Integrated phytochemical and network pharmacology revealing anti-photoaging, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities of Tricholoma matsutake extracts

Abstract

This study investigates the anti-photoaging effects of ethanol extract of Tricholoma matsutake (S. Ito & S. Imai) (TME). UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS analysis identified 68 components, highlighting L-pyroglutamic acid as a primary bioactive constituent. In a UVB-induced mouse model, the topical application of TME significantly alleviated erythema, wrinkles, epidermal hyperplasia, and collagen degradation while suppressing dermal mast cell infiltration. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed that TME downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) and mitigated oxidative stress in HaCaT cells by reducing reactive oxygen species, suppressing lipid peroxidation, and restoring mitochondrial membrane potential. Network pharmacology and molecular docking predicted core therapeutic targets, which were subsequently validated via in vivo ELISA. The results confirmed that TME combats structural photoaging by suppressing matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) expression and downregulating the phosphorylation of AKT1 and STAT3. In conclusion, the ethanol extract of T. matsutake exhibits robust antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, demonstrating significant potential for skincare applications.