Protective Effects of 2′,3′-Dihydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxychalcone Derived from Green Perilla Leaves against UV Radiation-Induced Cell Injury in Human Cultured Keratinocytes

Skin exposure to UV rays causes the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and it is a major risk factor for various skin disorders and diseases. In particular, exposure to UV-A is a major cause of photoaging. We have previously isolated 2',3'-dihydroxy-4',6'-dimethoxychalcone (DDC) from green perilla leaves as an activator of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2)–antioxidant response element (ARE) and demonstrated the protective effects of DDC both in vitro and in vivo in PC12 cells and Parkinson’s disease models, respectively. In this study, we used HaCaT cells to examine the effects of DDC on ROS production and cell damage induced by UV-A. Our results indicated that UV-A irradiation in HaCaT cells increased ROS production in an energy-dependent manner. In addition, cell viability decreased in an energy-dependent manner 24h after UV-A irradiation. However, treatment with DDC 24h prior to UV-A irradiation significantly suppressed UV-A radiation-induced ROS production. In addition, DDC showed cytoprotective effects when used 24h before and after UV-A irradiation. Treatment with DDC for 24h also increased the expression levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with the HO-1 inhibitor followed by DDC treatment before UV-A irradiation for 24h reduced ROS production and the cytoprotective effect. These results suggest that DDC increases the expression levels of HO-1 and protects HaCaT cells through the suppression of UV radiation-induced ROS production.