Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences

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NATURAL SUNSCREENS – A LITERATURE REVIEW

MIHAELA AFRODITA DAN 1, EMMA ADRIANA OZON 1, MARILENA VIORICA HOVANEȚ 2*, HORAȚIU-MARIUS VIZITEU 1, MIRELA ADRIANA MITU 1, VIOLETA POPOVICI 3, DUMITRU LUPULIASA 1, IOANA ANDREEA POPESCU 1

1“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020945, Bucharest, Romania
2“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020945, Bucharest, Romania
3“Costin C. Kiriţescu” National Institute of Economic Research - Centre for Mountain Economics (INCE-CEMONT), Romanian Academy, 725700, Vatra-Dornei, Romania

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Given the toxicity of synthetic UV filters, researchers have been preoccupied in recent years on finding effective and non-toxic alternatives for humans and the environment. This review article presents some key findings from various preclinical and clinical studies on the effects of natural ingredients on skin photoprotection at cellular and molecular levels. Most studies have shown that the primary mechanism of photoprotective activity is the antioxidant capacity of various plant secondary metabolites, which is achieved by limiting the oxidation of proteins, lipids, DNA or other molecules and by hindering the propagation phase of oxidative chain reactions. The secondary metabolites of plants, from a structural point of view, fall into three major classes: antioxidants, alkaloids and vegetable oils. The results of the numerous clinical and preclinical studies justify the use of medicinal plants and their extracts in photoprotective and anti-aging products and open up a new perspective for the development of such products.