RESUMO
AIM To study the protective effect of essential oils from Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC.(BBO) on UVB-induced sunburn in mouse skin and its mechanism of action.METHODS The model for sunburned mouse skin was established by acute UVB irradiation.Essential oils from B.balsamifera were applied to the surface of wound for external use.The pathological changes of sunburned skin tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin HE) staining.The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD),and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were measured.The levels of 8-hydroxy-desoxyguanosine (8-OHdG),interleukin-6 (IL-6) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) in epidermis were detected by ELISA.Additionally,the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α),P53 tumor suppressor protein and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC).RESULTS Compared with the model group,treatment with essential oils from B.balsamifera significantly reduced the thickness of epidermis,and the activity of SOD and the contents of MDA,GSH in mouse skin were restored.In addition,the essential oils from B.balsamifera resulted in a significant decrease in levels of 8-OHdG,IL-6 and NF-κB,and an inhibition in expressions of P53 and PCNA.CONCLUSION The essential oils from B.balsamifera can alleviate UVB-induced sunburn.Its mechanism is related to enhanced antioxidant power,inhibited NF-κB signal passway,down-regulated release of IL-6 and reduced levels of 8-OHdG,PCNA.