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Torres et al. Plast Aesthet Res 2020;7:57 Plastic and
DOI: 10.20517/2347-9264.2020.87 Aesthetic Research

Review Open Access

Botanicals for photoprotection

Angeli E. Torres, Kevin M. Luk, Henry W. Lim

Photomedicine and Photobiology Unit, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan 48202, USA.

Correspondence to: Dr. Henry W. Lim, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, 3031 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit,
Michigan 48202, USA. E-mail: hlim1@hfhs.org

How to cite this article: Torres AE, Luk KM, Lim HW. Botanicals for photoprotection. Plast Aesthet Res 2020;7:57.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-9264.2020.87

Received: 20 Apr 2020 First Decision: 24 Aug 2020 Revised: 13 Sep 2020 Accepted: 29 Sep 2020 Published: 21 Oct 2020
Academic Editor: Salvador Gonzalez Copy Editor: Cai-Hong Wang Production Editor: Jing Yu

Abstract
The importance of photoprotection against the deleterious effects of excessive and chronic exposure to sunlight is
now well established. Photoprotective measures include behavioral modifications such as seeking shade, wearing
photoprotective clothing, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and applying sunscreen to exposed areas. Data
on botanical topical and oral preparations have demonstrated photoprotective potential in in vitro, animal, and
human studies. This review will focus on botanicals that have been most extensively studied, namely, Polypodium
leucotomos extract, green tea, pomegranate, resveratrol, curcumin, and silymarin. These agents have shown
promise in mitigating ultraviolet-induced acute changes on the skin, chronic photodamage, and even skin cancer
prevention. However, it must be emphasized that current evidence indicates that these agents should be used
as adjunctive measures rather than as a replacement of the photoprotective behavioral modifications described
above.

Keywords: Botanical photoprotection, Polypodium leucotomos extract, green tea, pomegranate, resveratrol,
curcumin, silymarin

INTRODUCTION
Electromagnetic radiation, including infrared, visible, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation (UVR), have both
beneficial and harmful effects on the health of human skin. In particular, UVR exposure plays a significant
role in the development of sunburns, photoaging, photoimmunosuppression, keratinocyte carcinomas,
and cutaneous melanoma. They can also induce and exacerbate photosensitive dermatoses. Following

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
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