Assessment of the Potential Skin Application of Plectranthus ecklonii Benth.

Author(s)

Nicolai, Marisa ^[1] ; Mota, Joana ^[1] ; Fernandes, Ana S. ^[1] ; Pereira, Filipe ^[1] ; Pereira, Paula ^{[1, 2]} ; Reis, Catarina P. ^{[3, 4]} ; Robles Velasco, Maria Valeria ^[5] ; Baby, Andre Rolim ^[5] ; Rosado, Catarina ^[1] ; Rijo, Patricia ^{[1, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] CBIOS Univ Lusofona, Res Ctr Biosci & Hlth Technol, Campo Grande 376, P-1749024 Lisbon - Portugal

^[2] Univ Lisbon, CERENA Ctr Nat Resources & Environm, Inst Super Tecn IST, Av Rovisco Pais, P-1049001 Lisbon - Portugal

^[3] Univ Lisbon, iMed ULisboa Res Inst Med & Pharmaceut Sci, Fac Farm, Av Prof Gama Pinto, P-1649003 Lisbon - Portugal

^[4] Univ Lisbon, Fac Ciencias, IBEB, P-1749016 Lisbon - Portugal

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo BEB, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Pharm, 580 Lineu Prestes Av, Bloco 15, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PHARMACEUTICALS; v. 13, n. 6 JUN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Plectranthus ecklonii Benth. has widespread ethnobotanical use in African folk medicine for its medicinal properties in skin conditions. In this study, two different basic formulations containing P. ecklonii extracts were prepared, one in an organic solvent and the other using water. The aqueous extract only contained rosmarinic acid (RA) at 2.02 mM, and the organic extract contained RA and parvifloron D at 0.29 and 3.13 mM, respectively. RA in aqueous solution permeated skin; however, in P. ecklonii organic extract, this was not detected. Thus, P. ecklonii aqueous extract was further studied and combined with benzophenone-4, which elevated the sun protection factor (SPF) by 19.49%. No significant cytotoxic effects were observed from the aqueous extract. TheStaphylococcus epidermidisstrain was used to determine a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 10 mu g.mL(-1). The aqueous extract inhibited the activity of acetylcholinesterase by 59.14 +/- 4.97%, and the IC50 value was 12.9 mu g.mL(-1). The association of the P. ecklonii extract with a UV filter substantially elevated its SPF efficacy. Following the multiple bioactivities of the extract and its active substances, a finished product could be claimed as a multifunctional cosmeceutical with broad skin valuable effects, from UV protection to antiaging action. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/04435-9 - Gelatin particle systems containing flavonoid: development, characterization and application in sunscreen formulations
• Grantee: André Rolim Baby
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants