European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the ability of astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis algal extract (AE) on preventing adverse effects of H2O2 on human skin fibroblast cells. A Haematococcus pluvialis strain obtained from Vietnam was used as a source of astaxanthin. hF cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with AE 0, 10, 25, 50 μg/ml for 7 days. WST-1 assay results showed that AE 10-50 μg/ml was not poisonous and didn’t have any negative effects on cell proliferation. hF cells were pre-treated with AE (0, 10, 25, 50 μg/ml) for 24 hours prior to H2O2 treatment (200 μM, 120 minutes). The results showed that AE protected hF cells: reduction of G0/G1 phase cells in cell populations (16.08 – 21.52%), senescence-associated β-galactosidase – positive cells (28.9 – 40.8%), and maintenance of cell proliferation, nuclear area. AE 10 μg/ml is the optimal concentration in this study. In conclusion, AE has been shown to have the ability to protect fibroblasts from the adverse effects of H2O2.