RESEARCH ARTICLE Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and sunscreen effective compounds from Rumex crispus L.: isolation, identification, bioactivity and molecular docking study Mine Uzun 1 | Zuhal Guvenalp 2 | Cavit Kazaz 3 | L. Omur Demirezer 1 1 Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey 2 Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey 3 Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Chemistry, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey Correspondence L. Omur Demirezer, Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, TR-06100. Ankara, Turkey. Email: omurd@hacettepe.edu.tr Funding information The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Grant/Award Number: SBAG-214S147 Abstract Introduction: Rumex (Polygonaceae) species are widely grown worldwide and their main compounds are anthranoids, tannins, naphthalenes and flavonoids. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes that cause the breakdown of the extracellular matrix and harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays are two important causes of skin ageing. Although there have been many studies on anthraquinones, there are not many stud- ies on their anti-ageing effects. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the anti-ageing effects of pure compounds isolated from Rumex crispus L. by measuring their MMP inhibitory and sunscreen activities. Methodology: Molecular docking studies on anthranoid, flavonoid, tannin and naph- thalene skeletons with MMP enzymes were applied for the first time. Various chro- matographic methods were used for isolation studies. The structure elucidation was performed by spectroscopic [UV, infrared (IR), electrospray ionisation mass spectrom- etry (ESI-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)] methods. To determine the anti- ageing capacity of compounds, MMP-1, MMP-8, MMP-13 enzyme inhibitory effects and sun protection factors (SPFs) were investigated for the first time. Results: Molecular docking results showed that skeletons had low binding energy to the target and were likely to inhibit MMP enzymes. Then, eight anthraquinones and a naphthalene glycoside were isolated from the underground parts of Rumex crispus L. According to the results, MMP inhibitory effects of compounds were found to be high. In vitro and molecular docking study results confirmed each other. All anthraqui- nones showed high sun protection and emodin showed highest UV capability with SPF of 30.59. Conclusion: This study shows that anthraquinones may be evaluated as new poten- tial MMP inhibitors, sun protective and anti-ageing agents. KEYWORDS anti-ageing, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, molecular docking, Rumex crispus L, sun protection factor Received: 19 November 2019 Revised: 10 April 2020 Accepted: 12 April 2020 DOI: 10.1002/pca.2948 Phytochemical Analysis. 2020;1–17. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/pca © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 1