Abstract
Skin is the largest body organ that serves as an important environmental interface providing a protective envelope that is crucial for homeostasis. On the other hand, it is a major target for toxic insult by a broad spectrum of physical and chemical agents that are capable of altering its structure and function. There are a large number of dietary contaminants and drugs can manifest their toxicity in skin. These environmental toxicants or their metabolites are inherent oxidants and/or directly or indirectly drive the production of a variety of reactive oxidants also known as reactive oxygen species. These are short-lived entities that are continuously generated at low levels during the course of normal aerobic metabolism. These are believed to activate proliferative and cell survival signaling that can alter apoptotic pathways that may be involved in the pathogenesis of a number of skin disorders. The skin possesses an array of antioxidant defense mechanisms that interact with toxicants to obviate their deleterious effect. The “antioxidant power” of a food is an expression of its capability both to defend the human organism from the action of the free radicals and to prevent degenerative disorders. Plants like olive trees have their own built-in protection against the oxidative damage of the sun, and these built-in protectors function as cell protectors in our own body. Although many antioxidants have shown substantive efficacy in cell culture systems and in animal models of oxidant injury, unequivocal confirmation of their beneficial effects in human populations has proven elusive.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Housman TS. Skin cancer is among the most costly of all cancers to treat for the Medicare population. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003;48:425–9.
Jemal A, Murray T, Samules A, Ghafoor A, Ward E, Thun MJ. Cancer statistics, 2003. CA Cancer J Clin. 2003;53:5–26.
Einspahr JG, Stratton SP, Bowden GT, Alberts DS. Chemoprevention of human skin cancer. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2002;41:269–85.
Halliwell B, Gutteridge JMC. Free radicals in biology and medicine. 3rd ed. Oxford: University Press; 1999.
Cadenas E. Biochemistry of oxygen toxicity. Ann Rev Biochem. 1989;58:79–110.
Valko M, Izakovic M, Mazur M, Rhodes CJ, Telser J. Role of oxygen radicals in DNA damage and cancer incidence. Mol Cell Biochem. 2004;266:37–56.
Kehrer JP. Free radicals as mediators of tissue injury and disease. CRC Crit Rev Toxicol. 1993;23:21–48.
Aruoma OI. Nutrition and health aspects of free radicals and antioxidant. Food Chem Toxicol. 1994;62:671–83.
Fiers W, Bevaert R, Declercq W, Vandenabeele P. More than one way to die: apoptosis and necrosis and reactive oxygen damage. Oncogene. 1999;18:7719–30.
Record IR, Dreosti IE, Konstantinopoulos M, Buckley RA. The influence of topical and systemic vitamin E on ultraviolet light-induced skin damage in hairless mice. Nutr Cancer. 1991;16:219–26.
Kawaguchi Y, Tanaka H, Okada T, Konishi H, Takahashi M, Ito M, Asai J. The effects of ultraviolet A and reactive oxygen species on the mRNA expression of 72-kDa type IV collagenase and its tissue inhibitor in cultured human dermal fibroblasts. Arch Dermatol Res. 1996;288:39–44.
Bowden GT. Prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer by targeting ultraviolet-B-light signalling. Nat Rev Cancer. 2004;4:23–35.
Afaq FV, Adhami M, Mukhtar H. Photochemoprevention of ultraviolet B signaling and photocarcinogenesis. Mutat Res. 2005;571:153–73.
Bickers DR, Athar M. Oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of skin disease. J Invest Dermatol. 2006;126:2565–75.
Afaq F, Syed DN, Malik A, Hadi N, Sarfaraz S, Kweon MH, Khan N, Zaid MA, Mukhtar H. Delphinidin, an anthocyanidin in pigmented fruits and vegetables, protects human HaCaT keratinocytes and mouse skin against UVB-mediated oxidative stress and apoptosis. J Invest Dermatol. 2007;127:222–32.
Gruijl FR, Rebel H. Early events in UV carcinogenesis—DNA damage, target cells and mutant p53 foci. Photochem Photobiol. 2008;84:382–7.
Melnikova VO, Pacifico A, Chimenti S, Peris K, Ananthaswamy HN. Fate of UVB-induced p53 mutations in SKH-hr1 mouse skin after discontinuation of irradiation: relationship to skin cancer development. Oncogene. 2005;24:7055–63.
Halliday GM, Lyons JG. Inflammatory doses of UV may not be necessary for skin carcinogenesis. Photochem Photobiol. 2008;84:272–83.
Nichols JA, Katiyar SK. Skin photoprotection by natural polyphenols: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and DNA repair mechanisms. Arch Dermatol Res. 2010;302:71–83.
Schwarz T. 25 years of UV-induced immunosuppression mediated by T cells—from disregarded T suppressor cells to highly respected regulatory T cells. Photochem Photobiol. 2008;84:10–8.
