Anti-aging effects of extracts prepared from salmon nasal cartilage in hairless mice.

The skin anti-aging effects of orally administered salmon nasal cartilage extract (SNCE), which includes abundant proteoglycan, were investigated using a hairless mouse skin-aging model, in which aging was caused by repetitive ultraviolet B (UV-B) irradiation. Physiological analysis of the skin surface following repetitive UV-B irradiation of 8 weeks revealed inhibition of erythema levels and reduction of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) due to oral administration of SNCE. Similarly, inhibitory actions of epidermal and dermal hypertrophy were revealed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Furthermore, effects on the hydration level of the skin surface by SNCE administration were indicated at 4 weeks of UV-B irradiation, but greater effects were not apparent. These results indicate that SNCE may serve as an anti-aging agent for healthy skin.