Ferulic and caffeic acids as potential protective agents against photooxidative skin damage

Abstract

The biological properties and, particularly, the antioxidant activity of plant hydroxycinnamic acids, such as caþ eic and ferulic acids, are well recognised. This preliminary study was designed to estimate the potential utility of caþ eic and ferulic acids to prevent, when topically applied, photooxidative stress in the skin. With this aim we have evaluated the antioxidant activity of ferulic and caþ eic acids in two experimental models : (1) the UV radiation-induced peroxidation in phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomal membranes ; (2) the scavenging activity against nitric oxide (a radical involved in oxidative reactions). In addition, given that a suitable percutaneous absorption is an essential requirement for successful topical photoprotective agents, we measured their in vitro permeation through excised human skin. Caþ eic and ferulic acids efficiently protected PC liposomes from UV radiation-induced peroxidation and reacted with nitrogen oxides. In addition, caþ eic and ferulic acids were able to permeate through the stratum corneum (the main barrier against the penetration of exogenous substances through the skin). Taken together, these ündings suggest that caþ eic and ferulic acids should be good canditates for successful employment as topical protective agents against UV radiation-induced skin damage.1999 Society of Chemical Industry (

Suppressive Effect of Caffeic Acid and its Derivatives on the Generation of UVA-induced Reactive Oxygen Species in the Skin of Hairless Mice and Pharmacokinetic Analysis on Organ Distribution of Caffeic Acid in ddY Mice

“…4 and Table 2). Topical administration of antioxidants has recently been proven to successfully protect the skin against UV-mediated oxidative damage (13,17). In a previous in vitro and in vivo study with rats, CA was reported to possibly permeate through the stratum corneum after topical application (14).…”

In-vitro Antioxidant and In-vivo Photoprotective Effect of Three Lyophilized Extracts of Sedum telephium L. Leaves

“…It could be that the vegetable matrix present in the total lyophilized juice may in¯uence the interaction of phenolic active principles with radicals generated in the aqueous medium or within lipid membranes differently. It is known that some¯avonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids act as strong UV absorbers (Bonina et al 1996;Saija et al 1999); thus we cannot exclude that, in addition to scavenging UV-induced radicals, the active principles contained in the lyophilized¯avonolic fraction and total lyophilized juice may provide a protective effect against UV-induced damage by acting as UV-absorbing screens. Data are expressed as percentage values with respect to the dried weight of each sample.…”

“…The protective effect of the total lyophilized juice, lyophilized¯avonolic fraction and lyophilized polysaccharidic fraction, and that of quercetin, kaempferol and gallic acid, against UV-induced peroxidation was evaluated on phosphatidylcholine multilamellar vesicles (Bonina et al 1996;Saija et al 1999). Brie¯y 1Á0 mL liposome suspension (in a glass¯ask with a 3-cm 2 exposure surface area) was exposed to UV-irradiation from a 15 watt Philips germicidal lamp (254 nm) for 1Á5 h. Exposure was at 10 cm from the lamp, at room temperature.…”

“…The use of two different tests, in an homogenous solution and in a membranous system, is necessary to determine the actual effectiveness and suitability of a potential antioxidant, in terms of its hydrogen-donating properties and also its partitioning ability between the aqueous medium and the lipophilic environment. In addition, the latter test is largely used to investigate the potential photoprotective effectiveness of topically-applied antioxidant agents (Bonina et al 1996;Saija et al 1999). We also assessed the antioxidantaradical scavenging activity of the three lyophilized extracts in-vivo, by determining their ability to reduce UVB-induced skin erythema (monitored by re¯ectance spectrophotometry) in healthy human volunteers.…”

Effect of processing of corn for production of masa, tortillas and tortilla chips on the scavenging capacity of reactive nitrogen species

“…The concentration of nitrite in aqueous solution was assayed spectrophotometrically using the Greiss reagent, with which nitrite reacts to give a stable product that absorbs at 542 nm (Marcocci et al, 1994;Saija et al, 1999). To generate NO, sodium nitroprusside solution was prepared immediately before the experiment, as a 10 mm sodium nitroprusside solution in 20 mm phosphate buffer, pH 7.4.…”