The plants of the Antarctic will protect people from ultraviolet light
Chilean biologists have discovered in plants found in Antarctica, substances that protect them from exposure to medium wave ultraviolet radiation. The work of scientists published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science.
Researchers from the Universidad de Santiago de Chile studied two species of flowering plants of Antarctica: Colobanthus Quito (Colobanthus quitensis) and the Antarctic lugovik (Deschampsia antarctica). Both plants can withstand very intense ultraviolet radiation. In both, especially the first one, the researchers found a large number of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase and peroxidases.
According to the researchers, their findings could be used in the manufacture of sunscreens and for removing more resistant to UV varieties of plants.
“They will find application in the near future. For example, for plants that do not withstand high levels of radiation: this genetic information can be useful to make them more resilient,” commented study leader, biologist from the Universidad de Santiago de Chile Gustavo Zuniga.