Cited by 288Skin Protection and AgingPhytochemicals and Antioxidant ActivitiesAntioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 113 of the 114 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 87 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Antioxidants from Plants Protect against Skin Photoaging

Open access
Petruk, Ganna, Del Giudice, Rita, Rigano, Maria Manuela, Monti, Daria Maria·2018·Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

Abstract

Exposure to UV light triggers the rapid generation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skin cells, with consequent increase in oxidative stress and thus in photoaging. Exogenous supplementation with dietary antioxidants and/or skin pretreatment with antioxidant‐based lotions before sun exposure might be a winning strategy against age‐related skin pathologies. In this context, plants produce many secondary metabolites to protect themselves from UV radiations and these compounds can also protect the skin from photoaging. Phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and carotenoids, derived from different plant species, are able to protect the skin by preventing UV penetration, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and influencing several survival signalling pathways. In this review, we focus our attention on the double role of oxidants in cell metabolism and on environmental and xenobiotic agents involved in skin photoaging. Moreover, we discuss the protective role of dietary antioxidants from fruits and vegetables and report their antiaging properties related to the reduction of oxidative stress pathways.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review summarizes how UV-induced ROS drive skin photoaging and how plant-derived antioxidants (phenolics, ascorbic acid, carotenoids) may protect skin by absorbing UV, reducing oxidative stress/inflammation, and modulating signaling. It synthesizes in vitro, animal, and human evidence, but is a narrative review without systematic methods.

Key findings

  • Up to 80–90% of skin aging is attributed to environmental and xenobiotic agents (extrinsic aging), and photoaging accounts for about 80% of aging-related adverse effects; UV exposure rapidly generates ROS in skin cells.
  • Plant secondary metabolites—phenolic compounds (e.g., flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes), ascorbic acid, and carotenoids—can protect skin by preventing UV penetration, inhibiting UV-induced free radical reactions, and modulating endogenous antioxidant and inflammatory systems.
  • Human intervention examples: 800 mg EGCG (single or divided doses) reduced UV-induced erythema size; oral lycopene-rich tomato nutrient complex plus lutein inhibited UV-induced upregulation of HO-1, ICAM-1, and MMP-1; tomato paste supplementation reduced erythema and mitochondrial DNA damage.
  • Not all antioxidant trials were positive: β-carotene (50 mg on alternate days) over 12 years did not protect healthy men from melanoma, and safety concerns/prooxidant effects have been raised for long-term β-carotene supplementation.

Methods

  • Narrative review of the literature on ROS, oxidative stress, environmental/xenobiotic skin aging, and plant-derived antioxidants.
  • Synthesizes findings from in vitro, in vivo, and human intervention studies, including cited studies on phenolic compounds, vitamin C, and carotenoids; no primary experimental data are reported.
  • Main analysis is qualitative synthesis, with tables summarizing antioxidant defense systems and examples of synthetic/natural antioxidants, and figures schematizing oxidative stress responses and photoaging protection.

Limitations

  • Not stated in the paper: the review does not include a limitations section.
  • Evident from the text: it is a narrative review without described systematic search strategy, inclusion/exclusion criteria, or quality assessment of cited studies.
  • Evident from the text: conclusions rely on cited primary studies, and the review notes context-dependent effects (e.g., EGCG antioxidant at nM vs prooxidant at μM; β-carotene prooxidant/safety concerns), which limit simple generalization.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1155/2018/1454936

Cites

113 of 113 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Verification

Claims the paper makes

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Show all 28 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 6
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 34
36 of 36
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Photoaging accounts for about 80% of the aging-related adverse effects.

    “However, photoaging accounts for about 80% of the aging-related adverse effects.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    A regular intake of vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and polyphenols from plant sources contributes to the prevention of age-related diseases.

    “Indeed, a regular intake of vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and polyphenols from plant sources has been shown to contribute to the prevention of age-related diseases.”
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Metadata

Authors
Petruk, G., Del Giudice, R., Rigano, M. M., & Monti, D. M.
Affiliations
  • University of Naples Federico II (IT)
  • Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi (IT)
Corresponding author
Monti, Daria Maria
Venue
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2018-01
Volume
2018
Issue
1
Pages
1454936-1454936
ISSN
  • 1942-0994 (ISSN-L)
  • 1942-0900
OpenAlex
W2886272186
Cited by
283
References
114
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 1
FWCI
2.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry (medical) › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry (medical) › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
Keywords
photoaging, dietary antioxidants, reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, ultraviolet radiation, phenolic compounds, vitamin C, carotenoids, plant secondary metabolites, skin inflammation, anti-aging, fruits and vegetables
MeSH terms
Antioxidants, Humans, Plants, Skin Diseases, Skin Aging, Reactive Oxygen Species

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