In vitro antioxidant and wound healing activity of Sargassum polycystum hydroethanolic extract in fibroblasts and keratinocytes

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the in vitro antioxidant and wound healing properties of the hydroethanolic extract of Sargassum polycystum, and elucidate the mechanism of its wound healing activity. Methods: Human dermal fibroblast and HaCaT cells were used to evaluate the proliferation by sulforhodamine B and dsDNA assay after treatment with Sargassum polycystum extracts. Scratch wound healing and phalloidin-rhodamine staining were employed to observe migratory activity and filopodia formation, respectively. Western blot and real-time RT-PCR assays were performed to determine the protein and gene expressions related to wound healing activities. Results: The phytochemical analysis found a higher level of flavonoid than phenolic compound in Sargassum polycystum extracts. In human dermal fibroblast cells, Sargassum polycystum extracts at 50 and 100 μg/mL significantly increased fibroblast proliferation and the gene expressions of hyaluronic acid synthase 1 (HAS1), HAS2, HAS3, collagen type 1 alpha 1 chain (COL1A1), collagen type 3 alpha 1 chain (COL3A1), and elastin. The phosphorylation of Akt, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK was also significantly upregulated after treatment with Sargassum polycystum extracts. Additionally, 50 and 100 μg/mL of the extracts prominently enhanced the proliferation, migration, and filopodia formation of HaCaT cells, as well as the protein levels of pFAK/FAK, pSrc/Src, pAkt/Akt, pERK1/2/ERK1/2, Rac1 and Cdc42. Conclusions: Sargassum polycystum extracts show promising wound healing activities in human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes.

Keywords

Dermal fibroblast / Sargassum polycystum / Wound healing / Antioxidant / Proliferation

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Funding

This research was funded by Prince of Songkla University (Grant No. SCI6302160S).

Authors’ contributions

WS and ST contributed to the design of the work, critical revision of the article and final approval of the version to be published. Both WW and FM performed the data collection, data analysis and interpretation. NK, CA and WS contributed to drafting the article. WS supervised the project and funding acquisition.

Publisher’s note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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