Attenuation of UVA-induced damage to human keratinocytes by silymarin

Background: UV radiation from sunlight is a potent environmental risk factor in skin cancer pathogenesis. UVA is the major portion of UV light reaching the earth surface (similar to 95%) and it is reported to Lead to benign and malignant tumor formation. UVA-mediated cellular damage occurs primarily through the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and it is responsible for inflammation, immunosuppression, photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the potency of silymarin, the potyphenol fraction from the seeds of Silybum marianum, to modulate UVA-induced oxidative damage to human keratinocytes. Methods: Skin epidermal cell line HaCaT, extensively used for studying the influence of UV radiation, was chosen as an experimental model. Silymarin's effect on UVA-disrupted cell viability, proliferation, mitochondrial function, and intracellular ATP and GSH Level was measured. Furthermore, silymarin's potency to reduce UVA-induced ROS generation, membrane lipid peroxidation, caspase-3 activation and DNA damage was monitored. Results: Treatment of irradiated HaCaT (20 J/cm(2)) with silymarin (0.7-34 mg/l; 4 h) resulted in concentration-dependent diminution of UVA-caused oxidative stress on all studied parameters. Silymarin application extensively reduced GSH depletion and ROS production as well as lipid peroxidation in irradiated cells. Formation of UVA-induced DNA single strand breaks and caspase-3 activity was also significantly decreased by silymarin. Conclusion: The results suggest that silymarin may be beneficial in the treatment of UVA-induced skin oxidative injury and inflammation. However, further studies especially whose using human systems are needed to determine efficacy of silymarin in vivo. (c) 2007 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.