Commercial sunscreen products offer protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This type of radiation can cause numerous health effects on all organisms, such as premature aging, cancer, and decreased immunity against infections. Hence, it is important for organisms to apply compounds with UV resistant properties, such as sunscreen, before engaging in activities outside in the Sun. However, the chemical compositions of commercial sunscreens can cause serious environmental harm. When sunscreen is washed from skin, toxic chemicals can enter waterways and, for example, can diminish growth of aquatic life. As a solution to this problem, naturally derived sunscreen can be used, which can be found on the barks of trees such as the Trembling Aspen tree (Populus tremuloides) in the form of a grey/white powder. Based on this, there potentially are UV resistant molecules in the powder from Populus tremuloides that have not yet been elucidated based on literature searches. It was found that there are approximately five molecules in the powder that absorb UV light and this work has partially characterized some of these using, CE (Capillary Electrophoresis) IR (Infrared Spectroscopy), and 1H-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance). These molecules may have alkenes, alkynes, amines, amides, and aldehydes, which have the potential to absorb UV radiation—making them UV resistant.
