Thymol and Thymus Vulgaris L. activity against UVA- and UVB-induced damage in NCTC 2544 cell line.
Many authors focused on the research of natural compounds in order to protect skin from indirect (UVA) and direct (UVB) ultraviolet radiation side effects. The aim of this study to evaluate the protective effect of a dry extract from T. vulgaris L. and of its major synthetic compound thymol (about 60%), against oxidative and genotoxic UVA- and UVB damage. Experiments were reproduced in a low differentiated keratinocytes cell line (NCTC 2544) Cells were pretreated for 1h, in serum-free medium, with thymol (1μg/mL) or T. vulgaris L. (1.82μg/mL) then exposed to different UVA (8-24J/cm(2)) or UVB doses (0.016-0.72J/cm(2)). Immediately after the UV exposure the intracellular redox status was evaluated by ROS quantification and by LPO. Genotoxic aspects were evaluated 24h after the end of irradiations using the alkaline comet assay, the micronucleus formation assay and the immunostaining of phosphorylated H2AX histone protein (detected 1h after the end of UV exposure). Thymol and T. vulgaris L. extract inhibited ROS generation in UVA and UVB-irradiated cells. On the contrary, MDA formation was reduced only in UVA treated cells. Both agents decreased the DNA damage evaluated by the alkaline comet assay, but not in the micronucleus and H2AX tests probably because of the severity of damage (double strands) detected.
Department of Pharmacological and Biomecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
Rossella
R
Calò
Department of Pharmacological and Biomecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
Clementina M
CM
Visone
Department of Pharmacological and Biomecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy. Electronic address: laura.marabini@unimi.it.
Laura
L
Marabini
D002460:Cell Line; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013943:Thymol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046930:Thymus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013943:Thymol; D004247:DNA
Genotoxicity; Keratinocytes; Polyphenol compounds; UV radiations