Photo-protective effect of sargachromenol against UVB radiation-induced damage through modulating cellular antioxidant systems and apoptosis in human keratinocytes

• Sargachromenol, a compound of marine algae, decreased UVB-induced oxidative stress.
• Sargachromenol recovered antioxidant systems decreased by UVB.
• Sargachromenol protected cell damage from UVB-induced apoptosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the photo-preventive effects of sargachromenol (SC) against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced oxidative stress in human keratinocytes via assessing the antioxidant properties and underlying molecular mechanisms. SC exhibited a significant scavenging effect on UVB-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). SC attenuated UVB-induced oxidative macromolecular damage, including the protein carbonyl content, DNA strand break, and 8-isoprostane level. Furthermore, SC decreased UVB-induced Bax, cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels, but increased that of Bcl-2, which are well-known key mediators of apoptosis. Moreover, SC increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, and heme oxygenase-1 protein expression. Pre-treatment with SC upregulated the main transcription factor of antioxidant enzymes, erythroid 2-related factor 2 level, which was reduced by UVB irradiation. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) are involved in the regulation of many cellular events, including apoptosis. SC treatment reversed ERK and JNK activation induced by UVB. Collectively, these data indicate that SC can provide remarkable cytoprotection against the adverse effects of UVB radiation by modulating cellular antioxidant systems, and suggest the potential of developing a medical agent for ROS-induced skin diseases.