Chiang Mai Journal of Science

This study aimed to explore the effect of ethanolic extract from Grammatophyllum speciosum on stem cell markers and regulatory protein in human keratinocyte cells. After treatment with G. speciosum extract, the stem cell molecular markers CD133 and ALDH1A1, and stemness regulatory protein b-catenin were determined by western blot analysis. The present study demonstrated that the extract at the concentrations of 5-20 mg/ml promoted stem cell clonogenicity as evaluated by spheroid formation as well as anchorage-independent growth assays. Furthermore, treatment of the keratinocytes with the extract significantly up-regulated the stem cell markers. Besides, the induction of stemness was found to protect the cells against oxidative damage. As stem cells have high activity of cellular anti-oxidant mechanisms, such augmentation of stemness may protect these keratinocytes against ROS-induced cell death. This mechanistic study may benefit the development of novel active compounds for anti-aging or treatment of skin disorders.