No abstract

Aim: Protective effects of ferulic acid (FA) against ultraviolet-B (290-320 nm) radiation induced cellular changes were investigated in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa). Materials and Methods: HDFa cells pretreated with increasing concentrations of FA (0, 10, 20, 40 μg/ml) for 30 min, were UVB irradiated and different cellular and oxidative end points were analyzed. Results: The percentage of cytotoxicity, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and DNA damage, were significantly increased in 19.8 mJ/cm 2 ultraviolet-B (UVB)-exposed HDFa. Further, exposure to UVB causes significantly decreased antioxidants status in HDFa cells. Treatment of HDFa cells with FA before 30 min of UVB-irradiation significantly restored mitochondrial membrane potential, ROS levels and antioxidant status in HDFa. Further, FA treatment reverted UVB-induced mutagenesis in Ames tester strains and DNA damage in HDFa. Moreover, we noticed increased expression of GADD 45, XRCC1 and HOGG1 in UVB exposed HDFa. Conversely, FA pretreatment significantly attenuated UVB-induced expression of DNA repair genes in HDFa. Conclusion: The present findings indicate that FA act as a sunscreen rather than working at molecular level to offer photoprotection.