Honey Extracted Polyphenolics Reduce Experimental Hypoxia in Human Keratinocytes Culture

Hypoxic assault affects fundamental cellular processes and generates oxidative stress on healthy cells/molecules. Honey extracted polyphenolics (HEP) as a natural antioxidant reduced hypoxic cytotoxicity in this study. Different honey samples were physicochemically characterized to identify preferred (jamun) honey [pH 3.55 +/- 0.04, conductivity (mu s/cm) = 6.66 +/- 0.14, water content % (w/w) = 14.70 +/- 0.35, total solid content % (w/w) = 85.30 +/- 0.35, phenol content (mg GAE/100 = 403.55 +/- 0.35, flavonoid content (mg QE/100 = 276.76 +/- 4.10, radical scavenging activity (% 500 mu L) = 147.75 +/- 3.13, catalase activity (absorbance at 620 nm) = 0.226 +/- 0.01]. HEP was tested in different doses on hypoxic and normoxic cells (HaCaT) using viability and antioxidant assays. Cardinal molecular expressions such as cadherin catenin cytoskeleton complex (namely, E-cadherin, beta-catenin, and F-actin), hypoxia marker (Hif 1 alpha), proliferation marker (Ki67), and epithelial master regulator (p63) were studied by immuno-cytochemisty (ICC) and qRT-PCR. The 0.063 mg/mL HEP demonstrated better vitality and functionality of HaCaT cells as per viability assay (*, P < 0.01) even under hypoxia. ICC and qRT-PCR observations indicated restoration of cellular survival and homeostasis under 0.063 mg/mL HEP after hypoxic assault. Furthermore, major spectral changes for nucleic acid and membrane phospholipid reorganizations by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy illustrated a positive impact of 0.063 mg/mL REP on hypoxic cells considering proliferation and cellular integrity. It was concluded that a specific dose of jamun REP reduces hypoxic cytotoxicity.