“Taikong Blue” Lavender Essential Oil Attenuates Benzo[a]Pyrene‐Induced Oxidative and Inflammatory Injury in HaCaT Cells Through IL ‐6‐ and Mitochondrial Complex I‐Associated Regulation

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a type of carcinogen produced in fried foods, and also an environmental pollutant. Chronic exposure can compromise epidermal barrier function and trigger dermatological conditions, including inflammation and oxidative stress. “Taikong Blue” lavender essential oil (TLEO), a signature product from Xinjiang, China, traditionally employed by regional populations for its purported therapeutic benefits to alleviate various skin conditions. However, its efficacy in mitigating skin damage caused by BaP remains underreported. This study aims to investigate the ability and underlying mechanism of TLEO to reduce BaP‐induced HaCaT cell damage and identify its mechanisms, focusing on antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects. By measuring the levels of NO, ROS, MDA, and CAT, along with the transcriptional expression of canonical inflammatory factors (IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐17, and TNF‐α), it was demonstrated that TLEO effectively attenuated cell damage caused by BaP. Further combined transcriptomic, metabolomic, and PPI network analyses revealed that TLEO predominantly downregulated key targets including IL‐6 and mitochondrial complex I subunits (NDUFB3/NDUFA1/NDUFB1), while concurrently suppressing CCL2 and upregulating FGF17 expression. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for developing TLEO‐based products to mitigate BaP‐mediated cutaneous injury.