Protective effect of polysaccharide from Sophora japonica L. flower buds against UVB radiation in a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells).

Journal: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology
PMID:

Abstract

Natured botanical extract has attracted considerable attention recently in the field of skin anti-ultraviolet (UV) radiation. As a medicinal herb, Sophora japonica flower buds contained several components such as flavonoids, isoflavonoids, triterpenes, alkaloids and polysaccharides, which have multiple pharmacological properties except hemostatic agents which have been used in China and Korea for centuries. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether polysaccharide extracted from Sophora japonica L. flower buds (PS) was able to attenuate UVB-induced damage using a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells). HaCaT cells were pretreated with PS in a serum-free medium for 2 h and then irradiated with different doses of UVB rays. The results showed that the PS attenuated UVB-induced cytotoxicity which was verified by MTT method and morphology feature assay. UVB exposure (30-120 mJ/cm) reduced HaCaT cells viability significantly following with the increased irradiation dose 24 h later, while pretreatment with PS (0.25-2.0 mg/mL) attenuated UVB-induced cytotoxicity significantly and increased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner except 30 mJ/cm group. The PS reduced the ROS generation, down-regulated the expression of phosphor-JNK and phosphor-p38 MAPK proteins significantly through MAPK pathway in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. It also decreased the apoptosis rate at low dose of UVB ray and protected the cells from apoptosis which had been identified by the down-regulated level of active-caspase3 in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. In conclusion, PS pretreatment protected HaCaT keratinocytes from UVB irradiation-induced skin injuries effectively, and the underlying mechanism may involve MAPK signaling pathway which contribute to apoptotic cell death. However, further studies especially whose using human systems are needed to determine efficacy of PS in vivo.

Authors

  • Liyan Li
    Medical School, Huanghe Science & Technology University, Zhengzhou 450063, PR China; College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, PR China; Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Drug Discovery of Small Molecules, Huanghe Science & Technology University, Zhengzhou 450063, PR China.
  • Tao Huang
    The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
  • Chong Lan
    Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Drug Discovery of Small Molecules, Huanghe Science & Technology University, Zhengzhou 450063, PR China.
  • Hui Ding
    Medical School, Huanghe Science & Technology University, Zhengzhou 450063, PR China.
  • Chunsheng Yan
    Medical School, Huanghe Science & Technology University, Zhengzhou 450063, PR China.
  • Yanli Dou
    Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Drug Discovery of Small Molecules, Huanghe Science & Technology University, Zhengzhou 450063, PR China.