In vitro photoprotective activity of plants extracts from Zona da Mata Mineira (Brazil)

Abstract

Many plants have recently been considered as potential sunscreen resources because of their capacity to absorb the solar ultraviolet radiation. The objective of this work was to evaluate the sunscreen activity of ten Zona da Mata Mineira plants extracts by in vitro test using ultraviolet spectrophotometry. From the studied species, three (Lantana aff. fucata Lindl, Solidago microglossa DC and Stachytarpheta gesnerioides Cham.) showed sun protection factor (SPF) higher than 2, which is the minimum value required by the Brazilian legislation to label a product as containing a SPF. These results suggest that it can be possible to utilize these species to manufacture a new natural sunscreen or associate them with synthetic UV-filters.