Assessment of the Antioxidant and Photoprotective Properties of Cornus mas L. Extracts on HDF, HaCaT and A375 Cells Exposed to UVA Radiation

The influence of UV radiation on skin discoloration, skin aging and the development of skin cancer is widely known. As a part of this study, the effect of extracts from three varieties of <i>Cornus mas</i> L. (<i>C. mas</i> L.) on skin cells exposed to UVA radiation was assessed. The analyses were performed on both normal and cancer skin cells. For this purpose, the potential photoprotective effects of the obtained extracts (aqueous and ethanolic) was assessed by performing two cytotoxicity tests (Alamar blue and Neutral red). Additionally, the antioxidant capacity was compared using three different assays. The 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H₂DCFDA) probe was used to evaluate the intracellular level of free radicals in cells exposed to the simultaneous action of UVA radiation and dogwood extracts. Additionally, the ability to inhibit excessive pigmentation was determined by assessing the inhibition of melanin formation and tyrosinase activity. The obtained results confirmed the strong antioxidant properties of dogwood extracts and their photoprotective effect on normal skin cells. The ability to inhibit the viability of melanoma cells was also observed. Additionally, a reduction in oxidative stress in skin cells exposed to UVA radiation and a strong inhibition of melanin formation and tyrosinase activity have been demonstrated. This study shows that dogwood extract could be a valuable cosmetic raw material that can play both a photoprotective and antihyperpigmentation role in cosmetic preparations.