Go-Real: Real-World Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties of Grapefruit and Rosemary Combination Against Light-Induced Damage in Indian Population

Jyotsna Deo¹, Vikas Sharma², Rashmi Gaurav Mahajan³, Priya Ramanathan⁴, Uday Kulkarni⁵, Dinesh Hawelia⁶, Atul Bothra⁷, Nishita Ranka⁸, Varun Tyagi⁹, Rajashree Dhar^10*

¹Department of Dermatology, Cutis Skin Cosmetology and Laser Centre, Navi Mumbai, India
²Department of Dermatology, DermaOne Clinic, Malviya Nagar, Delhi, India
³Department of Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, DermaOne Clinic, Malviya Nagar, Delhi, India
⁴Department of Dermatology, Shreya Skin Clinic, Chennai, India
⁵Department of Dermatology, Skin Care and Cosmetology Clinic, Samarthnagar, Aurangabad, India
⁶Department of Dermatology, Hawelia’s Clinic, Kolkata, India
⁷Department of Dermatology, Skin Square Clinic, Guwahati, India
⁸Department of Dermatology, Dr. Nishita’s Clinic for Skin, Hair and Aesthetics, Hyderabad, India
⁹Department of Dermatology, Perfect Tyagi Hospital, Dilshad Garden, Delhi, India
¹⁰Scientific Services, USV Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India

*Correspondence author: Rajashree Dhar, Scientific Services, USV Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India; Email: [email protected]

Citation: Deo J, et al. Go-Real: Real-World Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties of Grapefruit and Rosemary Combination Against Light-Induced Damage in Indian Population. J Dermatol Res. 2025;6(2):1-6.

Copyright^© 2025 by Deo J, et al. All rights reserved. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Table 1: Baseline characteristics of study participants (N = 850).

Table 2: Dermatological conditions, n (%).

Figure 1: Physician (A) and Patient (B) Global evaluation of efficacy and tolerability of mediterranean rosemary and grapefruit extract combination.

Figure 2: Patient-reported benefits of mediterranean rosemary and grapefruit extract combination (A) Additional benefits contributing to acceptance; (B) Self-assessment of skin improvements.

Nearly 60% of them mentioned improved skin lightness as an added benefit. About 25-30% of them highlighted improved skin moisture content, non-greasiness and non-itchiness as added desirable beneficial attributes of using the product. More than three-fourth of the patients have provided positive responses to questions on self-assessment. These included maintenance of youthful appearance, moisturised skin, firm skin, reduction of wrinkles and uniformity in the skin tone.  Out of the 850 patients enrolled in the study, the vast majority (847 patients, 99.6%) did not report any adverse events. Only 3 patients (0.4%) experienced adverse events during the course of treatment. Among these, the reported adverse events included acidity in 2 patients (0.2%) and diarrhea in 1 patient (0.1%).

Discussion

This real-world retrospective analysis provides valuable insights into the safety, tolerability and patient-perceived benefits of a Mediterranean rosemary and grapefruit extract combination used as an oral sun protection agent among a diverse Indian population with various dermatological conditions. The study population, drawn from 85 centers across India, demonstrated demographic characteristics consistent with outpatient dermatology settings, with a mean age of 32.2 years and a slightly higher female representation (59.2%). The most frequent indications for prescription were acne (51.1%), rosacea (30.8%) and eczema (10.9%).

The treatment was primarily administered once daily (92.4%) for an average duration of 9.6 weeks. Both physician and patient global assessments indicated high levels of satisfaction with efficacy and tolerability, with over 93% of participants reporting a positive outcome. Importantly, adverse events were rare and mild, occurring in only 0.4% of patients (acidity in two cases and diarrhea in one), reaffirming the favorable safety profile of this formulation.

A South Indian case series evaluated Golite-OSP (100 mg/day for one month) in 11 patients aged 20-70 years with hyperpigmentation-36.4% had maximum, 18.2% had severe and 45.5% had medium pigmentation [3]. Clinical improvement was observed in all patients, with no adverse events or discontinuations. These results further support the safety and efficacy of Golite-OSP as a systemic photoprotective agent.

A combination of rosemary and citrus (grapefruit) extracts has demonstrated synergistic photoprotective effects in both in-vitro and human studies. In the study by Pérez-Sánchez, et al., the blend enhanced HaCaT cell survival post-UVB exposure, reduced intracellular ROS and prevented DNA and chromosomal damage [2]. Human volunteers showed a significant increase in the Minimal Erythema Dose (MED) after oral intake. Navarro, et al., demonstrated that the combination (Nutroxsun®) reduced UV-induced ROS, proinflammatory interleukins and Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) in skin cells [8]. In human subjects, reduced erythema and faster recovery were observed, further supporting its role as an oral photoprotective agent.

