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© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Human skin needs additional protection from damaging ultraviolet radiation (UVR: 280–400 nm). Harmful UVR exposure leads to DNA damage and the development of skin cancer. Available sunscreens offer chemical protection from detrimental sun radiation to a certain extent. However, many synthetic sunscreens do not provide sufficient UVR protection due to the lack of photostability of their UV-absorbing active ingredients and/or the lack of ability to prevent the formation of free radicals, inevitably leading to skin damage. In addition, synthetic sunscreens may negatively affect human skin, causing irritation, accelerating skin aging and even resulting in allergic reactions. Beyond the potential negative effect on human health, some synthetic sunscreens have been shown to have a harmful impact on the environment. Consequently, identifying photostable, biodegradable, non-toxic, and renewable natural UV filters is imperative to address human health needs and provide a sustainable environmental solution. In nature, marine, freshwater, and terrestrial organisms are protected from harmful UVR through several important photoprotective mechanisms, including the synthesis of UV-absorbing compounds such as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). Beyond MAAs, several other promising, natural UV-absorbing products could be considered for the future development of natural sunscreens. This review investigates the damaging impact of UVR on human health and the necessity of using sunscreens for UV protection, specifically UV-absorbing natural products that are more environmentally friendly than synthetic UV filters. Critical challenges and limitations related to using MAAs in sunscreen formulations are also evaluated. Furthermore, we explain how the genetic diversity of MAA biosynthetic pathways may be linked to their bioactivities and assess MAAs’ potential for applications in human health.

Details

Title
Exploring Mycosporine-like Amino Acid UV-Absorbing Natural Products for a New Generation of Environmentally Friendly Sunscreens
Author
Rosic, Nedeljka 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Climstein, Mike 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Boyle, Glen M 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Duy Thanh Nguyen 4 ; Feng, Yunjiang 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast, QLD 4225, Australia; Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia 
 Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Research (PASER) Theme, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast, QLD 4225, Australia; Physical Activity, Lifestyle, Ageing and Wellbeing, Faculty Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia 
 Cancer Research Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia 
 Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia 
First page
253
Publication year
2023
Publication date
2023
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
16603397
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2806556097
Copyright
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.