Abstract

Introduction: Skin is the most important barrier to protect our body, therefore supporting this fundamental organ against to sun rays is very important. Herbal formulations may  have less harmful effects. Considering the previous studies carried out on Punica granatum var.pleniflora (Golnar-e-Farsi), an approximately unknown Iranian plant, have shown the sunscreen effects, the phototoxicity and cytotoxicity of this plant was evaluated in this research.

Methods and Results: In this study, five different concentrations of methanolic extracts of plant (50, 75,100,125,150µg/L) were provided. The prepared extracts were determinded for SPF and PIF values. Evaluation of cytotoxicity and phototoxicity effects  were used by B16  and 3T3 cells with a number of 5000 cells for each skin in a 96-well plate. Positive controls were taxol and chlorpromazine respectively .The results were indicated as Mean ±SEM and were compared using ANOVA with TukeyPost Hoc. To calculate IC50, Probit analysis was used. At the applied concentration,10μg/ml, all of the extracts, showed a little cytotoxicity, however calculated PIF did not show any phototoxicity for the extracts. Transmittance values for concentrations 50, 75,100,125,150µg/L. The wavelength range 292.5-337.5 nm was measured at intervals of 5 nm. For this plant calculated PIF did not show any phototoxicity for the extracts SPF is calculated 9.35 for metanolic extract.The extracts did not have cytotoxic effects and also at the above-mentioned concentration they did not show phototoxicity. Thus, the extracts can be considered as appropriate agent  for herbaceous sunscreen products.

Conclusions: The extracts of Punuca Granatum did not have cytotoxic effects and also at the above-mentioned concentration they did not show phototoxicity. Thus, the extracts can be considered as appropriate candidate for herbaceous sunscreen products, after doing more tests.