| Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are natural substances that are considered for skin protection caused by UVB exposure. The increased levels of photoaging and inflammation markers, i.e. matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are correlated with the signs of photoaging and inflammation in the skin. Tempeh, one of the Indonesian fermented foods is a promising source of PUFAs for food applications including nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals. In this study, PUFA-rich oil was extracted from white and black soybean tempeh and tested on its efficacy on down-regulating several genes related to photoaging and inflammation in UVB-irradiated premature skin aging in mice model by conducting hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and quantitative Real Time-PCR (qRT-PCR) assays. Tempeh oil was extracted in methanol and chloroform using Bligh and Dyer method, and PUFA constituents in tempeh oil were determined by pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (py/GC-MS) analysis. Mice skin dorsal was irradiated with UVB gradually for 4 weeks to induce premature photoaging. Mice were grouped into negative control; positive control; black soybean tempeh oil at 100 and 300 mg/kg; white soybean tempeh oil at 100 and 300 mg/kg; and omega 3 standard. Mice were orally supplemented with tempeh oil for 4 weeks along with UVB irradiation. The py/GC-MS profiling revealed that both tempeh oils contained major linoleic acid PUFA with 52.3% in white tempeh oil and 85.69% in black tempeh oil, respectively. H&E staining demonstrated that UVB irradiation caused premature skin photoaging in mice, indicating by necrosis, epidermal atrophy, and tissue damage. Orally tempeh oil treatment improved tissue damage and increased the proliferation of hair follicle in the skin. Tempeh oil was found to be effectively inhibited the genes expression of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, COX-2 and iNOS in UVB-irradiated mice skin. Among these genes, tempeh oil from black and white soybean tempeh exerted a significant effect on down-regulating the expression of MMP-9 gene in UVB-irradiated mice skin. In conclusion, tempeh oil may offer the promising photoprotective ingredient in application of nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals for protecting skin photoaging. |