In addition to its primary photoprotective role, patients reported several other perceived benefits. More than 75% observed improvements in skin characteristics including a more youthful appearance, enhanced moisturization, improved firmness, wrinkle reduction and uniformity in skin tone. This multidimensional benefit profile likely contributes to higher compliance and overall satisfaction. Interestingly, 60% of patients cited improved skin lightness and 25-30% reported better moisturization, reduced greasiness and less itchiness suggesting potential ancillary benefits that merit further investigation under controlled settings. These findings support the formulation’s utility not only in photoprotection but also in enhancing overall skin quality.

Topical sunscreens, though widely used, face significant challenges in application and efficacy across various climatic conditions. In hot and humid climates, such as many regions in India, sunscreens can feel greasy, heavy, or occlusive on the skin. This often leads to discomfort, excessive sweating and pore blockage, which discourages regular use and proper reapplication [6]. Furthermore, sweating and humidity accelerate the breakdown or removal of the product, reducing its efficacy unless reapplied frequently-a practice that is often neglected by users [7].

In contrast, cold and dry climates lead to increased skin dryness and sensitivity. Applying sunscreen on dry, flaky, or irritated skin can cause stinging or uneven coverage, reducing its protective efficacy [2]. Additionally, a common misconception that UV exposure is less harmful during cooler weather contributes to poor sunscreen adherence in winter months [9]. Windy or dusty environments further hinder effective sunscreen application-spray-based formulations may not disperse evenly and environmental particles can adhere to moist or sticky skin, impeding comfort and coverage [10].

These challenges highlight the potential of oral sunscreens as a systemic photoprotective strategy. Unlike topicals, oral agents are not affected by sweat, wind, or inconsistent application and they offer year-round, climate-independent protection from UV-induced damage [11]. Despite these promising outcomes, the present study has limitations. These include its retrospective nature, reliance on subjective patient-reported assessments and the absence of a control group. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and to better understand the mechanisms underlying the observed dermatologic and cosmetic benefits. Overall, this study underscores the potential of a Mediterranean rosemary and grapefruit extract combination as a safe, effective and well-tolerated adjunctive treatment for patients seeking both photoprotection and broader dermatological support.

Conclusion

Golite-OSP has shown promise as an oral sunscreen protection option for patients with diverse dermatological conditions. Real-world evidence derived from both physician and patient perspectives supports the efficacy and safety of this oral formulation containing Mediterranean rosemary and grapefruit extract. Patients also reported several ancillary benefits, including improvements in skin quality and appearance with the product being well tolerated. These findings provide a strong basis for future controlled trials evaluating the full therapeutic potential of this formulation.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest in this paper.

Funding

None

Authors’ Contributions

All authors contributed to conceptualization, treatment execution, manuscript writing and final approval.

References

1. Nobile V, Michelotti A, Cestone E, Caturla N, Castillo J, Benavente-García O, et al. Skin photoprotective and antiageing effects of a combination of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) polyphenols. Food Nutr Res. 2016;60:31871.
2. Pérez-Sánchez A, Barrajón-Catalán E, Caturla N, Castillo J, Benavente-García O, Alcaraz M, et al. Protective effects of citrus and rosemary extracts on UV-induced damage in skin cell model and human volunteers. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2014;136:12-8.
3. Dineshkumar R, et al. Photoprotective Effects of the combination of extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis and Citrus paradisi (Golite OSP) in a population from south India: A case series. J Dermatol Res. 2025;6(1):1-6.
4. Edpuganti S, Subhash S, Siras S, Sajeev SK, Mesineni S, Devakumar D, et al Prevalence of hyperpigmentation disorders in fitzpatrick skin types. Int J Prog Sci Technol (IJPSAT). 2025;50(1):499-513.
5. Nouveau S, Agrawal D, Kohli M, Bernerd F, Misra N, Nayak CS. Skin Hyperpigmentation in Indian population: Insights and best practice. Indian J Dermatol. 2016;61(5):487-95.
6. McDonald KA, Lytvyn Y, Mufti A, Chan AW, Rosen CF. Review on photoprotection: A clinician’s guide to the ingredients, characteristics, adverse effects and disease-specific benefits of chemical and physical sunscreen compounds. Arch Dermatol Res. 2023;315(4):735-749.
7. Wang SQ, Balagula Y, Osterwalder U. Photoprotection: A review of the current and future technologies. Dermatol Ther. 2010;23(1):31-47.
8. Navarro P, Castillo J, Jones J, García A, Caturla N. Skin photoprotection and anti-aging benefits of a combination of rosemary and grapefruit extracts: Evidence from in-vitro models and human study. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(9):4001.
9. Narayanan DL, Saladi RN, Fox JL. Ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer. Int J Dermatol. 2010;49(9):978-86.
10. Young AR, Claveau J, Rossi AB. Ultraviolet radiation and the skin: Photobiology and sunscreen photoprotection. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017;76(3S1):S100-9.
11. Fernández-González A, Pérez-Sánchez A, Barrajón-Catalán E, et al. Systemic photoprotection: Effectiveness of polypodium leucotomos extract and other oral agents. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2020;111(6):449-57.