Abstract
Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays has been attributed to irreversible health defects at the cellular level. Most importantly, damage to DNA by UVA and UVB rays can result in uncontrolled cellular growth, leading to skin cancer. As a result, topical treatments have been developed over time to protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays. The active ingredients in sunscreens or sun creams are sometimes unsaturated, aromatic organic compounds capable of absorbing harmful UV photons at a great range of wavelengths. Absorption capabilities of these species depend on their degree of conjugation and their molar absorptivity. With this knowledge, two cinnamaldehyde derivatives were synthesized into five potential organic UV filters by the aldol condensation reaction. The products were identified using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopies, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy was used to determine the UV absorption range and intensity of absorption for each compound. Since the compounds would hypothetically be utilized in topical ointments to aide in skin protection, these compounds were assessed in the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a representative bacterium of the skin’s natural flora. A time-course assay was conducted to detect growth effects of P. aeruginosa in the presence of the organic compounds. According to the spectroscopic and bacterial analyses of these UV-blocking compounds, three compounds were determined to be potential UV filters that cover UVA region while demonstrating no apparent harm to the natural skin bacteria P. aeruginosa, while the other two likely diminished bacterial growth by simple niche inhibition.
Highlights
IntroductionSunlight exposure is valued for its benefits to human health, especially its role in the synthesis of vitamin D from cholesterol
Prolonged and unprotected exposure to UV rays has been associated with irreversible health defects [1]. e region of UV light emitted by the sun is categorized into three types, which span the following wavelengths: UVA (320–400 nm), UVB (290–320 nm), and UVC (200–290 nm) [2]
UVC ranges of UV light are not typically considered when investigating potential UV filters
Summary
Sunlight exposure is valued for its benefits to human health, especially its role in the synthesis of vitamin D from cholesterol. UVC ranges of UV light are not typically considered when investigating potential UV filters. Since both UVB and UVA radiation can reach the Earth’s surface and affect the epidermal layer of the skin, broadspectrum sunscreens are designed to block rays in the UVB and UVA wavelengths [3–5]. UVB rays, while less common on Earth’s surface than UVA rays, have a shorter wavelength and higher energy than UVA rays, and are capable of greater damage to the skin. In extreme cases, prolonged and unprotected exposure to UVA and UVB can result in damage to a cell’s DNA which can result in uncontrolled cell growth and skin cancer. While exposure to UVB radiation has been identified as the major contributor to the more harmful effects of solar radiation, studies revealed detrimental effects of long-term exposure to UVA radiation as well
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