The ultraviolet B protection effects of topically applied melanosomes onto human skin

Melanosome is a cellular organelle that is composed of a melanosomal matrix and a brown biochrome, melanin which is formed by tyrosine-tyrosinase reactions. The melanosome is formed within the melanocyte and transferred to the surrounding keratinocytes through dendritic processes. Human skin color is related to the number, size, type and distribution of melanosomes, and the major role of melanosomes is to prevent skin from injurious nonionizing ultraviolet radiation. Controlled NaOH hydrolysis and centrifugation of human hair make it possible to isolate large amounts of melanosomes which are synthesized within the follicular melanocytes and transferred to hair matrix cells. In this study, the sun protection factors of topically applied melanosomes isolated from human hair were evaluated using ultraviolet B phototesting. Topically applied melanosomes increased the minimal erythemal doses. And the sun protection factors of each 50% and 25% melanosomal preparation were 12.3 +/- 5.5 and 3.1 +/- 1.3 respectively, and these ultraviolet B protection effects showed statistically significant differences from 10%, 5% and 1% melanosomal preparations and vehicle. Form these results, the dose-related photoprotective role of melanosomes was confirmed.