Cited by 136Skin Protection and AgingGenomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stressPhytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities

Phytochemicals as Protectors Against Ultraviolet Radiation: Versatility of Effects and Mechanisms

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Dinkova-Kostova, Albena·2008·Planta Medica

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one of the most abundant carcinogens in our environment, and the development of non-melanoma skin cancers, the most common type of human malignancy worldwide, represents one of the major consequences of excessive exposure. Because of growing concerns that the level of UV radiation is increasing as a result of depletion of the stratospheric ozone and climate change, the development of strategies for protection of the skin is an urgent need. Many phytochemicals that belong to various families of secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids (caffeine, sanguinarine), flavonoids [(−)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate, genistein, silibinin], carotenoids ( β -carotene, lycopene), and isothiocyanates (sulforaphane), offer exciting platforms for the development of such protective strategies. These phytochemicals have been consumed by humans for many centuries as part of plant-rich diets and are presumed to be of low toxicity, an essential requirement for a chemoprotective agent. Mechanistically, they affect multiple signalling pathways and protect against UV radiation-inflicted damage by their ability to act as direct and indirect antioxidants, as well as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agents. Such ”pluripotent character” is a critical prerequisite for an agent that is designed to counteract the multiple damaging effects of UV radiation. Especially attractive are inducers of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway, which controls the gene expression of proteins whose activation leads to enhanced protection against oxidants and electrophiles. Such protection is comprehensive, long-lasting, and unlikely to cause pro-oxidant effects or interfere with the synthesis of vitamin D. Abbreviations AP-1:activator protein 1 ARE:antioxidant response element COX-2:cyclooxygenase 2 EGG:epigallocatechin 3-gallate EGF:epidermal growth factor GSH:glutathione iNOS:inducible nitric oxide synthase Keap1:Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 IL:inerleukin MAPK:mitogen-activated protein kinase MMP:matrix metalloprotease NF-κB:nuclear factor-κB NQO1:NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 Nrf2:nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 ODC:ornithine decarobxylase PCNA:proliferating cell nuclear antigen ROS:reactive oxygen species TPA:12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate UV:ultraviolet

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Crossref · 10.1055/s-2008-1081296

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  • In vivo findings on SKH-1 hairless mice reported that pretreatment with sanguinarine significantly decreased UV-B-mediated skin edema, skin hyperplasia and infiltration of leukocytes.

    “Moreover, in vivo findings on SKH-1 hairless mice reported that pretreatment with sanguinarine significantly decreased the UV-B-mediated skin edema, skin hyperplasia and infiltration of leukocytes.”

    From Skin protection from solar ultraviolet radiation using natural compounds: a review (2024) · cites this paper as Dinkova-Kostova 2008

    The sanguinarine passage reports that topical application before UV exposure reduced edema, hyperplasia, and infiltration of inflammatory cells in SKH-1 hairless mice. The References section identifies the underlying study as concerning UVB damage. Our copy does not state that these reductions were statistically significant. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Various studies have found that alkaloids such as sanguinarine, piperine and caffeine act as defenders against ultraviolet radiation damage.

    “Various studies have found that alkaloids such as sanguinarine, piperine and caffeine act as defenders against ultraviolet radiation damage (Dinkova-Kostova 2008;Verma et al. 2017;Gherardini et al. 2019).”

    From Skin protection from solar ultraviolet radiation using natural compounds: a review (2024) · cites this paper as Dinkova-Kostova 2008

    The paper’s discussion of alkaloids reports protection against UV damage by caffeine and sanguinarine in cell and mouse studies (page numbers unavailable in the indexed passages). A search for piperine found no passage addressing it, so this source does not support that example. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Sanguinarine prevented UV-B-mediated elevations in ornithine decarboxylase, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Kiel antigen-67.

    “Further, they also observed that sanguinarine prevented UV-B-mediated elevations in ornithine decarboxylase, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Kiel antigen-67, all of which are indicators of cellular proliferation (Ahsan et al. 2007;Dinkova-Kostova 2008).”

