Effects of Thai Musa species on prevention of UVB-induced skin damage in mice

The effects of oral administration of Musa sapientum and Musa suerier on prevention of UVB induced skin damages were investigated in male ICR mice. Animals were orally administered 50 mg/day ascorbic acid, or M. sapientum or M. suerier’s fruit pulps at dose of 0.5, 1 or 1.5 mg/g body weight/day for 12 weeks. Concurrently, the shaved backs of animals were irradiated with UVB for 12 weeks. The intensity of irradiation was progressively increased, from 54 mJ/cm2 per exposure at week 1–126 mJ/cm2 at week 11. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in skin elasticity (from 0.82 ± 0.02 to 0.42 ± 0.09) and total glutathione (from (193.6 ± 18.7 to 152.7 ± 7.8 ng/mg protein) as compared with the control group (water-administered UVB-irradiated mice) was observed after 12 weeks of UVB exposure. When l-ascorbic acid (0.72 ± 0.01) or 1 mg/g body weight/day M. suerier (0.84 ± 0.06) were administered to UVB-irradiated mice, the reduction in skin elasticity was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05). Moreover, the significant increase (p < 0.05) in level of total glutathione was found in these groups (220.8 ± 13.3 ng/mg protein for l-ascorbic acid and 224.9 ± 20.1 ng/mg protein for M. suerier). These findings suggest the potential effect of daily consumption of M. suerier on prevention of skin damage from repeated UVB exposure.