Abstract

ANTI SOLAR ACTIVITY OF FEW MEDICINAL PLANTS: LITERATURE REVIEW, FUTURE PROSPECTS

Prasenjit Mitra, Tanaya Ghosh and Prasanta Kumar Mitra*

ABSTRACT

Incidence of skin cancers has been increasing since the last few decades worldwide. According to the American Cancer Society exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main factor that causes skin cells to become cancer cells. There is experimental evidence that UV radiation can cause squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma in animal models. It is reported that about 95% of melanoma and 99% of non-melanoma skin cancers in humans are associated with exposure to UV radiation from the sun. Efforts were thereby started to search the blockers which can absorb UV radiation of sun. In this context medicinal plants were screened and it is now known that numerous medicinal plants have anti solar activity. In this article present literature of few such medicinal plants will be reviewed. Future prospects in this direction will also be discussed.

Keywords: UV radiation, skin cancer, medicinal plants, anti solar activity.