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Novel UV filters from Pentacalia pulchella extracts with photoprotective properties and antioxidant activity

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Abstract

Most of the plant species found in the high mountain ecosystems of the tropics is unique and exceptional, because they have developed complex adaptations to survive in extreme environmental conditions, such as high levels of UVR and low temperatures of these ecological environments. In an exploratory study carried out on some plants of this ecosystem, we found that one of the most promising species was the Pentacalia pulchella (Kunth) Cuatrec. (Asteraceae) an endemic plant of Colombia, which grows between 2500 and 3500 m.a.s.l. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the photoprotective, antioxidant, and chemical composition of extracts from the leaves of P. pulchella. Extracts showed good absorption coefficients in UVA-UVB, high content of total phenols, with antioxidant activity comparable to that obtained with butylhydroxytoluene (BHT). Finally, the formulation labeled “7” with 10% extract presented adequate sensory characteristics for topical use, good in vitro photoprotection values in the UVA–UVB range (SPF (Sun Protection Factor): 7.3 ± 0.9, UVAPF (Ultraviolet A Protection Factor): 5.3 ± 0.6, λc 376), and antioxidant activity. Results obtained allow us to suggest that the extract of P. pulchella has a high potential as a source of new natural solar filters.

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Acknowledgements

JC Mejía-Giraldo acknowledges doctoral fellowship granted by Colciencias (National Research Council). This work was supported by CODI-University of Antioquia (Project no. IN632CE) and the grant Conacyt-DFG 2016/277850.

Funding

This study was funded by CODI-Universidad de Antioquia (Proyecto Nº IN632CE) and the grant Conacyt-DFG 2016/277850. Juan C. Mejía-Giraldo received a doctoral scholarship by Colciencias (National Research Council).

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  1. Grupo de Investigación en Compuestos Funcionales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52–21, Medellín, Colombia

    Juan C. Mejía-Giraldo & Miguel Puertas-Mejía

  2. Grupo de estabilidad de medicamentos, cosméticos y alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y Alimentarias, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Carrera 50A No 63–85, Medellín, Colombia

    Juan C. Mejía-Giraldo

  3. Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica-CINVESTAV, Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato León Kilómetro 9.6, Irapuato Gto., 36824, Irapuato, México

    Robert Winkler

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JCM-G conceived and performed the experiments, analyzed the data, and drafted the paper. RW revised and edited the paper. MAP-M supervised the experiments, revised the paper, and gave the final approval of the manuscript and funding acquisition. All the authors read and approved the manuscript as submitted.

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Mejía-Giraldo, J.C., Winkler, R. & Puertas-Mejía, M. Novel UV filters from Pentacalia pulchella extracts with photoprotective properties and antioxidant activity. Photochem Photobiol Sci 20, 1585–1597 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-021-00120-z

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