Antioxidant Effects of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi Against Hydrogen Peroxide-induced DNA Damage and Apoptosis in HaCaT Human Skin Keratinocytes

In this study, we investigated whether S. baicalensis rhizome ethanol extract (SBRE) has antioxidant capacities against oxidative stress induced cellular damage in the HaCaT keratinocytes. Our results revealed that treatment with SBRE prior to hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) exposure significantly increased the HaCaT cell viability. SBRE also effectively attenuated $H_2O_2$ induced comet tail formation, and inhibited the $H_2O_2$ induced phosphorylation levels of the histone ${\gamma}H2AX$, as well as the number of apoptotic bodies and Annexin V positive cells. In addition, SBRE exhibited scavenging activity against intracellular ROS generation and restored the mitochondria membrane potential loss induced by $H_2O_2$. Moreover, $H_2O_2$ enhanced the cleavage of caspase-3 and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase as well as DNA fragmentation; however, these events were almost totally reversed by pretreatment with SBRE. Furthermore, SBRE increased the levels of HO-1 associated with the induction of Nrf2. Therefore, we believed that SBRE may potentially serve as an agent for the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases caused by oxidative stress.