Potential of aqueous citric fruit extracts as photoprotective ingredients in topical formulations

Introduction. Excess solar radiation can damage the skin, leading to burns, hyperpigmentation, premature aging and, in severe cases, skin cancer. Sunscreens are recognized for their ability to effectively shield the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and play a critical role in preventing UV overexposureinduced skin conditions. However, it has been reported that certain UV filters used in sunscreen formulations may lead to a range of adverse effects, such as skin irritation or even systemic toxicity. Additionally, the environmental impact of some UV filters has become an issue of growing importance. As a result, there is a growing interest and demand for investigating plant-derived materials for their photoprotective potential [3, 5]. There is some research on citric fruit extracts as photoprotective materials, arguing their high antioxidant content. As there are research demonstrating the exceptional photoprotective activity of certain citric fruit extracts [6-8], it is valuable to evaluate the potential of aqueous extracts and assess the utility in topical photoprotective formulations. [...].