Clinical Efficacy & Safety of Oral Polypodium Leucotomos Extract for Photoprotection: A Systematic Review
Main Article Content
Keywords
heliocare, polypodium leucotomos extract
Abstract
Background: Polypodium leucotomos extract (PLE) is a naturally derived compound from a fern native to South America. PLE has been shown to have antioxidant and photoprotective properties. Several different preparations of PLE are commercially available.
Objective: To review the efficacy and safety of PLE for photoprotection in humans.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted in 3 databases (Medline, Embase, and Cochrane) for studies that reported on the clinical efficacy and safety of PLE in humans. A data collection form was created for collecting study variables and risk of bias was assessed.
Results: Eighteen studies with sample sizes ranging from n=5 to n-61 were included. The most common formulation of PLE studied was Fernblock® (Heliocare, Ferndale Healthcare, Ferndale, MI) in 18 studies. Most studies reported beneficial photoprotective effects of PLE as evidenced by increased MED. No serious adverse effects were reported.
Conclusions: Multiple studies have shown the beneficial photoprotective effects and safety of the Fernblock® PLE formulation, but there is minimal evidence to support the safety and efficacy of other formulations. Given that the extraction methodology varies for herbal nutraceuticals and can affect its efficacy, these findings cannot be extrapolated to other formulations of PLE.
References
2. Ong ES. Extraction methods and chemical standardization of botanicals and herbal preparations. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2004;812(1-2):23-33.
3. Middelkamp-hup MA, Pathak MA, Parrado C, et al. Oral Polypodium leucotomos extract decreases ultraviolet-induced damage of human skin. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;51(6):910-8.
4. Aguilera P, Carrera C, Puig-butille JA, et al. Benefits of oral Polypodium Leucotomos extract in MM high-risk patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013;27(9):1095-100.
5. Teplitz, R. W., Glazer, A. M., Svoboda, R. M., Rigel, D. S. (2018). Trends in US Sunscreen Formulations: Impact of Increasing Spray Usage. J Am Acad Dermatol. 78 (1): 187-189.
6. Gonzalez S, Pathak MA, Cuevas J, et al. Topical or oral administration with an extract of Polypodium leucotornos prevents acute sunburn and moralen-induced Phototoxic reactions as Gel1 as depletion of Langerhans cells in human skin. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 1997;13:50-40
7. Villa A, Viera MH, Amini S, et al. Decrease of ultraviolet A light-induced "common deletion" in healthy volunteers after oral Polypodium leucotomos extract supplement in a randomized clinical trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;62(3):511-3.
8. Martin LK, Caperton C, Woolery-Lloyd H, et al. A randomized double blind placebo controlled study evaluating the effectiveness and tolerability of oral Polypodium leucotomos in patients with melasma. American Acad of Dermatol Annual Meeting. 2012; Poster# 4630.
9. Ahmed AM, Lopez I, Perese F, et al. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of oral Polypodium leucotomos extract as an adjunct to sunscreen in the treatment of melasma. JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149(8):981-3.
10. Cestone E, Marzatico F, Nobile V, et al. Placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of a dietary supplement to reduce skin dark spots and to create more even complexion in Asian women. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2014;27(5):995.
11. Nestor MS, Berman B, Swenson N. Safety and Efficacy of Oral Polypodium leucotomos Extract in Healthy Adult Subjects. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8(2):19-23.
12. Emanuele E, Bertona M, Biagi M. Comparative effects of a fixed Polypodium leucotomos/Pomegranate combination versus Polypodium leucotomos alone on skin biophysical parameters. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2017;38(1):38-42.
13. Goh CL, Chuah SY, Tien S, Thng G, Vitale MA, Delgado-rubin A. Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Extract in the Treatment of Melasma in Asian Skin: A Pilot Study. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2018;11(3):14-19.
14. Middelkamp-hup MA, Pathak MA, Parrado C, et al. Oral polypodium leucotomos extract protects human skin against the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation and Puva exposure. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2003;17:160.
15. Middelkamp-hup MA, Pathak MA, Parrado C, et al. Orally administered Polypodium leucotomos extract decreases psoralen-UVA-induced phototoxicity, pigmentation, and damage of human skin. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;50(1):41-9.
16. Tanew A, Radakovic S, Gonzalez S, Venturini M, Calzavara-pinton P. Oral administration of a hydrophilic extract of Polypodium leucotomos for the prevention of polymorphic light eruption. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;66(1):58-62.
17. Calzavara-Pinton PG, Rossi MT, Zanca A, et al. Oral Polypodium leucomotos increases the anti-inflammatory and melanogenic responses of the skin to different modalities of sun exposures: a pilot study. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2016;32:22-27.
18. Truchuelo M, Jiménez N, Mascaraque M, et al. Pilot study to assess the effects of a new oral photoprotector against infrared-visible radiations. J Invest Dermatol. 2016;136(5):S106.
19. Kohli I, Shafi R, Isedeh P, et al. The impact of oral Polypodium leucotomos extract on ultraviolet B response: A human clinical study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017;77(1):33-41.e1.
20. Caccialanza M, Percivalle S, Piccinno R, Brambilla R. Photoprotective activity of oral polypodium leucotomos extract in 25 patients with idiopathic photodermatoses. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2007;23(1):46-7.
21. Caccialanza M, Recalcati S, Piccinno R. Oral polypodium leucotomos extract photoprotective activity in 57 patients with idiopathic photodermatoses. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2011;146(2):85-7.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY): lets others distribute and copy the article, to create extracts, abstracts, and other revised versions, adaptations or derivative works of or from an article (such as a translation), to include in a collective work (such as an anthology), to text or data mine the article, even for commercial purposes, as long as they credit the author(s), do not represent the author as endorsing their adaptation of the article, and do not modify the article in such a way as to damage the author's honor or reputation.
Authors retain copyright in their work and license the publisher to publish the content. The publisher is the National Society for Cutaneous Medicine, with production and publishing support provided by OJS, Open Journal Systems,see https://pkp.sfu.
Prior to January 2022, authors transferred copyright to the National Society for Cutaneous Medicine. However, all articles are freely available to anyone in the world. There are no subscription fees, page charges, or article processing charges.