Penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose from Paeonia lactiflora Pall. root extract enhances the expression of skin barrier genes via EGR3

Abstract Ethnopharmacoligical relevance Paeonia lactifloraPall. has long been used to treat inflammatory skindiseases, such as psoriasis. Aim of the study: The skinacts as a barrier and provides protection against various stresses by expressing skinbarrier genes during keratinocytedifferentiation. However, the effect of Paeonia lactifloraPall. root extract on the expression of skinbarrier genes has not been investigated. Here, we aimed to show that treatment of keratinocyteswith Paeonia lactifloraPall. root can upregulate genes related to keratinocytedifferentiation. Materials and methods To determine the effect Paeonia lactifloraPall. root extract, RNA-Seq, gene ontology, and gene set enrichment analysis were performed. Reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to confirm the increased expression of skinbarrier genes. Results Treatment with Paeonia lactifloraPall. root enhanced the expression of skinbarrier genes, including the filaggrin, loricrin, and involucrin. Moreover, we found that penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (PGG), one of the ingredients in Paeonia lactifloraPall. root, enhanced the expression of skinbarrier genes, by upregulating the expression of the transcription factor EGR3. Conclusions PGG and Paeonia lactifloraPall. root extract have therapeutic potential for the treatment of diseases related to skinbarrier disruption and can be used in cosmetics to enhance skinbarrier function.