A New Flavonoid For Fighting Sun Damage

Myricetin is a flavonoid found in the skin of fruits like grapes, but Taiwanese scientists think we should add it to our own skin. They’ve discovered that it has serious potential in the struggle against sun damage.

The researchers tested a myricetin treatment on human keratinocyte cells that had been exposed to UVB radiation, and they found that the decrease in cell viability caused by the exposure was reversed by the flavonoid. Additionally, when myricetin was applied to unexposed skin, it increased cell viability.

These results have the researchers believing that myricetin would be a beneficial ingredient in sunscreens and cosmetic formulas, as sun damage is such a pervasive complaint. You may already have products containing myricetin’s cousin, quercetin, which acts as an anti-inflammatory antioxidant with cancer-fighting properties.