Nectandra cuspidata fraction and the isolated polyphenols protect fibroblasts and hairless mice skin from UVB-induced inflammation and oxidative stress

Excessive exposure to UVB radiation can lead to oxidative and inflammatory damage that compromises the cutaneous integrity. The application on the skin of photochemoprotective products is considered a relevant approach for the prevention of oxidative damage. In this study the in vitro and in vivo photochemoprotective effects of antioxidant plant materials obtained from the leaves of Nectandra cuspidata Nees following UVB irradiation were evaluated. The cytoprotective effect, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were assessed in L-929 fibroblasts treated with the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) or isolated compounds (epicatechin, isovitexin and vitexin) before or after irradiation with UVB (500 mJ/cm(2)). EAF substantially reduced the dead of cells and inhibited the UVB-induced ROS production and LPO in both treatments, compared with the irradiated untreated fibroblasts, presenting effects similar or better than pure compounds. The in vivo photochemoprotective effects of a topical emulsion containing 1% EAF (F2) were evaluated in hairless mice exposed to UVB. F2 improved all evaluated parameters in the skin of animals, inhibited ROS production, increased antioxidant defenses by decreasing reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase depletion, reduced the activities of metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and myeloperoxidase, decreased epidermal thickness and skin edema, and inhibited the appearance of sunburn cells as well as the recruitment of neutrophils and mast cell inflammatory infiltrates. These findings show that EAF presents high photochemoprotective effects, and that a topical formulation containing it may have potential for skin care.