Cucumber seed gel put to the test as a natural sunburn shield
NCT ID NCT07719413
First seen Jul 22, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This trial tests whether a gel made from cucumber seed extract can protect skin from sunburn. Healthy Filipino adults with medium to tan skin types will have the gel and a placebo applied to different spots on their lower back, followed by controlled UV light exposure. The next day, researchers check for redness to see if the cucumber extract raises the skin's sunburn threshold.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- cucumber seed extract gel (2% and 4%)
- What this could lead to
- If effective, cucumber seed extract could offer a natural option for sun protection.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early trial with only 29 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The extract may not provide meaningful protection compared to standard sunscreens.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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29 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2025
- Finished
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Feb 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a government body.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 59 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: \- Filipinos aged 18 to 59 years with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes III to V were included in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Elderly and pediatric populations were excluded due to differences in skin structure, immune responses, and the presence of age-related comorbidities that may confound study findings. * Additional exclusions applied to individuals who were pregnant or breastfeeding; * Had a history of phototoxic, photoallergic, or abnormal responses to sunlight; ----Reported allergies to cosmetic products, sunscreens, topical drugs, cucumber, or any study formulation component * Participants were also excluded if they presented with pre-existing or dormant dermatologic conditions, sunburn, suntan, scars, active lesions, or uneven pigmentation on the lower back. * Other exclusion criteria included current or recent use of medications known to cause hyperpigmentation (e.g., minocycline, clofazimine, amiodarone, antimalarials, chemotherapeutic agents), systemic treatments affecting skin status within the past 15-30 days, sun exposure of the lower back within four weeks prior to inclusion, or intake of skin-whitening supplements such as glutathione within one month before the study.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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DOH-Tondo Medical Center Department of Dermatology and Venereology
Manila, National Capital Region, 1003, Philippines