Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice
Published on: September 19, 2016
Erythema Protection Efficacy of Plant-Derivative Compounds in Mice Based on Narrow-Band Reflectance Spectroscopy Data
Diego Armando Villamizar Mantilla1, Luis Alberto Nuñez2,3, Elena E Stashenko4
1Laboratorio de Microbiología y Mutagénesis Ambiental (LMMA), Grupo de Investigación en Microbiología y Genética, Escuela de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS), Bucaramanga 680002, Colombia.
Abstract:
Background: Plants represent an important source of photoprotective compounds that are capable of protecting human skin from solar-induced damage. In this study we investigated the suitability of a murine model for estimating the Erythema Protection Efficacy (EPE) of natural compound. Methods: UVB-induced skin erythema in albino BALB/c mice was quantified using a Mexameter MX18 MDD colorimeter. The ARRIVE principle was followed. The Minimum Erythema Dose (MED) was determined based on Log10 dose-erythema response curves. EPE values for UV filters (e.g., titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) and selected plant-derived compounds (apigenin, caffeic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, kaempferol, and pinocembrin) were calculated as the ratio between the MED of protected skin and that of unprotected skin. Results: The UVB-induced erythema in both female and male mouse skin followed a linear response. Erythema intensity varied by sex and by the dorsal skin area examined. MED values ranged from 39 to 57 mJ/cm2 in female mice and from 71 to 80 mJ/cm2 in male mice. In both sexes, MED increased linearly with the logarithm of the radiation dose. All tested compounds (apigenin, caffeic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, kaempferol, and pinocembrin) provided protection against UV-radiation-induced erythema in mouse skin. Among them, apigenin, caffeic acid, and kaempferol exhibited the highest EPE values, indicating strong potential for incorporation into sunscreen formulations. Conclusions: The murine EPE metric proved to be a useful tool for identifying plant-derived compounds with potential relevance for the photoprotection of human skin.
Related Concept Videos
Band Theory
The energy difference between these bands is known as the band gap.
Conductor, Semiconductor,...
NMR Spectroscopy of Aromatic Compounds
Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...
Spectroscopy of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives
NMR Spectroscopy of Benzene Derivatives
Organic Compounds

