Protective effect of persimmon (Diospyros kaki) peel proanthocyanidin against oxidative damage under H2O2-induced cellular senescence.

8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), one of the most abundant oxidative DNA adducts, is used as an indicator of oxidative DNA damage associated with aging. Among homologs of the silent information regulator (Sir), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is suggested as a regulator of the apoptotic response to DNA damage. Since it has been suggested that the aging process can be delayed by the attenuation of oxidative damage such as DNA damage or SIRT1 modulation, we focused on the protective effect against cellular oxidative damage of persimmon peel, a proanthocyanidin-rich food, in relation to its level of polymerization. We confirmed that 8-OHdG expression in TIG-1 human fibroblasts was increased by treatment with 300 microM H2O2 for 2 h. On the other hand, the nuclear SIRT1 level was decreased in H2O2-treated as compared with non-pretreated cells. However, pretreatments with polymers and oligomers led to a decrease in 8-OHdG and elevation in nuclear SIRT1 expression in a concentration-dependent manner. In particular, oligomers exerted a stronger effect. The present study supports the protective potential of proanthocyanidin from persimmon peel against oxidative damage under the aging process, and suggests that the polymerization of proanthocyanidin plays an important role in retarding aging in a cellular senescence model.