AUTHOR=Yuan Jinping , Lu Yansong , Wang Hexiao , Feng Yuxin , Jiang Shibin , Gao Xing-Hua , Qi RuiQun , Wu Yan , Chen Hong-Duo 

TITLE=Paeoniflorin Resists H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in Melanocytes by JNK/Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.00536

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2020.00536

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Paeoniflorin (PF) possesses multiple biological functions including anti-oxidization. PF is the major bioactive ingredient of total glycosides of paeony (TGP), which could promote re-pigmentation of vitiligo. The study was sought to investigate the effects and potential signaling pathways of PF on hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>)-induced oxidative stress in melanocytes. The results showed that pretreatment with 50 µM PF significantly inhibited cell apoptosis, enhanced cell viability, and suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation by enhancing the productions of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT). Furthermore, PF activated c-Jun amino terminal kinase (<italic>JNK</italic>) and the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (<italic>Nrf2</italic>)/heme oxygenase-1 (<italic>HO-1</italic>) pathway to counteract H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced oxidative damage in PIG1 and PIG3V. Taken together, our study firstly demonstrates that PF resists H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced oxidative stress in melanocytes probably by activating <italic>JNK/Nrf2/HO-1</italic> signaling, suggesting a potential therapeutic application of PF on vitiligo.</p>