Pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit extract (PE), their constituent polyphenols, punicalagin (PA) and ellagic acid (EA), and their gut-microbial derived metabolite urolithin A (UA) have been reported to show skin health effects but their mechanisms of action remain unclear. Herein, we investigated a standardized commercial PE (Pomella®), PA, EA, and UA for their protective effects against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in human HaCaT keratinocytes in vitro. HaCaT cells were pre-treated with the pomegranate samples (50 μM for 12 h) and then exposed to H2O2 (200 μM for 24 h). Pre-treatment with PE, PA, and EA, but not UA significantly reduced H2O2-induced oxidative stress by decreasing the levels of reactive oxygen species. In addition, pre-treatment with PE, PA, and UA, but not EA, increased cell viability and reduced apoptotic cell populations, as demonstrated by CTG 2.0 assay and flow cytometry, respectively, compared to cells treated with H2O2 alone. Further studies revealed that caspases-3, -8, and -9 were involved in the anti-apoptotic effects of the pomegranate samples bioactivities. The protective effects of this PE and its polyphenols against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis of HaCaT cells suggest that they may be utilized as natural ingredients in anti-aging cosmetics for skin health.

Protective effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum) phenolics against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in human HaCaT keratinocytes

256th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.