Bergamot polyphenolic fraction counteracts photoageing in human keratinocytes

Photoageing represents the addition of extrinsic chronic ultraviolet radiation induced damage on intrinsic aging and accounts for most age-associated changes in skin appearance. The skin contains numerous endogenous antioxidants to help provide protection from reactive oxidative species generated during normal cellular metabolism. However, overexposure to UV radiation can lead to a significant reduction in the antioxidant supply accompanied by an increase of proinflammatory cytokines leading to accelerated oxidative damage. Photochemoprevention with botanical antioxidants is a strategy shown to be capable of blunting the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. Together with antioxidant properties, dietary flavonoids and their metabolites may modulate basic cellular signal transduction pathways leading to anti-proliferative, anti-aging and immune modulating responses. Here, we describe the effects of bergamot polyphenolic fraction (38% BPF), a highly concentrated extract of flavonoids derived from the citrus bergamot fruit, able to inhibit UVB mediated decrease in cell viability, overexpression of inflammatory cytokine biomarker interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), telomere shortening and decreases in telomerase activity.