title: Pothomorphe umbellata extract prevents alpha-tocopherol depletion after UV-irradiation.
abstract: In this work we evaluated the influence of topical application of P. umbellata root extract gel, containing 0.1% of 4-nerolidylcathecol, on the antioxidant network in UV-induced oxidative damage in hairless mouse skin. The UV-irradiation had no influence on ascorbic acid levels or on the antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase) activities, but topical P. umbellata treatment protected alpha-tocopherol from being depleted after UV-irradiation. alpha-Tocopherol concentration decreased significantly (approximately 40%, P < 0.01) in the irradiated control groups, whereas in the P. umbellata-treated group, alpha-tocopherol was totally preserved (approximately 100%, P > 0.05). These data demonstrate that P. umbellata may be successfully used as a topical photoprotective agent.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. cdropke@usp.br
authors.forename: Cristina D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Ropke
authors.forename: Renata R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Meirelles
authors.forename: Vanessa V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Tânia C H
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Silvia B M
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D026321:Piperaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol