Comparison of several hydrophilic extracts of Polypodium leucotomos reveals different antioxidant moieties and photoprotective effects in vitro

Oral photoprotection can be used to prevent photocarcinogenesis and photoaging. It is mainly based on the presence of antioxidant moieties in phytochemical extracts. The appearance of different botanical formulations endowed with apparently similar properties requires their side-by-side examination using an unbiased approach. The objectives of this study were to determine the antioxidant properties of several extracts of the fern Polypodium leucotomos and their ability to prevent ultraviolet (UV) damage in vitro. In vitro study with several extracts using cell-free and cellular assays was the design used. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), antioxidant assays, and cellular viability assays were the method used. Various extracts of the same plant species contain different amounts of antioxidant moieties. They bear different antioxidant and photoprotective capability at a cellular level, as determined by cellular viability assays and the appearance of DNA damage markers after UV exposure. Each botanical extract is endowed with different photoprotective properties. In these experiments, extracts from ferns’ leaves are better photoprotectors than extracts from the rhizomes, but it is necessary to assess each formulation separately. Key words: Polypodium, antioxidant, ultraviolet (UV), photoprotection