Diphlorethohydroxycarmalol, Isolated from Ishige Okamurae, Increases Prostaglandin E2 through the Expression of Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in HaCaT Human Keratinocytes

The study investigated the effects of Diphlorethohydroxycarmalol (DPHC), a compound from the brown algae Ishige okamurae, on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis in HaCaT human keratinocytes. It was found that DPHC significantly increased PGE2 production in a dose-dependent manner by upregulating the protein and mRNA levels of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), with COX-1 expression occurring before COX-2. Additionally, while both rofecoxib and indomethacin inhibited PGE2 production, indomethacin was more potent. These results suggest that DPHC may have beneficial effects through the enhancement of PGE2 production.