Danggui Buxue Decoction Attenuates H2O2-Induced HaCaT Cells by Modulating SOD2 Antioxidant and P21 Senescence Pathways

Xingyu Chen,1 Huilan Zheng,2 Hongbin Cheng,1 Jingping Wu,2 Gang Wang,3 Ming Liu,4 Qianqian Yang,2 Qingjing Yang1 1Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610075, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Medical Cosmetology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610075, People’s Republic of China; 3National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610064, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Medical Oncology/Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610075, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hongbin Cheng, Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610075, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] Jingping Wu, Department of Medical Cosmetology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610075, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Skin aging is linked to oxidative stress, and functional decline of keratinocytes is a core feature. Common chemical anti-aging agents, such as retinoic acid, often cause skin irritation, whereas traditional Chinese medicine formulas, with multiple components and relatively low toxicity, may offer alternative strategies.Methods: To investigate its antiaging effects and mechanisms, an in vitro oxidative stress model was established using H2O2-treated human HaCaT cells. The cellular safety of Danggui Buxue Decoction was assessed by CCK-8 assay and cell morphology. The effects of pretreatment on cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and malondialdehyde content were evaluated. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression of senescence- and oxidative stress-related genes.Results: Exposure to 600 μmol/L H2O2 for 1 h established an oxidative stress model, reducing cell viability to 66.3%, increasing ROS and MDA levels, and decreasing SOD and GSH-Px activities. Danggui Buxue Decoction showed no cytotoxicity at 6.25– 1600 μg/mL. Pretreatment with 400 μg/mL Danggui Buxue Decoction provided protection against oxidative damage, improving cell viability, lowering ROS and MDA levels, and restoring SOD and GSH-Px activities. Specifically, 400 μg/mL Danggui Buxue Decoction increased cell viability by 31.7%, enhanced SOD and GSH-Px activities by 91.3% and 32.2%, respectively, and reduced MDA content by 27.9%. Gene expression analysis indicated that pretreatment prevented the H2O2-induced decrease in SOD2 and MMP1 expression and attenuated the H2O2-induced overexpression of PPARα and P21.Conclusion: Danggui Buxue Decoction exerts preventive antiaging protective effects on HaCaT cells by scavenging excess reactive oxygen species, preventing impairment of the endogenous antioxidant enzyme system, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, and regulating key genes such as SOD2, MMP1, PPARα, and P21, thereby interrupting the vicious cycle of oxidative stress–induced cellular senescence and supporting its potential as a natural anti-aging agent. In vivo and clinical studies are needed to validate the translational applicability of these findings in the future.Keywords: skin aging, Danggui Buxue Decoction, oxidative stress, antioxidation, cellular senescence