Carrageenans, the polysaccharide from red seaweeds is widely used in food, medicine and as an excipient in cosmetics and skincare products. Carrageenans have shown prospective photoprotective effect against ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation on immortalised normal human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. The aim of this research was to evaluate the photoprotective effect of iota (ι), kappa (κ)-carrageenans and their combination with vitamin E against UVB-induced extracellular matrix (ECM) damage in HaCaT cells. The study also assessed the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzymes in UVB exposed pre-treated and non-pre-treated cells. The parameters assessed were biological mediators important for the structural integrity of ECM, comprising of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), activating protein- (AP-1) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), liberated by the UVB exposed cells. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate the release of these mediators. Carrageenans enhanced the activities of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT which acts as a defence mechanism against oxidative stress. The levels of the biological mediators were also reduced in cells pre-treated with carrageenans, suggesting that the polysaccharide has potential in maintaining the skin’s integrity by reducing the damage to ECM upon UVB exposure. Taken together, the results suggest that carrageenans do possess photoprotective effects against UVB-induced ECM damage and stimulates antioxidant enzymes.
Carrageenans are polysaccharide constituents of red seaweed cell walls used in food and medicine as well as thickening agents and excipients in cosmetics and skincare products. Carrageenans have antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic properties that could potentially cause antiproliferative effects against cancer cells. The primary aim of this study was to assess the antiproliferative effect of iota (ι) and kappa (κ)-carrageenan as well as their combination with α-tocopherol on epidermoid carcinoma (A431NS) cells concerning DNA synthesis and translationally-controlled tumour protein (TPT1) gene expression. Carrageenans exhibited cytotoxic effects against A431NS cells with CD50<100ug/ml and an antiproliferative effect in a concentration-dependent manner after 24, 48 and 72 hours of treatment by inhibiting DNA synthesis in these cells. The expression of the TPT1 gene increased significantly (p<0.05) in untreated A431NS cells. However, the expression was either lowered or completely suppressed in groups treated with carrageenans and/or α-tocopherol compared to the untreated cells. This study indicates that carrageenans can exhibit an antiproliferative effect via inhibition of DNA synthesis and downregulation of TPT1 gene expression in A431NS cells. The anticancer activity of carrageenans deserves further studies to explore their potential applications as an ingredient in cosmetics or skin care products for the prevention of skin cancer.
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