Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects of urolithin A on UVB-induced HaCaT cells

This study investigated the photoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects of urolithin A on HaCaT cells irradiated with ultraviolet B (UVB) light. Urolithin A showed no toxic effects on HaCaT cells at concentrations of 10, 20 and 30 μM, and the survival rate of UVB-damaged HaCaT cells increased in a concentration-dependent manner when pre-treated with urolithin A. The test results confirmed that urolithin A conferred protective effects on HaCaT cells. The cellular activity of urolithin A in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells was investigated using reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging assay, antioxidant, pro-inflammatory and anti-aging gene expression. Urolithin A pre-treatment scavenged ROS in a concentration-dependent manner and suppressed UVB-induced cellular senescence. Gene expression analysis also showed that urolithin A increased antioxidant and anti-aging gene expressions and decreased pro-inflammatory gene expressions, suggesting that urolithin A protects HaCaT cells against UVB-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, our results support the antioxidant properties of urolithin A as observed in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells and also confirm the photoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging effects of urolithin A. Urolithin A, as a natural phytochemical, can be used as a cosmetic ingredient due to its anti-aging and protective properties.