Antioxidative effects and percutaneous absorption of five polyphenols

Area of Science:

• Dermatology and Cosmetic Science
• Pharmacology and Toxicology

Background:

• Topical antioxidants are crucial for skin protection against oxidative stress.
• Understanding polyphenol skin penetration is key to optimizing topical formulations.
• Polyphenols offer potential benefits due to their antioxidant properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the antioxidant effectiveness of five topical polyphenols.
• To correlate antioxidant activity with skin penetration profiles.
• To identify optimal polyphenols for topical skin application.

Main Methods:

• In vitro percutaneous absorption study using porcine skin biopsies.
• Evaluation of hydrophilic/lipophilic character of polyphenols.
• DPPH assay to measure antioxidant activity in skin layers.

Main Results:

• Lipophilic polyphenols (epicatechin, resveratrol, quercetin, trolox) showed deeper skin penetration.
• The hydrophilic polyphenol rutin remained primarily on the skin surface.
• Resveratrol and rutin exhibited significant antioxidant activity across different skin compartments.

Conclusions:

• Topical antioxidant effectiveness depends on both intrinsic activity and skin penetration.
• Resveratrol and rutin are promising candidates for topical antioxidant formulations.
• Skin layer-specific antioxidant evaluation is essential for assessing topical efficacy.