Polyphenol and elastase inhibitors extracted from medicinal plants in Vietnam Available to Purchase

UVA/UVB rays from sunlight play a significant role in stimulating the activity of enzyme elastase when the skin is exposed, thereby causing deformation of the elastic fiber network and creating wrinkles. A potential elastase inhibitor was screened from 13 medicinal plants in Vietnam and suitable extraction conditions were investigated. Based on absorbance measurements, the results indicated that Rosa damascena Mill. petals were the best extract based on the combined activities: elastase inhibitory (81,3 ± 4,1% at 500 µg/mL), total polyphenol content (262.5 ± 0.3 mg GAE/g of extract), and antioxidant activity (93.5 ± 1.3% at 200 µg/mL) in the DPPH assay. While extracts of mulberry leaves, angelica root, and bitter melon did not detect the proportion of inhibiting the enzyme elastase at a concentration of 500 µg/mL. This study suggested the suitable extraction conditions for maximum elastase inhibitory, and total polyphenol content of Rosa damascena Mill. petals as ethanol concentration of 50% (v/v) at 50 ^oC for 60 mins each extraction, the ratio of sample/solvent was 1/8 g/mL and repeated twice. Thus, the figures for elastase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀), anti-tyrosinase and antioxidation under the survey conditions were 185.5 ± 3.0 µg/mL, 634.0 ± 6.6 µg/mL and 6.0 ± 0.1 µg/mL, respectively. The results show the potential of applying rose petal extract to anti-wrinkle cosmetics.