    From Skin protection from solar ultraviolet radiation using natural compounds: a review (2024) · cites this paper as Dinkova-Kostova 2008

  • Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant both in vitro and in vivo against oxidation of proteins, lipids, and DNA, and one of the most potent scavengers of singlet oxygen free radicals among carotenoids.

    “Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant both in vitro and in vivo against the oxidation of proteins, lipids, and DNA, and it has been identified as one of the most potent scavengers of singlet species of oxygen free radicals—the highest among the carotenoids [6, 7].”

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Cites

2 retracted

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1 of the 170 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 13

  1. Feldmeyer L, Keller M, Niklaus G, Hohl D, Werner S, Beer HD. The inflam- masome mediates UVB-induced activation and secretion of interleu- kin-1β by keratinocytes. Curr Biol 2007; 17: 1140 -5
  2. Schwarz T, Luger TA. Effect of UV irradiation on epidermal cell cytokine production. J Photochem Photobiol B 1989; 4: 1 -13 38
  3. Chung JH, Youn SH, Koh WS, Eun HC, Cho KH, Park KC et al. Ultraviolet B irradiation-enhanced interleukin (IL)-6 production and mRNA ex- pression are mediated by IL-1α in cultured human keratinocytes. J In- vest Dermatol 1996; 106: 715 -20
  4. Zajdela F, Latarjet R. Effect inhibiteurs de caffeine sur l'induction de cancers par les rayons ultraviolet chex la souris. C R Acad Sci Hebd Se- ances Acad Sci D. 1973; 277: 1073 -6
  5. Bowden GT, Fusenig NE. Caffeine inhibition of postreplication repair of UV-damaged DNA in mouse cells. Chem Biol Interact 1980; 33: 101 - 13
  6. Nkondjock A, Ghadirian P, Kotsopoulos J, Lubinski J, Lynch H, Kim-Sing C et al. Coffee consumption and breast cancer risk among BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Int J Cancer 2006; 118: 103 -7
  7. Lenfeld J, Kroutil M, Marsálek E, Slavík J, Preininger V, Simánek V. Anti- inflammatory activity of quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids from Chelidonium majus. Planta Med 1981; 43: 161 -5
  8. Ross JA, Kasum CM. Dietary flavonoids: bioavailability, metabolic ef- fects, and safety. Annu Rev Nutr 2002; 22: 19 -34
  9. Mittal A, Piyathilake C, Hara Y, Katiyar SK. Exceptionally high protec- tion of photocarcinogenesis by topical application of (-)-epigallocate- chin-3-gallate in hydrophilic cream in SKH-1 hairless mouse model: relationship to inhibition of UVB-induced global DNA hypomethyla- tion. Neoplasia 2003; 5: 555 -65
  10. Rohdewald P. A review of the French maritime pine bark extract (Pyc- nogenol), a herbal medication with a diverse clinical pharmacology. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 2002; 40: 158 -68 112
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  13. Afaq F, Adhami VM, Ahmad N. Prevention of short-term ultraviolet B radiation-mediated damages by resveratrol in SKH-1 hairless mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2003; 186: 28 -37 164

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Authors
Dinkova-Kostova, A.
Venue
Planta Medica
Published
2008-08-11
Volume
74
Issue
13
Pages
1548-1559
ISSN
  • 0032-0943 (ISSN-L)
  • 1439-0221
OpenAlex
W2028931216
Cited by
136
References
170
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 6
FWCI
1.60
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Planta Medica (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
Keywords
phytochemicals, ultraviolet radiation, non-melanoma skin cancer, chemoprotection, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, immunomodulation, Nrf2/Keap1 pathway, flavonoids, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, silibinin, isothiocyanates, sulforaphane, carotenoids, beta-carotene, lycopene, alkaloids, sanguinarine, caffeine, reactive oxygen species, DNA damage
MeSH terms
Humans, Phytotherapy, Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced, Plants, Radiation-Protective Agents, Ultraviolet Rays, Anticarcinogenic Agents

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