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Updated: May 17, 2026

Assessment of Oxidative Damage in the Primary Mouse Ocular Surface Cells/Stem Cells in Response to Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) Damage
Published on: February 15, 2020
Phloroglucinol protects human keratinocytes from ultraviolet B radiation by attenuating oxidative stress
Ki Cheon Kim1, Mei Jing Piao, Suk Ju Cho
1School of Medicine and Applied Radiological Science Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, Korea.
Background:
Ultraviolet B generates reactive oxygen species by interacting with water in irradiated skin tissues and cells in turn causes lipid peroxidation, protein modification and further DNA damage.
Purpose:
This study examined the cytoprotective effects of phloroglucinol (1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene) on ultraviolet B-irradiated cultured human keratinocytes.
Methods:
The human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT cells were treated with 10 μM of phloroglucinol. After 1 h, the cells were irradiated with ultraviolet B light at 30 mJ/cm(2) and incubated at 37°C.
Results:
Phloroglucinol scavenged both the superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical in a cell-free system and ultraviolet B-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species. Phloroglucinol reduced ultraviolet B-generated lipid peroxidation, protein modification and DNA strand breaks. The enzymatic effects of phloroglucinol restored cellular glutathione levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, which were impaired by ultraviolet B radiation.
Conclusion:
Phloroglucinol provides the protective effects in human keratinocyte cell line exposed to ultraviolet B radiation, suggesting that phloroglucinol can be used as a photoprotective agent.
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