Affiliations: Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry,
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech
Republic
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Alena Svobodová, Department of
Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Palacký University,
Hněvotínská 3, 775 15 Olomouc, Czech Republic. Tel.:
+420585632324; Fax: +420585632302; E-mail: alf.svoboda@seznam.cz
Abstract: Exposure to UVA radiation is known to cause many adverse biological
effects by inducing the stricken cells to produce reactive oxygen species
(ROS). In recent years the use of botanicals has received considerable interest
in the skin protection. Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruit contains
several polyphenols with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
In this study we evaluated potential UVA preventive effect of V. myrtillus
fruit extract (VME; anthocyanins, 25% w/w) in HaCaT keratinocytes.
Pre-treatment (1 h) or post-treatment (4 h) of HaCaT with VME resulted in
attenuation of UVA-caused damage. Application of the extract significantly
reduced UVA-stimulated ROS formation in keratinocytes. VME also
prevented/reduced UVA-caused peroxidation of membrane lipids and depletion of
intracellular GSH. The observed cytoprotective effect may be linked to the
antioxidant activity of the plant constituents, namely anthocyanins.
