A handbook of environmental toxicology: human disorders and ecotoxicology.

Chapter 31 (Page no: 457)

UV exposure and skin-protective effects of plant polyphenols.

Skin exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation triggers a plethora of harmful effects, including skin cancer. UV radiation is linked to DNA damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, immunodepression, photoageing and extracellular matrix degradation. In this context, UV protection has emerged as a global concern not only for cosmetic purposes but also with clinical relevance. Industrial and scientific communities have tried to address this problem using different molecules for sunscreens that act as physical barriers. Despite these advances, major progress is still needed to find effective photoprotective formulations. Natural compounds, especially plant polyphenols, comprise an almost limitless source of bioactive compounds with a variety of beneficial effects. Polyphenols have shown the capacity to alleviate most of the harmful effects of UV radiation in skin cells models. However, in vivo evidence for such activity is still scarce. Further, knowledge of the metabolites responsible for this photoprotective activity is very limited. This chapter reviews the most relevant results on the use of selected polyphenols to reverse the consequences of UV radiation on skin, focusing on their main molecular targets and their putative molecular mechanism.

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