Alaskan Bog Blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) Extract as an Innovative Topical Approach to Prevent UV-Induced Skin Damage

Erika Pambianchi,Zachary Hagenberg,Mary Ann Lila,Mary Grace,Giuseppe Valacchi,Alessandra Pecorelli,Jean-Philippe Therrien

doi:10.3390/cosmetics8040112

Erika Pambianchi, Zachary Hagenberg + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics8040112

Copy DOI

Abstract

Our body is continuously exposed to various exogenous aggressors, and, in particular, the skin represents the main target for outdoor stressors, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV exposure is well-known to be associated with the development/worsening of extrinsic photoaging and a multitude of skin conditions. Considering the role of photoprotection in skin health, the research of natural photoprotective molecules becomes of great importance. Therefore, in this work we wanted to evaluate the beneficial protective effects of ripe berries of Vaccinium uliginosum (Alaska bog blueberry (BB)) extract (100 μg/mL) for preventing the cutaneous oxidative, inflammatory, and structural damage induced by exposure to 200 mJ of UVA/UVB radiation. We observed that the topical application of BB extract on human ex vivo skin explants averted the UV-induced cutaneous OxInflammatory phenomenon by quenching the increase in the oxidative and inflammatory marker levels, such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE), heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR); as well as by counteracting the loss of structural proteins (filaggrin and involucrin) induced by UV radiation. Our data propose the use of a topical application of Alaska bog blueberry extract as a natural and valuable approach to ensure photoprotection against UV-induced skin damage and premature aging.

Highlights

The skin is the largest sensory organ in our body, having a surface extension of circa2 m2
We demonstrate that the topical application of Alaska blueberry extract was able to prevent the ultraviolet radiation (UV)-induced increased expression of oxidative and inflammatory markers and restore the levels of skin-barrier associated proteins previously lost after
To further corroborate the induction of redox damage by UV exposure, we evaluated the protein levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an important antioxidant enzyme that is known to be activated in the presence of oxidative challenges, including UV radiation [32]

Summary

Introduction

The skin is the largest sensory organ in our body, having a surface extension of circa2 m2. The skin is the largest sensory organ in our body, having a surface extension of circa. The UV radiation region ranges from wavelength of 100 nm up to 400 nm and is divided in three different bands: UVA (400–320 nm), UVB (320–290 nm), and UVC (290–200 nm). The stratospheric layer of ozone is able to entirely absorb the shortest wavelengths of UVC rays and a great percentage of UVB radiation, only 5–10% of UVB rays can reach Earth’s surface. UVA radiation is considered a weak energy, it is able to extensively penetrate the skin, reaching the deepest dermal layers. UVB rays are mainly absorbed by the epidermis, but due to their high energy radiation, they are more genotoxic than UVA [6]

Methods

Results

Conclusion