Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume 51, Issue 6 , Pages 910-918, December 2004

Oral Polypodium leucotomos extract decreases ultraviolet-induced damage of human skin

  • Maritza A. Middelkamp-Hup, MD

      Affiliations

    • From the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology
    • ,
  • Madhu A. Pathak, PhD

      Affiliations

    • From the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology
    • ,
  • Concepcion Parrado, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • From the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology
    • Department of Morphological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Malaga University
    • ,
  • David Goukassian, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dermatology, Boston University Medical School
    • ,
  • Francisca Rius-Díaz, PhD

      Affiliations

    • From the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology
    • Department of Morphological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Malaga University
    • ,
  • Martín C. Mihm, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology (Dermatopathology), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
    • ,
  • Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • From the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology
    • ,
  • Salvador González, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • From the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Salvador González, Md, PhD, Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, BHX 630, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114.

Accepted 23 June 2004.

Boston, Massachusetts, and Malaga, Spain

Background

UV radiation induces damage to human skin. Protection of skin by an oral photoprotective agent would have substantial benefits.

Objective

We investigated the photoprotective effect of oral administration of an extract of the natural antioxidant Polypodium leucotomos (PL).

Methods

A total of 9 healthy participants of skin types II to III were exposed to varying doses of artificial UV radiation without and after oral administration of PL (7.5 mg/kg). At 24 hours after exposure the erythema reaction was assessed and paired biopsy specimens were obtained from PL-treated and untreated skin.

Results

A significant decrease in erythema was found in PL-treated skin (P < .01). Histologically, PL-treated biopsy specimens showed less sunburn cells (P < .05), cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (P < .001), proliferating epidermal cells (P < .001), and dermal mast cell infiltration (P < .05). A trend toward Langerhans cell preservation was seen.

Conclusion

Oral administration of PL is an effective systemic chemophotoprotective agent leading to significant protection of skin against UV radiation.

Abbreviations used: CPD, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer, MED, minimal erythema dose, PL, Polypodium leucotomos, UVR, ultraviolet radiation

 

 Dr González presently holds a joint appointment at the Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.Supported by a research grant from Industrial Farmaceutica Cantabria, SA, Madrid, Spain.Conflicts of interest: None identified.Presented in part at the 20th World Congress of Dermatology, Paris, France, July 1-5, 2002.

PII: S0190-9622(04)01714-1

doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2004.06.027

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume 51, Issue 6 , Pages 910-918, December 2004