Abstract
Healthier life styles include increased outdoors time practicing sports and walking. This means increased exposure to the sun, leading to higher risk of sunburn, photoaging and skin cancer. In addition to topical barrier products, oral supplementations of various botanicals endowed with antioxidant activity are emerging as novel method of photoprotection. Polypodium leucotomos extract (PL, commercial name Fernblock®, IFC Group, Spain) is a powerful antioxidant due to its high content of phenolic compounds. PL is administered orally, with proven safety, and it can also be used topically. Its mechanisms include inhibition of the generation and release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by ultraviolet (UV) light. It also prevents UV- and ROS-induced DNA damage with inhibition of AP1 and NF-κB and protection of natural antioxidant enzyme systems. At the cellular level, PL decreases cellular apoptosis and necrosis mediated UV and inhibits abnormal extracellular matrix remodeling. PL reduces inflammation, prevents immunosuppression, activates tumor suppressor p53 and inhibits UV-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme expression. In agreement with increased p53 activity, PL decreased UV radiation-induced cell proliferation. PL also prevents common deletions mitochondrial DNA damage induced by UVA, and MMP-1 expression induced Visible Light and Infrared Radiation. These cellular and molecular effects are reflected in inhibitions of carcinogenesis and photoaging.
Highlights
Skin cancer accounts for at least 40% of all human malignancies
The use of botanical supplements equipped with significant antioxidant activity has generated great interest to decrease the risk of disease of the skin induced by UV radiation [5]
We describe the composition of the extract and its antioxidant beneficial properties
Summary
Skin cancer accounts for at least 40% of all human malignancies. Solar radiation is a potent environmental human carcinogen, and its properties as a cancer-inducing agent are summarized in the 13th Report on Carcinogens on 2 October 2014, of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [1]. At the moment of writing this paper, 35 open studies aimed at addressing the beneficial effects of polyphenols in health and diseases are recruiting participants In this context, Polypodium leucotomos (PL, commercial name Fernblock®, IFC Group, Spain) contains several hydrophilic extracts in its aerial part and these extracts exhibit powerful photoprotective properties after its administration, either topically or orally. To substantiate the molecular basis of the impact of oral PL for the prevention of the adverse cutaneous effects of UVR, we will summarize the state of the art of the molecular mechanisms and targets of PL involved in photodamage and skin cancer prevention These include: (i) signaling pathways that induce or regulate ROS generation and/or effects; (ii) pathways of DNA damage and DNA repair; (iii) role of ROS in inflammation; (iv) immune evasion of due to oxidative stress; (v) UV-induced tumor progression; (vi) interaction with UVR extracellular matrix (ECM) damage; and (vii) PL use in other non skin malignancies
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