Antioxidant and Anti‐Inflammatory Effects of Shungite against Ultraviolet B Irradiation‐Induced Skin Damage in Hairless Mice

Abstract

As fullerene-based compound applications have been rapidly increasing in the health industry, the need of biomedical research is urgently in demand. While shungite is regarded as a natural source of fullerene, it remains poorly documented. Here, we explored the in vivo effects of shungite against ultraviolet B- (UVB-) induced skin damage by investigating the physiological skin parameters, immune-redox profiling, and oxidative stress molecular signaling. Toward this, mice were UVB-irradiated with 0.75 mW/cm2 for two consecutive days. Consecutively, shungite was topically applied on the dorsal side of the mice for 7 days. First, we found significant improvements in the skin parameters of the shungite-treated groups revealed by the reduction in roughness, pigmentation, and wrinkle measurement. Second, the immunokine profiling in mouse serum and skin lysates showed a reduction in the proinflammatory response in the shungite-treated groups. Accordingly, the redox profile of shungite-treated groups showed counterbalance of ROS/RNS and superoxide levels in serum and skin lysates. Last, we have confirmed the involvement of Nrf2- and MAPK-mediated oxidative stress pathways in the antioxidant mechanism of shungite. Collectively, the results clearly show that shungite has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action against UVB-induced skin damage in hairless mice.

Crop Enhancement of Cucumber Plants under Heat Stress by Shungite Carbon

“…Natural shungite is composed mainly of carbon (28-99%). Interestingly, after incubating shungite and fullerene stones in water, shungite water solutions were reported to have an antioxidant effect via the reduction of intracellular ROS production and the enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities in animal cells [19]. The study also reported substantial improvements in the skin parameters (moisture, elasticity, roughness, pore size, pigmentation, and wrinkles) of shungite-treated groups, which were related to the recovery of total white blood cells.…”

“…Consistently, ROS-scavenging enzymes, such as GPx and SOD, in the shungite treatment group showed increased activity levels of 25% and 33% in skin lysate, respectively. Synthetically, these results led to an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect against UVB-induced skin damage in hairless mice [19].…”

“…Natural shungite has 28-30% carbon content, 2.3-2.4 g/cm 3 specific gravity, 0.5% porosity, 1000-1500 kg f/cm 2 compressed strength, and 1100-1200 kg/m 3 density [19]. Prepared cucumber seedlings were transplanted with normal soil or soil mixed with shungite powder (0.067% carbon content, 2 g(v)/L(v), 300 mesh, outer diameter < 2 mm, Karelia, Russia) into iron pots (upper diameter 10.5 cm; height 9.5 cm).…”

“…Until recently, there have been few published studies on the effect of this carbon material on abiotic stress and antioxidant response. Interestingly, after a certain period of soaking carbon shungite stones in water, the water solution showed an increase in antioxidant levels via the reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities, including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and myeloperoxidase (MPO), in animal cells [19]. This points to an important clue to the antioxidant responses of other living organisms, because numerous studies have found a significant number of homologs at the animal and plant genetic level that frequently exhibit similar functions [20].…”

Why do we need fullerenes today?

“…Не только фуллерены, но и другие наноструктуры углерода способны играть роль антиоксиданта. Так, хорошо известно, что природный минерал шунгит содержит не фуллерены, а турбостратный углерод, который может нейтрализовывать действие УФ-облучения на кожу [66].…”