Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), a natural triterpene, has received attention as an agent that has protective effects against chronic diseases including ultraviolet UV-B-induced skin photodamage. However, the mechanism of its protective effect remains elusive. Here, we used an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and a small animal model (BALB/c mice), to investigate the protective effects of GA against UV-B-induced oxidative damage, and additionally, delineated the molecular mechanisms involved in the UV-B-mediated inflammatory and apoptotic response. In the HaCaT cells, GA inhibited the UV-B-mediated increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and down-regulated the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α, -1β and -6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). GA inhibited UV-B-mediated activation of p38 and JNK MAP kinases, COX-2 expression and nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Furthermore, GA inhibited UV-B-mediated apoptosis by attenuating translocation of Bax from the cytosol to mitochondria, thus preserving mitochondrial integrity. GA-treated HaCaT cells also exhibited elevated antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein, concomitant with reduced caspase-3 cleavage and decreased PARP-1 protein. In BALB/c mice, topical application of GA on dorsal skin exposed to UV-B irradiation protected against epidermal hyperplasia, lymphocyte infiltration and expression of several inflammatory proteins, p38, JNK, COX-2, NF-κB and ICAM-1. Based on the above findings, we conclude that GA protects against UV-B-mediated photodamage by inhibiting the signalling cascades triggered by oxidative stress, including MAPK/NF-κB activation, as well as apoptosis. Thus, GA has strong potential to be used as a therapeutic/cosmeceutical agent against photodamage.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation–induced skin damage contributes strongly to the formation of melanoma, a highly lethal form of skin cancer. Quercetin (Qu), the most widely consumed dietary bioflavonoid and well known inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase signalling, has been reported to be chemopreventive in several forms of non-melanoma skin cancers. Here, we report that the treatment of ultraviolet (UV)-B-irradiated B16F10 melanoma cells with quercetin resulted in a dose dependent reduction in cell viability and increased apoptosis. The present study has brought out that the pro-apoptotic effects of quercetin in UVB-irradiated B16F10 cells are mediated through the elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, calcium homeostasis imbalance, modulation of anti-oxidant defence response and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨM). Promotion of UVB-induced cell death by quercetin was further revealed by cleavage of chromosomal DNA, caspase activation, poly (ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and an increase in sub-G1 cells. Quercetin markedly attenuated MEK-ERK signalling, influenced PI3K/Akt pathway, and potentially enhanced the UVB-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation. Furthermore, combined UVB and quercetin treatment decreased the ratio of Bcl-2 to that of Bax, and upregulated the expression of Bim and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF). Overall, these results suggest the possibility of using quercetin in combination with UVB as a possible treatment option for melanoma in future.
Betulinic acid (1), betulinic acid-3-acetate (2), 3-acetylbetulinaldehyde (3), oleanolic acid-3-acetate (4), 3-β-hydroxy-28,19-β-olenolide (5), and β-sitosterol (6) were isolated from Platanus orientalis and a high-performance thin-layer chromatography method was developed for their simultaneous quantification. The markers were first derivatized on the chromatogram with ceric ammonium sulfate and then high-performance thin-layer chromatography densitometry was carried out. Chromatographic separation of these markers was carried out on silica gel 60 plates using a ternary solvent system n-hexane/toluene/acetone (6:3.5:1 v/v/v) as a mobile phase. For marker 1, a deuterium (D2) lamp and wavelength of 420 nm was used. A tungsten (W) lamp was used for markers 2 and 3 at 550 nm and for 4-6 at 500 nm. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, LOD, and LOQ. All calibration curves showed a good linear relationship (r > 0.9919). The precision evaluated by an intra- and interday study showed RSDs < 2.51% and accuracy validation recovery between 95.54 and 99.33% with RSDs < 1.55%. The successful application of the validated method showed 1 as the most abundant component (4.63%) and 5 (0.017%) the least. The markers displayed a significant cytotoxic effect against human keratinocyte, mouse melanoma, and human skin epithelial carcinoma cancer cells by using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.
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