Robust natural ultraviolet filters from marine ecosystems for the formulation of environmental friendlier bio-sunscreens

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has detrimental effects on human health. It induces oxidative stress, deregulates signaling mechanisms, and produces DNA mutations, factors that ultimately can lead to the development of skin cancer. Therefore, reducing exposure to UVR is of major importance. Among availa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2020-12, Vol.749, p.141576, Article 141576
Main Authors: Amador-Castro, Fernando, Rodriguez-Martinez, Veronica, Carrillo-Nieves, Danay
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Amino Acids - metabolism
Coral bleaching
Cyanobacteria
Ecosystem
Humans
MAAs
Oxidative Stress
Sunscreening Agents
Ultraviolet radiation
Ultraviolet Rays
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Summary:Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has detrimental effects on human health. It induces oxidative stress, deregulates signaling mechanisms, and produces DNA mutations, factors that ultimately can lead to the development of skin cancer. Therefore, reducing exposure to UVR is of major importance. Among available measures to diminish exposure is the use of sunscreens. However, recent studies indicate that several of the currently used filters have adverse effects on marine ecosystems and human health. This situation leads to the search for new photoprotective compounds that, apart from offering protection, are environmentally friendly. The answer may lie in the same marine ecosystems since molecules such as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and scytonemin can serve as the defense system of some marine organisms against UVR. This review will discuss the harmful effects of UVR and the mechanisms that microalgae have developed to cope with it. Then it will focus on the biological distribution, characteristics, extraction, and purification methods of MAAs and scytonemin molecules to finally assess its potential as new filters for sunscreen formulation. [Display omitted] •Ultraviolet radiation affect all living organisms on earth.•Currently used sunscreens have detrimental effects on marine ecosystems.•MAAs and scytonemin have the potential to be used as novel natural sunscreens.•Further research is needed to achieve industrial production of ecological sunscreens.
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141576