Andrographolide protects acute ultraviolet-B radiation-induced photodamages in the mouse skin

This study evaluates the preventive role of andrographolide (ADP) against ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation-induced photoaging in the mouse skin. Grouped mice were subjected to UVB irradiation at the dose of 180 mJ/cm² for ten consecutive days. The ADP (3.6 mg kg/b.wt) was topically administrated 1 h before each UVB-irradiation. We observed that UVB irradiation enhances lipid peroxidative thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and attenuated antioxidant enzyme activities in the mouse skin. Conversely, the ADP pretreatment reversed the lipid peroxidation and restored antioxidant status in the mouse skin. Histological observations clearly show the preventive effect of ADP against UVB-induced dermal tissue damage. Further, ADP slow-down the UVB-mediated expression of inflammatory proteins such as CD34, iNOS, NF-κB COX-2, IL-6, and IL-10 in the mouse skin. Moreover, western blotting studies revealed that ADP prevents UVB exposure-mediated apoptosis markers p53 overexpression in the mouse skin. Thus, ADP protects mouse skin from UVB radiation exposure through impeding inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.