Argan Callus Extract Restores Skin Cells via AMPK-Dependent Regulation of Energy Metabolism, Autophagy, and Inflammatory Pathways
Skin aging is driven by cellular senescence, oxidative stress, and diminished regenerative capacity. In this study, we investigated the effects of PhytoCellTec™ Argan, an argan callus extract (PC), on primary human fibroblasts and adult stem cells. PC treatment (0.1% and 0.5%) significantly enhanced...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/804 |
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| author | Ramona Hartinger Felix Quirin Fenzl Vanessa Martina Nalewaja Karima Djabali |
| author_facet | Ramona Hartinger Felix Quirin Fenzl Vanessa Martina Nalewaja Karima Djabali |
| author_sort | Ramona Hartinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Skin aging is driven by cellular senescence, oxidative stress, and diminished regenerative capacity. In this study, we investigated the effects of PhytoCellTec™ Argan, an argan callus extract (PC), on primary human fibroblasts and adult stem cells. PC treatment (0.1% and 0.5%) significantly enhanced fibroblast proliferation, reduced senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, and decreased the expression of p16, p21, and phosphorylated NFκB. PC treatment lowered intracellular ROS levels, increased ATP production, and promoted autophagy via LC3B-II accumulation and p62 reduction. In skin-derived precursor cells (SKPs), as well as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), PC treatment improved spheroid formation and growth while preserving the expression of key stemness markers, including Sox2, Oct4, and Nestin. Furthermore, PC exhibited antioxidant capacity (TEAC assay) and inhibited elastase, supporting its anti-aging potential. These findings suggest that PC is safe at concentrations below 1% and may serve as an effective natural compound to restore cellular homeostasis, reduce senescence and inflammation, and support stem cell health during aging. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-560c1a3e846a405d8dc666a412fcc502 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj-art-560c1a3e846a405d8dc666a412fcc5022025-08-20T03:13:39ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212025-06-0114780410.3390/antiox14070804Argan Callus Extract Restores Skin Cells via AMPK-Dependent Regulation of Energy Metabolism, Autophagy, and Inflammatory PathwaysRamona Hartinger0Felix Quirin Fenzl1Vanessa Martina Nalewaja2Karima Djabali3Epigenetics of Aging, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, TUM School of Medicine, Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering (MIBE), Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, GermanyEpigenetics of Aging, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, TUM School of Medicine, Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering (MIBE), Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, GermanyEpigenetics of Aging, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, TUM School of Medicine, Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering (MIBE), Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, GermanyEpigenetics of Aging, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, TUM School of Medicine, Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering (MIBE), Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, GermanySkin aging is driven by cellular senescence, oxidative stress, and diminished regenerative capacity. In this study, we investigated the effects of PhytoCellTec™ Argan, an argan callus extract (PC), on primary human fibroblasts and adult stem cells. PC treatment (0.1% and 0.5%) significantly enhanced fibroblast proliferation, reduced senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, and decreased the expression of p16, p21, and phosphorylated NFκB. PC treatment lowered intracellular ROS levels, increased ATP production, and promoted autophagy via LC3B-II accumulation and p62 reduction. In skin-derived precursor cells (SKPs), as well as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), PC treatment improved spheroid formation and growth while preserving the expression of key stemness markers, including Sox2, Oct4, and Nestin. Furthermore, PC exhibited antioxidant capacity (TEAC assay) and inhibited elastase, supporting its anti-aging potential. These findings suggest that PC is safe at concentrations below 1% and may serve as an effective natural compound to restore cellular homeostasis, reduce senescence and inflammation, and support stem cell health during aging.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/804senescenceargan callus extractskin-derived precursor cellmesenchymal stem cellsautophagyantioxidant |
| spellingShingle | Ramona Hartinger Felix Quirin Fenzl Vanessa Martina Nalewaja Karima Djabali Argan Callus Extract Restores Skin Cells via AMPK-Dependent Regulation of Energy Metabolism, Autophagy, and Inflammatory Pathways Antioxidants senescence argan callus extract skin-derived precursor cell mesenchymal stem cells autophagy antioxidant |
| title | Argan Callus Extract Restores Skin Cells via AMPK-Dependent Regulation of Energy Metabolism, Autophagy, and Inflammatory Pathways |
| title_full | Argan Callus Extract Restores Skin Cells via AMPK-Dependent Regulation of Energy Metabolism, Autophagy, and Inflammatory Pathways |
| title_fullStr | Argan Callus Extract Restores Skin Cells via AMPK-Dependent Regulation of Energy Metabolism, Autophagy, and Inflammatory Pathways |
| title_full_unstemmed | Argan Callus Extract Restores Skin Cells via AMPK-Dependent Regulation of Energy Metabolism, Autophagy, and Inflammatory Pathways |
| title_short | Argan Callus Extract Restores Skin Cells via AMPK-Dependent Regulation of Energy Metabolism, Autophagy, and Inflammatory Pathways |
| title_sort | argan callus extract restores skin cells via ampk dependent regulation of energy metabolism autophagy and inflammatory pathways |
| topic | senescence argan callus extract skin-derived precursor cell mesenchymal stem cells autophagy antioxidant |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/804 |
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