Ability of pomegranate peel extract to alter type I procollagen
production by dermal fibroblasts was assessed next. The
middle panel of Fig. 4 demonstrates that type I procollagen synthesiswas
increased in the presence of pomegranate peel extract.
Interestingly, dose–response studies indicated that type I procollagen
production was stimulated at concentrations below those
optimal for proliferation, with procollagen elaboration declining
at higher concentrations. When KBM was supplemented
with Ca2+ (1.4mM final concentration), there was also a stimulation
of procollagen synthesis. However, the level of increase
with Ca2+ stimulation was not as great as that achieved with
pomegranate peel extract.
The lower panel of Fig. 4 demonstrates the effects of
pomegranate peel extract on MMP production. It can be seen
that MMP-1 accumulation in the fibroblast-conditioned medium
was dramatically reduced in the presence of the pomegranate
peel extract. The dose–response for MMP-1 inhibition mirrored
(inversely) the dose–response for proliferation, i.e., the same