Halliday GM, Rana S. Waveband and dose dependency of sunlight-induced immunomodulation and cellular changes. Photochem Photobiol. 2008;84:35–46.
Afaq F, Mukhtar H. Botanical antioxidants in the prevention of photocarcinogenesis and photoaging. Exp Dermatol. 2006;15:678–84.
Melnikova VO, Ananthaswamy HN. Cellular and molecular events leading to the development of skin cancer. Mutat Res. 2005;571:91–106.
Katiyar SK, Meeran SM. Obesity increases the risk of UV radiation-induced oxidative stress and activation of MAPK and NF-kappaB signaling. Free Radic Biol Med. 2007;42:299–310.
Bresgen N, Jaksch H, Lacher H, Ohlenschläger I, Uchida K, Eckl PM. Iron-mediated oxidative stress plays an essential role in ferritin-induced cell death. Free Radic Biol Med. 2010;48:1347–57.
Cuzzocrea S, Riley DP, Caputi AP, Salvemini D. Antioxidant therapy: a new pharmacological approach in shock, inflammation, and ischemia/reperfusion injury. Pharmacol Rev. 2001;53:135–59.
Kyriazi M, Yova D, Rallis M, Lima A. Cancer chemo preventive effects of Pinus maritima bark extract on ultraviolet radiation and ultraviolet radiation-7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced skin carcinogenesis of hairless mice. Cancer Lett. 2006;237:234–41.
Gupta S, Mukhtar H. Chemoprevention of skin cancer: current status and future prospects. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2002;21:363–80.
American Cancer Society, Skin Cancer Facts, Copyright 2003.
Dlugosz A, Merlino G, Yuspa S. Progress in cutaneous cancer research. J Invest Dermatol. 2002;7:17–26.
Baudouin C, Charveron M, Tarroux R, Gall Y. Environmental pollutants and skin cancer. Cell Biol Toxicol. 2002;18:341–8.
Gruijl FR. Photo-carcinogenesis: UVA vs. UVB radiation. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 2002;15:316–20.
Gruijl FR, Van Kranen HJ, Mullenders LHF. UV induced damage, repair, mutations and oncogenic pathways skin cancer. J Photochem Photobiol. 2001;63:19–27.
Zhang X, Wu RSS, Fu W, Xu L, Lam PKS. Production of reactive oxygen species and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine in KB cells co-exposed to benzo(a)pyrene and UVA radiation. Chemosphere. 2004;55:1303–8.
Ahsan H, Chen Y, Kibriya MG, Islam MN, Slavkovich V, Graziano JH. Susceptibility to arsenic-induced hyperkeratosis and oxidative stress genes myeloperoxidase and catalase. Cancer Lett. 2003;201:57–65.
An Y, Gao Z, Wang Z, Yang S, Liang J, Feng Y. Immunohistochemical analysis of oxidative DNA damage arsenic-related human skin samples from arsenic-contaminated area of China. Cancer Lett. 2004;214:11–8.
Guyer SF, Afaq F, Mukhtar H. Photo-chemoprevention of skin cancer by botanical agents. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2003;19:56–72.
Hanahan D, Weinberg RA. The hallmarks of cancer. Cell. 2000;100:57–70.
Cai Y, Luo Q, Sun M, Corke H. Antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of 112 traditional Chinese medicinal plants associated with anticancer. Life Sci. 2004;74:2157–84.
Manson MM. Cancer prevention—the potential for diet to modulate molecular signaling. Trends Mol Med. 2003;9:11–8.
Surh YJ. Cancer chemoprevention with dietary phytochemicals. Nat Rev Cancer. 2003;3:768–80.
Rice-Evans C, Miller N, Paganga G. Structure-antioxidant activity relationships of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Free Rad Biol Med. 1996;20:933–56.
Liu RH. Potential synergy of phytochemicals in cancer prevention: mechanism of action. J Nutr. 2004;134:3479–85.
Kris-Etheron PM, Hecker KD, Bonanome A, Coval SM, Binkoski AE, Hiplert KF, Griel AE, Etherton TD. Bioactive compounds in foods: their role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Am J Med. 2002;113:71–88.
Majo DD, Guardia ML, Giammanco S, Neve LL, Giammanco M. The antioxidant capacity of red wine in relationship with its polyphenolic constituents. Food Chem. 2008;111:45–9.
Browden J. Unleash the amazingly potent anti-aging, antioxidant pro-immune system health benefits of the olive leaf. Topanga: Freedom Press; 2009.
Tsuda T. The role of anthocyanins as an antioxidant under oxidative stress in rats. BioFactors. 2000;13:133–9.
Noda Y. Antioxidant activity of nasunin, an anthocyanin in egg plant peels. Toxicology. 2000;148:119–23.
Baliga MS, Katiyar SK. Chemoprevention of photocarcinogenesis by selected dietary botanicals. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2006;5:243–53.
