Legume, Bran Antioxidants Offer UVB Protection

SINGAPORE —A molecule found in legumes and bran holds promise in protecting skin from ultraviolet (UV) B damage. Researchers from the University of Maryland reported at the American Association for Cancer Research Centennial Conference on Translational Cancer Medicine that inositol and inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), two dietary molecules found in legumes and bran that are related to B vitamins, could protect skin cells from the harmful effects of UVB radiation. Adulkalam M. Shamsuddin, M.D., and colleagues studied how human skin cells responded to UVB radiation when dosed with IP6.

Normally, cells damaged by radiation undergo apoptosis, a programmed cell death; however, the researchers found UVB-irradiated human keratinocytes treated with IP6 were more likely to survive. In a mouse model study, the researchers gave a 2-percent IP6 water solution to mice that were prone to skin cancer. These mice and those treated with a topical cream containing 4-percent 1P6 plus 1-percent inositol were less likely to develop tumors.