Photoprotective effect of stilbenes and its derivatives against ultraviolet radiation-induced skin disorders

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from sunlight is an environmental human carcinogen. Skin exposure to UVR would increase the oxidative stress, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, melanogenesis and photocarcinogenesis. Therefore, development of photoprotective agent is necessary in order to reduce the cutaneous toxicity. The use natural active compounds like stilbenes and its derivatives have gained attention as photoprotection to skin due to its broad biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti melanogenesis and chemoprevention. This review article aims to analyse the existing literature on the photoprotective effect of stilbenes and its derivatives which include the resveratrol, pterostilbene, piceatannol and oxyresveratrol on in vitro and in vivo studies. This article describes the stilbenes and its derivatives protect and prevent UVR induced skin disorders via the reduction of oxidative stress, alleviation of DNA damage, inhibition of melanogenesis and anti photocarcinogenic effect.