Quercetin
A study found that quercetin, a type of flavonoid, protects against UVB in mice. This plant compound found in the red apple peel or red onion is a potent antioxidant that is also used as a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory agent.
Foods rich in antioxidants
Avocado
Studies have reported that avocado is rich in various antioxidants and human cell culture in avocado extracts showed reduced oxidative stress in very low temperatures. Also, antioxidative protection against DNA damage and cell damage was maintained for over 12 hours.
Broccoli sprouts
Broccoli sprouts are rich in glucosinolate and glucoraphanin. Glucoraphanin transforms into isothiocyanate and sulforaphane. Glucosinolate absorbed into the intestines is degraded by intestinal microbiota to form isothiocyanate. Glucosinolate is known to have potent antioxidative action and is also effective in bladder cancer, breast cancer, and liver cancer, etc. Glucosinolate effectively controls white blood cells and cytokines and contains enzymes that inhibits growth of tumor cells in the breast, liver, large intestine, lungs, stomach, and esophagus.
Sulforaphane activates enzymes that protects cells against malignant transformation. Studies have reported that topical or oral administration of glucoraphanin reduced UVA induced cancer incidence in mice by 25%, the number of tumors by 47%, and tumor size by 70%.
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Melon extract
Melon extract is an antioxidant that protects against UV-induced damage and contains SOD. Due to SOD’s protective action against UV, melon extract is used in hair and skin care products.
Chinese Matrimony Vine Fruit Juice
Chinese matrimony vine fruit (Lycium barbarum) has antioxidative action. Mice given 5% concentration juice of this fruit resulted in marked reduction in sunburn related inflammation. Studies reported that this juice protects against photo damage and immunosuppression in a dose-dependant manner.
Olive oil
Olives and olive oil contain various antioxidants and protect against oxidative stress and cell damage. For these reasons, the Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil is hypothesized to be beneficial for the cardiovascular system. Olive oil also has anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial and anti-viral actions. It reduces blood lipid and sugar levels. Applying olive oil to the sun exposed skin protects against oxidative stress from the sun. Applying extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) to sun exposed skin has been reported to reduce or delay development of UV related skin cancer.
Tea
Applying tea on the sun-exposed skin has multiple protective effects. Applying white tea and green tea protects against UV-induced immunosuppression. Polyphenol contained in green tea protects the skin from cancer. It also reduces reactive oxygen species and DNA damage to reverse the inflammatory response and recover the skin from photo damage. In 2008, topical application of antioxidant on human skin was found to inhibit UV induced damage. This showed that topical application of tea on the skin was effective. Applying cooled tea water on the skin with cloth or paper towel has soothing effect, reduces redness and pain from sunburn and helps tan the skin. The most effective way to protect the skin from solar rays is to supply antioxidants. Antioxidants can be ingested or topically applied. Green tea, in particular, has been reported to inhibit skin cancer in mice through topical administration or oral consumption as a drink.
Spices
Spices have stronger antioxidative action compared to other foods but are used in small amounts. Spices include clove, oregano, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, turmeric, vanilla bean, sage, Szechuan pepper, parsley, basil, curry powder, ginger, and mustard seeds, etc.
-To be continued-
