uv-protection
UV protection in plants refers to the suite of molecular and structural mechanisms that plants employ to shield their cells from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation, including the production of UV-absorbing pigments such as flavonoids and anthocyanins. Understanding these mechanisms is critical to plant science because UV radiation can cause DNA damage, disrupt photosynthesis, and impair cellular function. Research into plant UV protection informs our understanding of stress tolerance, adaptation to high-altitude or high-irradiance environments, and has potential applications in improving crop resilience under changing atmospheric conditions.
PubMed · 2026-04-08
A compound called amentoflavone, extracted from a drought-hardy plant called the resurrection plant, protects skin cells from UV-B radiation damage by blocking a specific molecular pathway that drives premature skin aging.
Amentoflavone (AF) applied at doses of 0.1–0.2 mg/g significantly reduced UVB-induced skin cell aging in both animal and cellular models.
AF works by blocking the PAR2-driven PI3K/Akt/FoxO6 signaling pathway, a specific molecular chain reaction that ramps up oxidative stress and accelerates skin aging after UV exposure.
The compound is derived from Selaginella tamariscina (the resurrection plant), a natural source with recognized safety, supporting its potential use as a plant-derived photoprotectant.
