Topical isoflavones provide effective photoprotection to skin

  1. Jing-Yi Lin1,
  2. Joshua A. Tournas2,
  3. James A. Burch2,
  4. Nancy A. Monteiro-Riviere3,
  5. Jan Zielinski4

Article first published online: 18 MAR 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2008.00329.x

Issue

Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine

Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine

Volume 24, Issue 2, pages 61–66, April 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Lin, J.-Y., Tournas, J. A., Burch, J. A., Monteiro-Riviere, N. A. and Zielinski, J. (2008), Topical isoflavones provide effective photoprotection to skin. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 24: 61–66. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2008.00329.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan,

  2. 2

    Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA,

  3. 3

    North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, and

  4. 4

    Zielinski Research, San Diego, CA, USA

*Correspondence: Jing-Yi Lin, M.D., Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, No. 199, Tun-Hwa North Road, Taipei 105, Taiwan. Tel: +886 2 2713 5211 ext. 3397 Fax: +886 2 2719 1623 e-mail: lindajylin@adm.cgmh.org.tw

  1. Conflicts of interest: None declared.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 MAR 2008
  2. Article first published online: 18 MAR 2008
  3. Accepted for publication:10 September 2007

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Keywords:

  • antioxidants;
  • isoflavones;
  • photoprotection

Summary

Background/purpose: Isoflavones, one main group of phytoestrogens, have antioxidative and photoprotective effects in cellular and mouse studies. The aim of this study is to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the isoflavone-mediated photoprotection with the pig skin model, a more human-resembling model.

Methods: The pig skin was treated with five well-known isoflavone compounds (genistein, equol, daidzein, biochanin A, and formononetin) and one antioxidant combination solution of 15% vitamin C and 1% vitamin E and 0.5% ferulic acid (CEF) daily for 4 days. Skin was irradiated with solar-simulated UV irradiation, 1 to 5 minimal erythema dose (MED) at 1-MED intervals. Evaluation was carried out 24 h later by colorimeter-measured erythema and sunburn cell numbers.

Results: Topical application of 0.5% solutions of three individual phytoestrogens – genistein, daidzein, biochanin A – are better than similar solutions of equol or formononetin in protecting pig skin from solar-simulated ultraviolet (SSUV)-induced photodamage, as measured by sunburn cell formation and/or erythema. However, the protection was less than that provided by a topical combination antioxidant standard containing 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1%α-tocopherol, and 0.5% ferulic acid.

Conclusion: Isoflavones provide effective photoprotection and are good candidate ingredients for protection against ultraviolet (UV) photodamage.

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