Abstract
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has contributed to the onset of various skin diseases, including skin cancer. Consequently, there are a series of incentives for research and development of innovative photoprotectors that can provide protection against such health problems. With the growing consumer interest in cosmetic products of natural origin, there has been an increase in new proposals such as the replacement of synthetic assets with molecules extracted from medicinal plants that present activity compatible or superior to synthetic products and with lesser environmental impact. Natural photoprotectors are gaining attention within this scenario, and some previous studies have demonstrated their potential for use. A literature review was conducted on the main groups and active principles of plants with photoprotective activity and for this purpose we used national and international scientific articles from the Medline/PubMed, SCIELO, LILACs, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar databases. We mentioned 17 different species of medicinal plants with photoprotective action and their respective active ingredients. The flavonoid group was the most cited and studied in relation to the protective capacity against ultraviolet radiation and its isolated action and synergistic action was highlighted. Studies show that plant extracts from different plant species have a photoprotective action, among which they highlight the rich in antioxidant compounds, such as plants of the species Ginkgo biloba, Psidium guajava, Camellia sinensis and Lippia sp. which stand out for their large amount of polyphenols, especially flavonoids.
Highlights
Over the years, there has been a considerable reduction in the ozone layer, resulting in an increase in the intensity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the Earth's surface
There are different ways to protect the skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation, but the most commonly used method is the application of sunscreen products that absorb or reflect UV radiation
The application of extracts and oils from medicinal plants in cosmetic products, such as sunscreens, has been growing because of the photoprotective action detected in several plant species and their wide range of biological action
Summary
There has been a considerable reduction in the ozone layer, resulting in an increase in the intensity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the Earth's surface. The absorption spectrum of active ingredients of natural origin is not well defined because it is a complete mixture that contains a large variety of active molecules, resulting in a broad spectrum of UV absorption. Their application can include both the replacement of chemical filters and enhancers of sun protection factor (SPF) (Rancan et al, 2002; Ferrari et al, 2008; Singh & Kumar, 2018). In view of the importance of developing new sunscreens based on natural products, this study aims to describe the main secondary metabolites with photoprotective action already described in literature
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
