Active compound chrysophanol of Cassia tora seeds suppresses heat-induced lipogenesis via inactivation of JNK/p38 MAPK signaling in human sebocytes.

Background: Heat induced by infrared (IR) radiation from sun exposure increases skin temperature and can lead to thermal and photo-aging. However, little is known about the relationship between heat induced by IR radiation and lipid biosynthesis in human sebocytes. This study investigated the expression of factors involved in lipid biosynthesis in human sebocytes exposed to heat. The effect of Cassia tora extract and chrysophanol, which is widely used as anti-inflammatory agent, on the heat shock effect in sebocytes was then examined.

Methods: For the treatment, cells were maintained in culture medium without FBS (i.e., serum starved) for 6 h and then moved for 30 min to incubators at 37 °C (control), 41 °C, or 44 °C (heat shock). Culture media were replaced with fresh media without FBS. To investigate expression of gene and signaling pathway, we performed western blotting. Lipid levels were assessed by Nile red staining. The cytokine levels were measured by cytokine array and ELISA kit.

Results: We found that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were upregulated and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/p38 signaling pathways were activated in human sebocytes following heat exposure. Treatment with Cassia tora seed extract and chrysophanol suppressed this up-regulation of PPARγ and FAS and also suppressed the increase in IL-1β levels.

Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that IR radiation can stimulate sebum production; Cassia tora seed extract and chrysophanol can reverse lipid stimulated inflammatory mediation, and may therefore be useful for treating skin disorders such as acne vulgaris.