The Pomegranate Peel Polyphenols Protects Acne Vulgaris by Regulating Inflammation Through Notch/NF-κB Signal Pathway

Yun Wang,1,2 Mingfang Zhu,1 Shuhui Wu,1 Dan Zhao,1 Qi Bai,1 Ying Liu1 1Department of Dermatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Dermatology, the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Mingfang Zhu, Department of Dermatology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, 233 Cai E North Road, Kaifu District, Changsha, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13907317358, Fax +86-0731-84917727, Email [email protected]: Pomegranate peel is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine for treating acne. Its main active ingredient is pomegranate peel polyphenols(PPPs), but its mechanism is not clear. Inflammatory response is still the focus of current treatment. Interestingly, Notch signaling is considered to be a key regulator of macrophage activation, which can promote the occurrence and development of Acne vulgaris (AV) by activating nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) to produce a large number of inflammatory factors.Objective: This study aims to explore the potential mechanism of PPPs for treating AV.Methods: An in-vivo model of acne was established by injecting SD rats with Cutibacterium acnes(C. acnes),and the RAW264.7 Cells were induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in vitro. After treatment, the levels of inflammatory factors and Notch/NF-κB signaling pathway were observed.Results: PPPs improved the levels of IL-1α, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-12 in serum and pathological skin lesions of SD rats induced by C. acnes, and decreased the expression of macrophages in skin lesions. Notch, NF-κB, IL-1α, IL-6, TNF-α protein and mRNA expression and NF-κB phosphorylation were inhibited.Conclusion: PPPs can inhibit Notch/NF-κB signaling pathway, reduce inflammatory response, and exert anti-acne effects.Keywords: acne vulgaris, Notch/NF-κB signaling pathway, pomegranate peel polyphenols, inflammation, RAW264.7 cells