The Preventive Effect of Theabrownin from Ya’an Tibetan Tea Against UVB-Induced Skin Photodamage in BALB/c Mice via the MAPK/NF-κB and Nrf2 Signaling Pathways
Jingyi Xu,
Mingji Xie,
Xing Liang,
Peida Luo,
Xinyao Yang,
Jing Zhao,
Jinlin Bian,
Bo Sun,
Qian Tang,
Xiao Du,
Yao Zou,
Weidong Dai,
Chunlei He
Affiliations
Jingyi Xu
Tea Department of College of Horticulture Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Mingji Xie
Tea Department of College of Horticulture Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Xing Liang
Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, China
Peida Luo
Tea Department of College of Horticulture Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Xinyao Yang
Tea Department of College of Horticulture Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Jing Zhao
Tea Department of College of Horticulture Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Jinlin Bian
Tea Department of College of Horticulture Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Bo Sun
Tea Department of College of Horticulture Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Qian Tang
Tea Department of College of Horticulture Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Xiao Du
Tea Department of College of Horticulture Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Yao Zou
Tea Department of College of Horticulture Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Weidong Dai
Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Resources Utilization, Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, China
Chunlei He
Tea Department of College of Horticulture Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Ya’an Tibetan tea, renowned as a mysterious tea, has been used as a traditional remedy for disease prevention among ethnic minorities in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region, which experiences the highest levels of UVB radiation in the world, for over 1000 years. Theabrownin (TB) from Ya’an Tibetan tea exhibits various health benefits. In this study, the preventive effects of TB on UVB-induced skin damage were investigated. The results showed that TB pretreatment significantly alleviated visible skin damage, epidermal hyperplasia, and collagen destruction in BALB/c mice. The mechanism of action involved increasing the mRNA and protein levels of Nrf2 and enhancing SOD enzyme activity, thereby reducing MDA content and improving the body’s antioxidant capacity. TB also inhibited the protein synthesis of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, as well as the expression of NF-κB mRNA and protein, thereby reducing skin inflammation. Furthermore, it suppressed the overexpression of p38 MAPK, ERK, and AP-1 mRNA and protein, along with the downstream MMP-1 protein, to prevent collagen destruction in the skin. Additionally, TB pretreatment prevented cell apoptosis by reducing Caspase-3 overexpression. These results suggest that TB can prevent UVB-induced photodamage and exert its preventive effects in a dose-dependent manner by downregulating the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway while promoting the Nrf2 signaling pathway in the skin. Consequently, TB holds promising potential for future applications in skin photodamage prevention and skin health promotion.
