Abstract
Sanqi, a traditional Chinese herb, is widely used for cardiovascular diseases, and its neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress were recently discovered. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Sanqi-derived compound K (Sanqi-CK), an active metabolite of Sanqi, could protect melanocytes from oxidative stress. Cultured human primary skin epidermal melanocytes (HEMn-MPs) were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the presence or absence of Sanqi-CK. Sanqi-CK exhibited protective effects against H2O2-induced cell death by reducing oxidative stress. In addition, treatment with Sanqi-CK reversed the decreased glutathione reductase activity and decreased ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) seen in H2O2-treated melanocytes. Furthermore, topical application of Sanqi-CK alleviated leukoderma in guinea pigs, a disorder characterized by melanocyte cell death resulting from rhododendrol-induced oxidative stress. Taken together, these data suggest that Sanqi-CK protects melanocytes against oxidative stress, and its protective effects are associated with modulating the redox balance between GSH and GSSG and activating glutathione reductase. Thus, Sanqi-CK may be a good candidate for preventing melanocyte loss in oxidative-stress-associated pigmentary disorders.
Highlights
Oxidative stress is characterized by an imbalance between free radical formation and the body’s antioxidant capacity
To investigate the effects of Sanqi-CK (Figure 1b) on the morphology of melanocytes, cultured normal human primary epidermal melanocytes (HEMn-MPs) were treated with various concentrations of Sanqi-CK (0.1–100 μg/mL) for 24 h, after which changes in morphology were observed via bright-field microscopy
This study was the first to demonstrate that Sanqi-CK can protect human melanocytes from H2 O2 -induced cell damage by modulating redox balance between GSH and GSSG
Summary
Oxidative stress is characterized by an imbalance between free radical formation and the body’s antioxidant capacity. Skin is the largest barrier organ of our body It plays an important role in protecting against ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, air pollution, chemicals, pathogens, and other harmful factors that induce oxidative stress. Vitiligo is the most commonly acquired skin pigmentary disorder, affecting 0.5–1% of the world’s population. It is characterized by white patches of skin resulting from loss of functional epidermal melanocytes [3,4]. The cause of this loss is not fully understood, but both intrinsic (genetic, immunologic, neural, and biochemical) and extrinsic (environmental) factors contribute to vitiligo [4,5]. An imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants is suggested as the initial pathogenic event in melanocyte degeneration, playing a crucial role in vitiligo pathogenesis [7]
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