ABSTRACT
Skin is the largest organ of the body and comprises a surface area that protects the internal parts of the body by acting as an effective barrier against the detrimental effects of environmental and xenobiotic agents. Among them, solar ultra violet (UV) radiation is recognized as a major environmental contaminant and a global health concern, presenting acute and chronic risks to the skin (González et al., 2008; Nichols and Katiyar, 2010; Shapira, 2010; Svobodobá and Vostálová, 2010; Verschooten et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2010). The solar UV spectrum can be divided into three segments based on the wavelengths of the radiation: short wave (UVC; 200-290 nm), midwave (UVB; 290-320 nm), and long wave (UVA; 320-400 nm). Nearly 100% of the UVC is blocked by the ozone layer; therefore UVB and UVA are major the sources inducing skin damage.
