Oxidative stress and inflammation, significantly accelerated by ultraviolet (UV) exposure, are major factors in skin aging and numerous physiological disorders. UV radiation generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause oxidative damage, accelerate cellular senescence, and promote premature skin aging and inflammation. Consequently, there is a continuously rising demand in biomedical and health research for natural compounds offering potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) is recognized as a rich source of bioactive compounds with properties like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing effects. However, traditional methods of extracting essential oils from the plant’s flowers and aerial parts often result in extracts susceptible to environmental and processing variations, leading to inconsistent composition and stability. Furthermore, large-scale production is hampered by geographical and seasonal constraints, as well as labor-intensive extraction techniques. To overcome these limitations, the researchers considered plant cell suspension cultures combined with elicitation technology as a novel and reproducible solution. Specifically, the use of methyl jasmonate (MJ) is a recognized elicitation technique capable of stimulating key metabolic pathways, thereby significantly boosting the production of desirable bioactive compounds in a controlled system.
Methods
Lavandula angustifolia cell suspension cultures were established from stem-derived callus and treated with methyl jasmonate (MJ) to produce the enhanced extract (LC-MJ). Metabolite differences between the untreated control (LC-CK) and LC-MJ were confirmed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. The photoprotective efficacy against UVB-induced oxidative stress was evaluated in NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblasts, measuring cell viability, apoptosis, ROS levels, and mitochondrial function. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages by quantifying nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6), and by analyzing the inhibition of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways via Western blot.
Key Findings
The study demonstrated significant enhancements in the photoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties of the MJ-treated lavender cell extract (LC-MJ):
• Metabolite Enhancement: Methyl jasmonate treatment significantly enhanced secondary metabolite production. GC–MS analysis showed distinct metabolic compositions, with the relative peak intensity of two major compounds—2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one (DDMP) and 2-hydroxy-4-methylbenzaldehyde (HMB)—increasing approximately 3.44-fold and 10.30-fold, respectively, in LC-MJ compared with the control.
• Protection against Photodamage: LC-MJ extract showed superior efficacy compared to LC-CK in improving cell viability and conferring protective effects against UVB-induced oxidative stress in mouse fibroblasts.
• Anti-Apoptotic Activity: Treatment with LC-MJ significantly mitigated UVB-induced cell cycle disruption, partially restoring the G0/G1 phase, and reduced the percentage of early apoptotic cells induced by UVB radiation.
• Mitochondrial and ROS Regulation: LC-MJ effectively suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation following UVB exposure. It also attenuated UVB-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by preventing mitochondrial hyperpolarization and suppressing the abnormal increase in mitochondrial mass.
• Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy: LC-MJ significantly and dose-dependently suppressed nitric oxide (NO) production and intracellular ROS elevation in LPS-stimulated macrophages, showing greater inhibitory activity than LC-CK.
• Cytokine Suppression: LC-MJ treatment markedly suppressed the LPS-induced elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically TNF-α and IL-6.
• Pathway Inhibition: The anti-inflammatory effects were clearly associated with the inhibition of critical inflammatory signaling pathways: the MAPK pathway (reducing phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and ERK) and the NF-κB pathway (inhibiting p65 phosphorylation and suppressing key inflammatory mediators like iNOS and COX-2).
This research presents a novel, reproducible, and scalable strategy for generating high-value functional biomaterials by utilizing elicitation-enhanced L. angustifolia cell suspension cultures. This approach successfully validates the hypothesis that MJ elicitation promotes the synthesis of bioactive compounds in lavender cell cultures, significantly increasing their effectiveness against inflammation and oxidative stress. Unlike conventional extraction methods susceptible to environmental variability, this methodology provides a consistent platform suitable for industrial-scale production.
The dual potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the LC-MJ extract highlight its substantial potential as a functional bioactive agent in the pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industries. Specifically, it is a strong candidate for use in managing oxidative stress, mitigating inflammation, and preventing skin aging and UV-induced photodamage. Furthermore, considering lavender’s known neuroprotective properties, the dual bioactivity of LC-MJ suggests a broader therapeutic potential, possibly extending to the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Future research should focus on further in vivo validation and clinical trials to confirm the safety and efficacy of LC-MJ for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. Additionally, detailed mechanistic studies are needed to elucidate the precise molecular roles and contributions of individual enriched compounds, such as DDMP and HMB, to the observed biological effects. Optimizing large-scale culture conditions will also be crucial for ensuring production consistency and scalability for commercial realization.
Link to the study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-23620-9
