Protective effect of fucoxanthin isolated from Sargassum siliquastrum on UV-B induced cell damage

Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid isolated from Sargassum siliquastrum and is considered to be one of major active compound of marine algae. In this study, we investigated and confirmed the protective effect of fucoxanthin on UV-B induced cell injury in human fibroblast via 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), and comet assays. Intracellular ROS generated by exposure to UV-B radiation, which was significantly decreased by addition with various concentrations of fucoxanthin. Cell survival rate was increased with fucoxanthin pre-treated cells, which was reached around 81.47% at 100 mu M, and the inhibitory effect of cell damage exhibited dose-dependent manner. Moreover, fucoxanthin having protective properties was demonstrated via Hoechst 33342/PI staining. Hence, on the basis of the above-mentioned studies, fucoxanthin has the ability to protect against oxidative stress induced by UV-B radiation and which might be applied to antioxidant and cosmeceutical industries. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.