Potential use of Cytisus scoparius extracts in topical applications for skin protection against oxidative damage.

Cytisus scoparius L. is used in folk medicine for the treatment of several ailments in which the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of its carotenoid and flavonoid content is suggested to play an important role. We postulate that flavonoid- and carotenoid-rich extracts from C. scoparius may become useful in the preparation of formulations for topical application to protect the skin against oxidative damage mediated by high energy UV light radiation. The aim of this work was to apply an extraction process to obtain a bioactive extract from C. scoparius for the potential use in topical applications. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts from C. scoparius were characterized for its reducing capacity, radical scavenging capacity, and on the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS, RNS). The extracts showed activities comparable to that of synthetic antioxidants, and absence of skin-irritant effects at 1%. Those make them good candidates to be used in topical applications as active ingredients.