Pomegranate (Punica granatum) extract and its polyphenols reduce the formation of methylglyoxal-DNA adducts and protect human keratinocytes against methylglyoxal-induced oxidative stress

Abstract Pomegranate extract (PE) and its polyphenols have been reported to show skin protective effects but their cytoprotective effects against methylglyoxal (MGO)-induced DNA damage and cell dysfunctions are unclear. Herein, we evaluated whether PE, punicalagin (PA), ellagic acid (EA), and urolithin A (UA), can alleviate MGO-induced DNA damage in human keratinocytes. PE (50 µg/mL) and PA (50 µM) protected DNA integrity and reduced the formation of MGO-DNA adducts and tailed DNA by 60.2 and 49.7%, respectively, in HaCaT cells. PE and PA reduced MGO-induced cytotoxicity by increasing the cell viability (by 17.5 and 15.0%) and decreasing reactive oxygen species (by 28.3 and 30.0%), respectively. PE and PA also ameliorated MGO-induced cell dysfunction by restoring cell adhesion, migration, and wound healing capacity. Findings from this study provide insights into the skin protective effects of PE and its polyphenols supporting their applications as potential bioactive ingredients for cosmeceuticals.