In vitro Assessment of Anti-aging Propertiesof Syzygium cumini (l.) Leaves Extract

Abstract

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Myrtaceae) is a plant originating from the tropics, in particular, from India, Thailand, Philippines and Madagascar, and it is also found in several states of the southeast, northeast and north regions of Brazil [1,2]. S. cumini is known for its hepatoprotective, anti-allergic, hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic, anti-fungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which are attributed to the presence of bioactive compounds in different parts of the plant [3-9]. The chemical composition of S. cumini leaves revealed the presence of phenolic compounds such as gallic acid, betulinic acid, myricetin, ellagic acid, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin, besides other components such as canferol, methyl gallate and nilocitin [10-16]. Phenolic compounds have received much attention lately, as they are natural inhibitors of oxidation and a source of broad-spectrum natural sunscreens [17-22]. It has been reported that there are plenty of opportunities in the market for these natural ingredients because they have a positive reputation to be readily accepted [23]. Furthermore, pieces of evidence show that topically applied antioxidants can be used for protection against sun damage [24,25], healing of wounds [23], as well as can act as antiinflammatory agents [26,27]. To achieve a safe treatment strategy using natural products, brine shrimp lethality assay can be used in toxicology tests, which screens a large number of extracts for drug discovery in medicinal plants [28-31], and marine products [32]. In vitro toxicology analysis using human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT cell line) has also been used as an important alternative for early toxicity assessment. Moreover, keratinocytes are the most common cell type in the epidermis (about 90%), and thus they are used frequently as an epidermal model system [33,34]. Keeping the above data in mind, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the anti-aging potential and toxicity of ethanol extract from leaves of S. cumini, as well as its total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Abstract