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Antioxidant activity of topically applied lycopene
M Andreassi1, E Stanghellini, A Ettorre
1Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Istituto di Scienze Dermatologiche, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy. andreassi2@unisi.it
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV
|December 18, 2003
Summary
Lycopene offers superior skin protection against UV damage compared to vitamin E and C. This antioxidant effectively prevents free radical-induced skin damage due to its potent reductive capabilities.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Photobiology
- Nutraceuticals
Background:
- Ultraviolet (UV) radiation depletes epidermal antioxidant reserves.
- Topical antioxidant application is a strategy to mitigate UV-induced skin damage.
- Understanding the comparative efficacy of different antioxidants is crucial for skincare formulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the photoprotective efficacy of a lycopene-based product.
- To compare the protective activity of lycopene against a mixture of vitamins E and C.
- To assess the potential of lycopene in preventing UV-induced cutaneous damage.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study of two topical products: one lycopene-based, one with vitamins E and C.
- UV exposure simulated using a solar simulator.
- Instrumental evaluation of the cutaneous response to photostimulation.
Main Results:
- The lycopene-based product demonstrated significantly higher protective activity against UV radiation.
- The efficacy of lycopene surpassed that of the combined vitamins E and C.
- Instrumental analysis confirmed the superior photoprotective effect of lycopene.
Conclusions:
- Lycopene possesses favorable characteristics for preventing free radical-induced skin damage.
- The high reductive power of lycopene likely contributes to its potent antioxidant ability.
- Lycopene is a promising ingredient for topical formulations aimed at mitigating UV-induced skin damage.