Tagetes erecta flower extract protection against blue light

ABSTRACT

The electromagnetic energy in the solar spectrum that reaches the earth’s surface consists of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible light (400 nm-700 nm) and infrared radiation. So far, most of the studies on skin exposure to light have concentrated on the role of UV radiation due to its photo reactivity and the wellknown deleterious effects on skin when skin is exposed to the radiation (both UVA and UVB),1,2 whereas the role of visible light has been less extensively investigated.3 The blue region (400 nm500 nm) of the visible spectrum is particularly important because it has a relatively high energy that can penetrate tissue deeper than UV light due to its longer wavelengths, and long-term exposure to blue light may also produce similar skin damage as UV such as premature skin ageing, known as photoageing. 

In this study, we determined the toxicity of blue light in human skin cells and the blue light filtering effects of Kemin bioactive – Tagetes erecta Flower Extract – which was developed from unique marigold flowers rich in the key molecule lutein. A cell viability/proliferation study and a reactive oxygen species assay were performed on human skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts cells in order to evaluate how effectively Tagetes erecta flower extract is able to shield blue light from skin cells. Our results indicated that blue light induces toxicity in cell lines and Tagetes erecta flower extract is a new innovative ingredient able to reduce the harmful effects of blue light on skin by absorbing it.