Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the sun protection properties and photostability of aqueous extracts of Taraxacum officinale L. growing locally in the West Kazakhstan region. These properties were examined using UV-Vis spectroscopy, and the relevant metrics were calculated using the Mansur equation. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of both primary and secondary metabolites in extracts obtained from the whole plant and its parts. The phenolic compounds present in extracts mainly contributed to the absorption of UV rays in the wavelength range of 280–400 nm. Six-week experiments allowed the detection of significant photostability of most of the extracts studied, up to 86.8% for leaf-derived extracts. It was observed that the first few days of exposure caused the greatest loss of sun protection properties of the extracts. It was also confirmed that the concentration of the extracts has a direct influence on the sun protection properties of the aqueous extracts from the roots, leaves, inflorescences, and the whole plant of T. officinale. The study found that the sun protection properties of T. officinale aqueous extracts are comparable to the same properties of dibenzalacetone, a synthetic ingredient commonly found in modern sunscreens. In addition, both the plant parts and the concentration of the extract were found to determine the tested extracts' photostability and sensitivity to direct sunlight.