Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
14:43
Lignin Down-regulation of Zea mays via dsRNAi and Klason Lignin Analysis
Published on: July 23, 2014
13.9K
Lignin for white natural sunscreens.
Sang Cheon Lee1, Thi Minh Thu Tran1, Joon Weon Choi2
1Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Dongguk University-Seoul, 30 Pildong-ro 1-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|November 13, 2018
Summary
Researchers developed a novel method to isolate lignin, a natural UV blocker, preventing its darkening. This light-colored lignin shows excellent UV protection and enhances sunscreen efficacy, offering a promising natural ingredient for sunscreens and cosmetics.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Photoprotection
Background:
- Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes skin damage.
- Natural UV blockers are increasingly sought for sunscreens and cosmetics.
- Lignin, an abundant aromatic polymer, possesses UV screening properties but its dark color limits applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for isolating lignin with a light color suitable for cosmetic applications.
- To evaluate the UV protection efficacy of mild-condition isolated lignins.
- To investigate the synergistic effects of lignin with commercial sunscreens.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of lignin from Miscanthus sacchariflorus (MWL-M) and Pinus densiflora (MWL-P) under mild, room temperature, neutral solvent conditions.
- Comparison of isolated lignins (MWL-M, MWL-P) with organosolv lignin (OL) regarding color and UV protection.
- Assessment of UV absorption spectra and sun protection factor (SPF) enhancement in commercial sunscreen formulations.
Main Results:
- Mild condition isolation yielded light-colored lignins (MWLs), unlike conventionally extracted dark lignins.
- MWL-M exhibited UV absorption comparable to dark-colored OL.
- Lignins demonstrated a synergistic effect, significantly enhancing the SPF of commercial sunscreens upon UVA exposure.
Conclusions:
- Mild condition lignin isolation effectively prevents darkening, yielding a light-colored natural UV screening agent.
- This process enables the use of lignin as a valuable ingredient in sunscreens and cosmetics.
- Lignin's ability to enhance sunscreen performance offers a promising avenue for improved photoprotection products.
Related Concept Videos
01:32What is Natural Selection?
129.2K
Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.
129.2K
01:10Nature and Nurture
22.4K
Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
22.4K
02:30Chirality in Nature
17.2K
Chirality is the most intriguing yet essential facet of nature, governing life’s biochemical processes and precision. It can be observed from a snail shell pattern in a macroscopic world to an amino acid, the minutest building block of life. Most of the snails around the world have right-coiled shells because of the intrinsic chirality in their genes. All the amino acids present in the human body exist in an enantiomerically pure state, except for glycine - the sole achiral amino acid.
17.2K
02:12The Wave Nature of Light
61.3K
The nature of light has been a subject of inquiry since antiquity. In the seventeenth century, Isaac Newton performed experiments with lenses and prisms and was able to demonstrate that white light consists of the individual colors of the rainbow combined together. Newton explained his optics findings in terms of a "corpuscular" view of light, in which light was composed of streams of extremely tiny particles traveling at high speeds according to Newton's laws of motion.
61.3K
01:38Limits to Natural Selection
35.0K
Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.
35.0K
01:15Natural Selection and Adaptation
1.4K
Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations,...
Beyond physical adaptations,...
1.4K