The photoprotective effects of 2-benzoyl-3-phenylquinoxaline 1,4-dioxide against UVB-induced damage in HaCaT cells

With the increasing levels of atmospheric ozone depletion, there has been much concern about the causal effects of high levels of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth’s surface on skin cancer. This has led to growing interest in identifying new active ingredients for use in commercial sunscreens. In our study, the chemical compound 2-benzoyl-3-phenylquinoxaline 1,4-dioxide (BPQ) prepared by the Beirut reaction was tested for its ability to protect a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) against ultraviolet B radiation (280–315 nm). We show that BPQ exhibited strong absorbance in the UVB range, with an overall absorption spectrum very similar to that of Padimate-O, a well-known active ingredient used in commercial sunscreens. HaCaT cells, which were irradiated with UVB in the presence of multiple doses of BPQ, exhibited, in a dose-dependent fashion, a significantly higher viability and lower oxidative stress levels than cells irradiated in the absence of drug. Our results show that BPQ is a potential photoprotective drug that holds great promise for use as an active ingredient in commercial sunscreens.