The Effect of the Combination of Propolis and Helianthus annuus as an Alternative Ultraviolet Protection

As the largest organ in the body, the skin is exposed to external factors like bacteria, irritants, and ultraviolet (UV) light, which penetrates its protective barrier. Therefore, it is important to create new photoprotective formulas that help protect the skin barrier. The purpose of this study was to examine the UV-blocking effects of combining propolis and Helianthus annuus (sunflower seed oil) as a natural alternative to commercial sunscreens. Both substances have individual photoprotective properties, but their combined effectiveness has not been extensively studied. It was hypothesized that if propolis and Helianthus annuus were combined, the UV intensity passing through coated the watch glass would decrease due to the photoprotective abilities the oils contain.Using a UV sensor, the amount of UV radiation blocked by watch glasses coated with either propolis, Helianthus annuus, or their combination was measured. Results showed that the combination blocked an average of 24.12% of UV radiation, outperforming propolis (13.53%) and Helianthus annuus (8.48%), but was less effective than commercial sunscreen (65.22%). These results were confirmed with a one way ANOVA test that showed the significant differences between the groups (p < 0.0001). A tukey test was then run to observe the significance in the combination of H. annuus and propolis compared to the extracts separately. It was found that the combination of extracts blocked a higher percentage of UV than they did by themselves. These findings suggest that combining propolis and Helianthus annuus could be a promising natural option for UV protection.