Anti-inflammatory activity and potential dermatological applications of characterized humic acids from a lignite and a green compost
Key Findings
- HA from lignite (HA-LIG) showed predominance of apolar aliphatic and aromatic components
- HA from composted artichoke (HA-CYN) showed presence of polysaccharides and polyphenolic lignin residues
- Both HA types increased viability of HaCaT keratinocytes pre-treated with Urban Dust — protective effect
- HA-LIG significantly decreased gene expression of IL-6 and IL-1β pro-inflammatory cytokines
- HA-LIG showed greater anti-inflammatory power than HA-CYN
- Anti-inflammatory effect attributed to combination of hydrophobic components, conformational arrangements, and bioactive molecules
- Suggests applicability of humic matter in dermatology as skin protectors from environmental irritants
In vitro study characterizing humic acids from two sources (lignite and composted artichoke waste) and evaluating their anti-inflammatory and skin-protective properties on HaCaT keratinocytes. HA from both sources protected keratinocytes from Urban Dust-induced damage (increased cell viability). Crucially, lignite-derived HA (HA-LIG) significantly decreased IL-6 and IL-1β gene expression, demonstrating superior anti-inflammatory activity compared to compost-derived HA. The study provides chemical characterization (IR, NMR, GC/MS, HPSEC) alongside biological data, linking specific structural features (aromatic/aliphatic composition) to anti-inflammatory efficacy. Suggests innovative application of HA in dermatology for environmental skin protection.