β-escin activates ALDH and prevents cigarette smoke-induced cell death

Background: The tobacco use is one of the biggest public health threats worldwide. Cigarette smoke contains over 7000 chemicals among other aldehydes, regarded as priority toxicants. β-escin (a mixture of triterpenoid saponins extracted from the Aesculus hippocastanum. L) is a potent activator of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) - an enzyme catalyzing oxidation of aldehydes to non-toxic carboxylic acids.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of β-escin on ALDH activity, ALDH isoforms mRNA expression and cytotoxicity in nasal epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE).

Methods: Nasal epithelial cells from healthy non-smokers were treated with β-escin (1 µM) and exposed to 5% CSE. After 6- or 24-hours of stimulation cell viability, DNA damage, ALDH activity and mRNA expression of ALDH isoforms were examined.

Results: 24 h β-escin stimulation revised CSE induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage. Cells cultured with β-escin or exposed to CSE responded with strong increase in ALDH activity. This effect was more pronounced in cultures treated with combination of β-escin and CSE. The strongest stimulatory effect on ALDH isoform mRNA expression was observed in cells cultured simultaneously with β-escin and CSE: at 6 h for ALDH1A1 and ALDH3A1, and at 24 h for ALDH1A3, ALDH3A2, ALDH3B1, and ALDH18A1. Combined β-escin and CSE treatment prevented the CSE-induced inhibition of ALDH2 expression at 24 h.

Conclusions: β-escin is an effective ALDH stimulatory and cytoprotective agent and might be useful in the prevention or supportive treatment of tobacco smoke-related diseases.

 

Comments:

This study seems to suggest some promising findings regarding the potential role of β-escin in mitigating the adverse effects of cigarette smoke on nasal epithelial cells. The ability of β-escin to enhance ALDH activity, reduce cytotoxicity, and prevent DNA damage in cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) is quite intriguing.

The stimulation of ALDH activity by β-escin is particularly noteworthy as ALDH plays a crucial role in detoxifying harmful aldehydes found in cigarette smoke. Additionally, the observed increase in mRNA expression of various ALDH isoforms in response to β-escin and CSE co-treatment further supports its potential as a cytoprotective agent against tobacco smoke-related damage.

If further research corroborates these findings, β-escin could be explored as a preventive or complementary treatment option for conditions associated with tobacco smoke exposure. However, additional studies, including in vivo experiments and clinical trials, would be necessary to validate these results and determine the safety and efficacy of β-escin in humans.

Are you considering further studies or exploring applications of β-escin in a specific context?

Related Products

Cat.No.	Product Name	Information
S4690	Escin	Escin (Aescin) is a mixture of saponins with anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictor and vasoprotective effects found in Aesculus hippocastanum(the horse chestnut).

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