Protective Effects of Forsythiaside A, Forsythiaside B, and Phillyrin against UVA-Induced Cell Damage

Abstract

Chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation affects diverse constituents of skin and induces photoaging. Current therapeutic approaches cannot fully reverse the pathophysiology of photoaging, thus necessitating the discovery of new strategies to protect skin from UV radiation. Natural products have long been reported to possess photoprotective effects. Herein, we investigated the potential anti-UVA effects of forsythiaside A, forsythiaside B, and phillyrin extracted from Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. In vitro, all three compounds significantly prevented cytotoxicity, DNA damage, apoptosis, and cell-cycle arrest caused by a low dose of UVA. All three compounds also inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, our results suggest that these three compounds could be preventives against UVA-induced skin damage.