Pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating diseases caused by high MMP expression, containing Scutellarein II and its derivatives as active ingredients

Scutellarein II-based MMP-1 expression-inhibiting material for improving skin aging and fibrosis

This technology utilizes Scutellarein II, a flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis root (where R1–R4 in Chemical Formula 1 are methyl groups), as an active ingredient in pharmaceutical compositions, health functional foods, and anti-aging cosmetic compositions for preventing and treating skin aging and fibrosis.

While inhibiting the expression of MMP-1, which degrades collagen, can help manage collagen-degrading diseases, the discovery of compounds that safely inhibit MMP-1 expression has been limited. Existing flavonoids, such as quercetin and apigenin, have the limitation of requiring high concentrations exceeding 10 μM in human dermal fibroblasts.

This technology leverages the ability of Scutellarein II to inhibit AP-1 and NF-κB activation at low concentrations of 3 μM or less, thereby reducing the expression of various MMPs, including MMP-1, and preventing collagen degradation. It can be applied to anti-wrinkle cosmetics, skin health functional foods, and fibrosis treatment candidates, serving as a versatile ingredient that ensures collagen-protective efficacy even at low concentrations.

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Key Features:

• A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating skin aging or fibrosis containing a compound of Chemical Formula 1, where R1 to R4 are C1 alkyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient
• A pharmaceutical composition that inhibits high MMP-1 expression by reducing JNK or ERK kinase phosphorylation and inhibiting NF-κB activity
• A health functional food for preventing or improving skin aging or fibrosis containing a compound of Chemical Formula 1 or a food-grade acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient
• A cosmetic composition for preventing skin aging containing a compound of Chemical Formula 1 or a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for the discovery and functional study of target genes in animal models of natural and menopausal aging.

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