Development of a Facial Cream for Anti-Inflammatory Containing Herbal Extracts

Abstract

When patients receive laser skin therapies, the irritation arises. In reaction to inflammation, and inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukins IL-1, & IL-8, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). To treat skin inflammation issues, the simplest technique is to regularly apply a non-irritating facial cream. Plant extracts are increasingly being used for cosmetic and therapeutic reasons around the world. Moringa oleifera, Derris scandens, Centhotheca lappacea, and hemp seeds are exceptional plants that have shown anti-inflammatory effects in a variety of inflammation models.

The objectives of this study were, firstly, to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of Moringa oleifera leaf extract, Derris scandens stem extract, Centhotheca. lappacea leaf extract, and hemp seed extract, and develop a facial cream containing these.

M. oleifera leaf extract were obtained by using 50% ethanol and D. scandens stem extract, C. lappacea leaf extract, and hemp seed extract were obtained by using 95% ethanol by maceration. Astragalin was the significant compound of interest found in M. oleifera. In D. scandens, the compound of interest was Lupalbigenin, while Coumaric acid was of interest in C. lappacea, and Linoleic acid in the hemp seeds. All plant extracts were evaluated for their toxicity to HaCat cells using an MTT Assay. Anti-inflmmatory activities were also measured. To explore the levels of inflammatory inhibition demonstrated by the extracts, HaCat cells were pre-exposed to a 35 mJ/cm2 dose of UVB to induce inflammation. Subsequently, concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 µg/ml of the various plant extracts were used to test their inhibition of Nitric Oxide (NO), IL-1a, IL-8, and PGE2 in the pre-exposed HaCat cells.

The result for Nitric oxide (NO) test shows that all plant extract can inhibit nitic oxide production. However for IL-8 test, inhibition were greately seen in C. lappacea leaf extracts and D. scandens stem extract at concentration 10 µg/ml, markedly inhibit the production of interlukin IL-8. The largest decrease in Il-1α level was observed when the cells were treated with hemp seed seed extract at a concentration of 10 µg/ml. PGE2 inhibition study suggested M. oleifera leaf extract and hemp seed extract at concetration 1 and 10 µg/ml demonstrated an inhibitory effect.

The dosage of the extracts used in our developed cream was based on the non-toxic concentration levels identified in the cytotoxicity tests that were conducted. The physical and chemical stability over time of the developed facial cream was also tested, and a preservative efficacy test was carried out on the facial cream which indicated that the preservative met the criteria of USP.

It can be concluded, therefore, that M. oleifera leaf extract, D. scandens stem extract, C. lappacea leaf extract, and hemp seed extract provide an inflammatory protection. Additionally, the biological activities of these extracts suggest that facial creams containing them have the potential for the treatment of skin inflammation.

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