contributing role of DM might target melanogenesis, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) pathway.

Discussion: These results highlight the potential use of DM as a promising agent for whitening and anti-photoaging applications.

Keywords: UVB; donkey milk; melanogenesis; network pharmacology; skin barrier function.