Protective effects of phenolic fraction of blue honeysuckle fruits against UVA-induced damage to human keratinocytes

In this study, the UVA (photo)protective activity of the phenolic fraction of L. caerulea fruits (PFLC) was assessed in human keratinocytes HaCaT. The keratinocytes were pre- or post-treated with PFLC (1–250 mg/l) and exposed to UVA irradiation (10–30 J/cm2). The results showed that both pre- and post-treatment with PFLC significantly suppressed UVA-induced ROS production, which was also revealed as a decrease in intracellular lipid peroxidation and elevation of reduced glutathione. Protection was concentration-dependent with a maximum at 50 mg/l. These results suggest that PFLC attenuates UVA-induced oxidative stress by reduction of ROS generation and ROS-mediated damage. For this reason, PFLC has potentially skin-protective functions against the deleterious effects of sunlight.