Evaluation of antioxidant, photoprotective and antinociceptive activities of Marcetia macrophylla extract: potential for formulation of sunscreens

The antioxidant, photoprotective and antinociceptive Marcetia macrophylla active extract was investigated as an active ingredient in a sunscreen cream formulation. Thus, the M. macrophylla extract showed IC50 of 3.43 mg/ml of the antioxidant (DPPH∙ scavenging test) and Sun Protection Factor of 20.25 (SPF/UV-B, at 250 µg/ml) and UV-A of 78.09% (photobleaching trans-resveratrol test). The antinociceptive activity was superior to all standards tested using the in vivo acetic acid-induced writhing test (99.14% at the dose of 200 mg/kg) and the high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and mass spectroscopy multi-stage (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) enabled the structural characterization of the quercetin-3-O-hexoside, quercetin-3-O-pentoside and quercetin-3-O-desoxihexoside. The pharmaceutical formulation containing the Marcetia macrophylla crude active extract was prepared and the physicochemical tests (organoleptic characteristics, pH analysis and centrifugation), the in vitro UVB (sun protection factor, SPF) and UVA (β-carotene) using the spectroscopic method were investigated. The formulation showed satisfactory results concerning the physicochemical parameters evaluated and active against the UV test. Thus, M. macrophylla showed biological activities with potential use in pharmaceutical preparations.

Moderators of the Effects of mySmartSkin, a Web-Based Intervention to Promote Skin Self-examination and Sun Protection Among Individuals Diagnosed With Melanoma

Background Identifying the characteristics of persons who benefit more from behavioral interventions can help health care providers decide which individuals should be offered particular interventions because this is the subgroup of persons who are more likely to derive greater benefit from the intervention and refine the underlying constructs of the model guiding the intervention. Purpose This study evaluated possible demographic, medical, knowledge and attitudinal, and psychosocial variables that may moderate the impact of an online intervention, called mySmartSkin (MSS), on engagement in skin self-examination (SSE) and sun protection behaviors among melanoma survivors. Methods Participants completed a baseline survey and were then randomized to the MSS condition or usual care. Follow-up surveys were completed by participants at 8-, 24-, and 48-week postrandomization. Results A greater impact of MSS on SSE was illustrated among participants with more phenotypic skin cancer risk factors and participants reporting lower baseline self-efficacy in conducting SSE. A more favorable response of MSS on sun protection behaviors was shown when initial knowledge about abnormal lesions and sun protection barriers were high. Greater use of MSS and more favorable evaluations of it were also associated with higher intervention response. Conclusions Future studies seeking to improve SSE and sun protection among melanoma survivors might benefit from focusing on survivors who report more skin cancer risk factors, lower self-efficacy in conducting SSE, less knowledge about what abnormal skin lesions look like, more perceived barriers to sun protection behaviors, and less worry about recurrence and cancer-related distress.

Knowledge and behavior of Lebanese parents regarding melanoma prevention in public and private school children

Aim: Assess the knowledge and behavior of Lebanese parents when it comes to melanoma and its prevention in children. Methods: A survey, to be completed by parents, was sent through children from three schools. Results: During sun exposure only 23.5% of 1012 respondents were always covering enough areas of their children's skin and 74.1% did not always apply sunscreen to their children. Parents of private school children were three times more likely to apply sunscreen to their children when exposed to sun, four times more likely to reapply sunscreen every 2–3 h and 21 times more likely to use a higher sun protection factor. Conclusion: Sun protection in children is insufficient and sunburns are frequent, illustrating the need for melanoma awareness campaigns.

Innovative Skin Product O/W Emulsions Containing Lignin, Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Oxide Nanoadditives with Enhanced Sun Protection Factor and UV Stability Properties

In the present study, oil-in-water (O/W) sunscreen emulsions were prepared containing different portions of lignin (LGN), multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) nanoadditives. The stability in terms of pH and viscosity of emulsions was thoroughly studied for up to 90 days, exhibiting high stability for all produced O/W emulsions. The antioxidant activity of emulsions was also analyzed, presenting excellent antioxidant properties for the emulsion that contains LGN due to its phenolic compounds. Moreover, the emulsions were evaluated for their ultraviolet (UV) radiation protection ability in terms of sun protection factor (SPF) and UV stability. SPF values varied between 6.48 and 21.24 while the emulsion containing 2% w/v MWCNTs showed the highest SPF index and all samples demonstrated great UV stability. This work hopefully aims to contributing to the research of more organic additives for cosmetic application with various purposes.