Abstract
UV filters in current sunscreen formulations can have negative effects on human health, such as endocrine disruption and allergic reactions, as well as on the environment, including bioaccumulation and coral health toxicity. As a result, there is a need to find alternative compounds that serve as safer and more ecofriendly active ingredients. This study successfully isolated actinomycetes from the octocoral Eunicea fusca and assessed their potential as producers of photoprotective compounds. The use of bio-based chemical agents, particularly natural products, has been a highly effective strategy for discovering bioactive compounds, especially in marine invertebrates and their associated microbiota. Eighteen bacterial isolates were obtained and subsequently employed to prepare raw methanolic extracts from seven-day submerged cultures in Zobell marine broth. The resulting extracts were screened for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging capacity and characterized by total phenolic and flavonoid content measurements. After screening, the Gordonia hongkongensis EUFUS-Z928-derived raw extract exhibited the best antioxidant profile, i.e. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging of 4.93 and 6.00 µmol Trolox per gram of extract, respectively, and selected for further photoprotection-related analysis. Thus, this extract demonstrated a UV-absorbing capacity of 46.33% of the in vitro sun protection factor calculated for 30 µg/mL oxybenzone but did not exhibit any cytotoxicity on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa cell line) at concentrations up to 500 µg/mL. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry chemical characterization of this extract showed compounds with structural features associated with free radical scavenging and UV absorption (i.e. photoprotection-related activities). These findings highlighted the potential of the microbiota associated with E. fusca and confirmed the feasibility of exploiting its metabolites for photoprotection-related purposes.