In Silico Evaluation of Common Cosmetic Antioxidants Against Skin-Aging Enzymes: A Molecular Docking Study

This study explores the inhibitory potential of common cosmetic antioxidants against three key skin-aging enzymes: tyrosinase, elastase, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP). Protein structures were retrieved from the RCSB Protein Data Bank, ligands were sourced from PubChem, and molecular docking was carried out using the CB-Dock web server. Binding affinities were compared for quercetin, resveratrol, α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, niacinamide, and ferulic acid. Results indicate that quercetin and α-tocopherol exhibit strong multi-target binding, while resveratrol also shows consistent inhibitory potential. These findings suggest that natural polyphenols and antioxidants may serve as valuable leads for cosmetic formulations targeting hyperpigmentation and skin aging.