title: Fernblock (Polypodium leucotomos Extract): Molecular Mechanisms and Pleiotropic Effects in Light-Related Skin Conditions, Photoaging and Skin Cancers, a Review.
abstract: Healthier life styles include increased outdoors time practicing sports and walking. This means increased exposure to the sun, leading to higher risk of sunburn, photoaging and skin cancer. In addition to topical barrier products, oral supplementations of various botanicals endowed with antioxidant activity are emerging as novel method of photoprotection. Polypodium leucotomos extract (PL, commercial name Fernblock(®), IFC Group, Spain) is a powerful antioxidant due to its high content of phenolic compounds. PL is administered orally, with proven safety, and it can also be used topically. Its mechanisms include inhibition of the generation and release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by ultraviolet (UV) light. It also prevents UV- and ROS-induced DNA damage with inhibition of AP1 and NF-κB and protection of natural antioxidant enzyme systems. At the cellular level, PL decreases cellular apoptosis and necrosis mediated UV and inhibits abnormal extracellular matrix remodeling. PL reduces inflammation, prevents immunosuppression, activates tumor suppressor p53 and inhibits UV-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme expression. In agreement with increased p53 activity, PL decreased UV radiation-induced cell proliferation. PL also prevents common deletions mitochondrial DNA damage induced by UVA, and MMP-1 expression induced Visible Light and Infrared Radiation. These cellular and molecular effects are reflected in inhibitions of carcinogenesis and photoaging.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, School of Medicine, Universidad de M&#225;laga, Malaga 29071, Spain. cparrado@uma.es.
authors.forename: Concepcion
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parrado
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Sciences School, Universidad Aut&#243;noma de Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain. marta.mascaraque@estudiante.uam.es.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mascaraque
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, Hospital San Jorge, Huesca 22004, Spain. ygilaberte@salud.aragon.es.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gilaberte
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Sciences School, Universidad Aut&#243;noma de Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain. angeles.juarranz@uam.es.
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Juarranz
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA. gonzals6@mskcc.org.|Medicine Department, Alcal&#225; University, Madrid 28805, Spain. gonzals6@mskcc.org.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D032494:Polypodium / Q000737:chemistry*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; C513114:fernblock
keywords: DNA; Polypodium leucotomos extract; antioxidant; immunosuppression; infrared (IR); oral; photoaging; photocarcinogenesis; photoprotection; ultraviolet (UV) radiation; visible light (VIS) radiation