Abstract

Background/Aim: UVB radiation can induce DNA damage in kera-tinocyte cells, leading to increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) triggered by the release of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1α and apoptosis (sunburn) of keratinocyte cells. Centella asiatica (C asiatica) leaf extract contains various secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and saponins, which have been proven to have an-tioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to analyse the ef fect of C asiatica leaf extract cream on the expression of IL-1α and sunburn cells in acute UVB-induced BALB/c mice. Methods: Experimental research was designed with a post-test control group of 4 groups: normal control group, negative control, 10 % C asiatica leaf extract cream group (P1) and 20 % C asiatica leaf extract cream group (P2). Each mouse was exposed to UV-B light broadband at a dose of 1 minimal erythema dose (MED) or energy 360 mJ/cm² from day 1 to day 5 for 6 minutes with a distance of 30 cm, while the standard group was not exposed to UVB. In P1 and P2, C asiatica leaf extract cream of 10 % and 20 % was applied daily for 5 days, while the negative control received base cream. On day 6, skin tissue samples were taken and analysis was performed for IL-1α expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and sunburn cells using haematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: The expression of IL-1α in the treatment groups decreased with increasing doses, with P2 having IL-1α expression (43.33 ± 7.60), P1 (48.33 ± 8.33), negative control (69.17 ± 9.17) and standard control (50.00 ± 1.91). The number of sunburn cells also decreased in the P1 (1.08 ± 0.15) and P2 (1.20 ± 0.19) groups compared to the negative control group (1.48 ± 0.17). Conclusion: The administration of C asiatica leaf extract cream can re-duce the expression of the IL-1α gene and the number of sunburn cells in the skin tissue of mice induced by acute UVB radiation.