Abstract
This review article summarizes the recent progress of ultraviolet rays (UV) protective substances, including our original reports. We have established a simple assay method for the determination of anti-UV activity that can be applicable to any kind of adherent cells. This method provides information of both anti-UV activity and cytotoxicity of any kind of samples even though those samples contain unknown amounts of test compounds. We found that lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) showed one- or two-order higher anti-UV activity compared to well-known lower molecular weight polyphenols and hot-water extracts of Kampo medicines and tea leaves. Among synthetic compounds, water-soluble azulenes showed the highest anti-UV activity. LCC showed additive or synergistic anti-UV activity with vitamin C. Alkaline extract of Sasa senanensis Rehder leaves (SE), an LCC-rich over-the-counter (OTC) drug, also showed potent antiviral and vitamin C-synergized radical scavenging activity. SE has been utilized to manufacture tooth paste, soap and gel cosmetic to increase the level of quality of life (QOL).
Footnotes
This article is freely accessible online.
Conflicts of Interest
The first author (HS) was supported by Daiwa Biological Research Institute Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, Japan. The Authors wish to confirm that such financial support has not influenced the outcome or the experimental data.
- Received March 5, 2016.
- Revision received April 19, 2016.
- Accepted April 20, 2016.
- Copyright © 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved