Phenolic-rich apple extracts have photoprotective and anti-cancer effect in dermal cells

Abstract Background Skin cancer is the most common type of malignancy in light-skinned populations and phenolics are promising anticarcinogenic agents. Purpose To characterise and evaluate the protective potential of apple extracts against the DNA damage caused by UV-radiation in culture of human fibroblasts as well as to verify the anticarcinogenic effect of these extracts in murine and human melanoma cells. Methods Acetone-ethanol extracts of apple were purified and fractionated by solid phase extraction. Four phenolic fractions (PF-I, PF-II, PF-III, PF-IV) and one Unfractionated Phenolics (UFP) were obtained. The presence of amygdalin, hydroxycinnamic acid, flavonols, flavanols and dihydrochalcones was confirmed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry. Results Following 48 h exposure to UV-radiation, UFP, PF-III and PF-IV protected (14–34 %) fibroblast DNA against UV-radiation; the UFP and PF-IV, both at 31.25 μg.mL−1, showed high antiproliferative effect in murine melanoma cells (B16F10); UFP and PF-IV, both at 125 μg.mL−1, and PF-II, at 250 μg.mL−1, were effective against human melanoma cells (SK-Mel-103). Conclusions The results indicate that phenolic extracts from apple (Malus domestica Borkh cv. Gala) have potential for use in the formulation of cosmetic products and/or medicines for the protection of cellular DNA against UV radiation and for the treatment of melanoma.