Abstract:

This study aimed to investigate the anti-wrinkle and firming efficacy of Saururus chinensis extract （SC） using molecular docking, cell-based assays, and a single-blind, half-face controlled human trial. The results show that sauchinone, a characteristic bioactive component of SC, exhibits strong binding affinity for EDNRA, with a binding energy of -6.619 kcal/mol. In EDNRA-overexpressing HaCaT cells, SC significantly reduces the elevation of intracellular Ca²⁺ level after EDNRA activation and decreases the expression level of MMP-9. In the half-face controlled clinical trial, SC significantly increases the ultrasound high-intensity echogenicity of the skin at 7, 14, and 28 days compared with the vehicle control. By Day 28, SC treatment significantly reduced crow’s feet depth, skin retraction time, skin redness a^* value, and skin roughness （R_a and R_z values）. Therefore, SC has anti-wrinkle and firming efficacy by modulating MMP-9 expression through the ET-1/EDNRA signaling pathway.

Key words: Saururus chinensis extract, EDNRA, MMP-9, anti-wrinkle efficacy, firming efficacy