Exploring natural sunscreens: UVB protection and antioxidant properties in gadusol-rich fish roes extracts

The search for natural alternatives to synthetic sunscreens has driven interest in marine compounds with antioxidant and UV-protective properties. The present study expands our understanding of the potential of gadusol by evaluating the photochemoprotective and antioxidant effects of extracts from an underexploited marine by-product: the roes of yellowtail amberjack fish (Seriola lalandi). UVB-mediated responses were studied in vitro and in vivo using HaCaT keratinocytes and Caenorhabditis elegans worms, respectively. Additionally, several antioxidant assays were conducted to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and thermal stability over time. We also tested the docking binding of gadusol to the Nrf2-binding domain of Keap1 to better understand its potential chemoprotective role. Overall, the gadusol-containing extracts exhibited remarkable stability over time, offering effective protection against UVB radiation in both in vitro and in vivo models. This information contributes to a better characterization of the functional role of gadusol in crude extracts and its relevance for the design of innovative applications in various pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.