• Chebulinic acid (CA) from Terminalia chebula shows superior efficacy in promoting recovery from UVB-induced skin damage compared to other major monomers.
• CA's anti-UVB mechanism involves regulation of IL-6 and IFN-β expression via activation of the MAPK pathway.
• Mulberry exosome-like nanoparticles (MELNs) serve as an efficient transdermal delivery system, enhancing skin penetration and anti-UVB efficiency of CA.
• The CA@MELNs platform offers a robust and accessible approach for mitigating UVB damage, combining natural phytochemicals with nanobiotechnology.