Saraf S, Kaur CD. Phytoconstituents as photoprotective novel cosmetic formulations. Phcog Rev. 2010;4:1–11.
Counet C, Callemien D, Collin S. Chocolate and cocoa: new sources of trans-resveratrol and trans-piceid. Food Chem. 2006;98:649–57.
Wang Y, Catana F, Yang Y, Roderick R, Van Breemen RB. An LC-MS method for analysing total resveratrol in grape juice, cranberry juice, and in wine. J Agric Food Chem. 2002;50:431–5.
Sanders TH, McMichael RW, Hendrix KW. Occurrence of resveratrol in edible peanuts. J Agric Food Chem. 2000;48:1243–6.
Vastano BC, Chen Y, Zhu N, Ho C-T, Zhou Z, Rosen RT. Isolation and identification of stilbenes in two varieties of Polygonum cuspidatum. J Agric Food Chem. 2000;48:253–6.
Soleas GJ, Diamandis EP, Golberg DM. Resveratrol: a molecule whose time has come and gone. Clin Biochem. 1997;30:91–113.
Baumann L. Antioxidants. Cosmetic dermatology: principle and practice. Chap. 34. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill Professional Inc; 2009.
Green RJ. Natural therapies for emphysema and COPD: relief and healing for chronic pulmonary disorders. Vermont: Inner Traditions Bear Company; 2007.
Verma AK, Johnson JA, Gould MN, Tanner MA. Inhibition of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene- and N-nitrosomethylurea-induced rat mammary cancer by dietary flavonol quercetin. Cancer Res. 1988;48:5754–8.
Deschner EE, Ruperto J, Wong G, Newmark HL. Quercetin and rutin as inhibitors of azoxymethanol-induced colonic neoplasia. Carcinogenesis. 1991;12:1193–6.
Makita H, Tanaka T, Fujitsuka H, Tatematsu N, Sato H, Hara A. Chemoprevention of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced rat oral carcinogenesis by the dietary flavonoids chalcone, 2-hydroxychalcone, and quercetin. Cancer Res. 1996;59:4904–9.
Nishino H, Iwashima A, Fujiki H, Sugimura T. Inhibition by quercetin of the promoting effect of teleocidin on skin papilloma formation in mice initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Gann. 1984;75:113–6.
Błasiak J. DNA-damaging effect of cadmium and protective action of quercetin, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Lodz. Pol J Environ Stud. 2001;10:437–42.
Svobodová A, Psotová J, Walterová D. Natural phenolics in the prevention of UV-induced skin damage. Biomed Pap. 2003;147:137–45.
Dweck AC. Natural Ingredients for colouring and styling. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2002;24:287–302.
Choquenet B, Couteau C, Paparis E, Coiffard IJ. Quercetin and rutin as potential sunscreen agents: determination of efficacy by an in vitro method. J Nat Prod. 2008;71:1117–8.
Katiyar SK, Korman NJ, Mukhtar H, Agarwal R. Protective effects of silymarin against photocarcinogenesis in a mouse skin model. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1997;89:556–66.
Katiyar SK. Treatment of silymarin, a plant flavonoid, prevents ultraviolet light-induced immune suppression and oxidative stress in mouse skin. Int J Oncol. 2002;21:1213–22.
García-Bores AM, Avila JG. Natural products: molecular mechanisms in the photochemoprevention of skin cancer. Rev Latinoamer Quím. 2008;36:83–102.
Fryer MJ. Evidence for the photoprotective effects of vitamin E. Photochem Photobiol. 1993;58:304–12.
Kapoor S, Saraf S. Assessment of viscoelasticity and hydration effect of herbal moisturizers using bioengineering techniques. Phcog Mag. 2010;6:298–304.
Bensouilah J, Buck P, Tisserand R, Avis A. Aromadermatology: aromatherapy in the treatment and care of common skin conditions. Abingdon: Radcliffe Publishing Ltd; 2006.
Dayan N. Skin aging handbook: an integrated approach to biochemistry and product development. New York: William Andrew Inc; 2008.
Salvador G, Yolanda G, Neena P, Angeles J. Fernblock, a nutriceutical with photoprotective properties and potential preventive agent for skin photoaging and photoinduced skin cancers. Int J Mol Sci. 2011;12:8466–75.
Narendhirakannan RT, Subramanian S. Biochemical evaluation of the protective effect of Aegle marmelos (L.), Corr. leaf extract on tissue antioxidant defense system and histological changes of pancreatic beta-cells in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2010;33(2):120–30.
Narendhirakannan RT, Subramanian S, Kandaswamy M. Free radical scavenging activity of Cleome gynandra L. leaves on adjuvant induced arthritis in rats. Mol Cell Biochem. 2005;276:71–80.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Narendhirakannan, R.T., Hannah, M.A.C. Oxidative Stress and Skin Cancer: An Overview. Ind J Clin Biochem 28, 110–115 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-012-0278-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-012-0278-8