Abstract: The protective effect of Actinidia arguta flavonoids (AAF) on H2O2-induced oxidative injury in human immortalized epidermal cells (HaCaT) was investigated in this study. The flavonoids were extracted from A. arguta grown in DaWei Mountain, Liuyang, Hunan provice. HaCaT cells were cultured in vitro. The experiment was divided into control, hydrogen peroxide damage, positive control (VC), and AAF treatment groups (at concentrations of 0.1–1.0 mg/mL). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in cells were measured to evaluate the cytoprotective effect of AAF. VC was used as a positive control to evaluate its antioxidant activity. The results showed that at a H2O2 concentration of 30 μmol/L, the survival rate of the cells was approximately 40% and the oxidative damage model was established. When AAF at concentrations of 0.3 and 0.6 mg/mL was used to protect the cells, the survival rate was about 60%, which increased by about 20% compared with the model group. SOD activity (6.33 U/mg) in the treatment group (0.3 mg/mL) was about 2 times higher than that in the model group, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). ROS level decreased significantly by 13% when compared with the model group (677.80). These data suggested a protective effect of AAF on H2O2-indued oxidative damage. Therefore, it can be further developed into a potent natural antioxidant product.

Key words: Actinidia arguta, flavonoids, H2O2-induced oxidative injury, HaCaT cell injury, protective effect