A new sunscreen of the cinnamate class: Synthesis and enzymatic hydrolysis evaluation of glyceryl esters of p-methoxycinnamic acid

Glyceryl esters of p-methoxycinnamic acid, 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-p-methoxycinnamoyl-1,2,3-propanetriol and 1,3-dioctanoyl-2-p-methoxycinnamoyl-1,2,3-propanetriol were synthesised in an attempt to increase substantivity and decrease eventual undesirable effects of sunscreens of this class. To assess if the glyceryl esters could present a higher stability towards hydrolysis by lipases in the stratum corneum, hydrolysis rates were determined in vitro using a commercial fungal lipase from Rhizomucor miehei. Results presented herein show that the glyceryl esters have similar λmax and ɛ values to sunscreens of the cinnamate class. The ester 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-p-methoxycinnamoyl-1,2,3-propanetriol presented a 2.8 times lower hydrolysis rate by lipase, in vitro, than the commercial sunscreen 2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate (alkyl ester). This finding suggests that this triacylglycerol can possibly have a longer retention time in the skin and consequently promote a more intense and effective antisolar action than the commercial sunscreen.