Synthesis and skin gene analysis of 4'-acetoxy-resveratrol (4AR), therapeutic potential for dermal applications

Resveratrol (RV) 1, a plant polyphenol, has proven effective in commercial products yet drawbacks include low bioavailability due to rapid metabolism. Structural modifications have led to a 4'-acetoxy analog 2 (4AR) now produced using a selective one-step esterification reaction. The one-step synthesis is shown together with expression of skin genes using human dermal models to establish 4AR 2 benefits to skin health. 4AR 2 at 1% in qPCR experiments using a human skin model significantly increased gene expression of the anti-aging factor, SIRT 1 by over 3.3-fold, extracellular matrix proteins collagen III, IV, elastin and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP 1, 2), anti-oxidants CAT, LOX, superoxide dismutase (SOD 1, 2), metallothioneins (MT1H, MT1H), skin aging biomarkers fibrillin (FBN1), laminin (LAMB1), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), skin growth factors (HBEGF, IGF1, NGF and TGF). 4AR 2 also decreased gene expression of inflammatory and skin-aging molecules (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, COX-2, TNGRSF) and S100 calcium binding proteins A8, A9. These findings suggest that 4AR 2 has potential for topically treatment and prevention of skin aging.