Comprehensive evaluation of antiacne properties: HPLC analysis of crude extract from Aloe buettneri leaves against Cutibacterium acnes-induced acne

Abstract

The hydroethanolic extract of Aloe buettneri was assessed for its anti-acne activity in a Cutibacterium acnes-induced acne model in rats as part of this study. Conventional therapies for acne often entail serious side effects. Total phenols, quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, were found to be at a concentration of 16 ± 0.3 mg GAE/g, while total flavonoids, determined using the aluminum chloride method, were measured at 2.83 ± 0.5 mg QE/g. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques identified four polysaccharidic flavonoids in the extract: protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, homo-orientin, and ferulic acid. In the acne-induced rat model, the disease group exhibited increased ear thickness, rectal temperature, and MDA level, along with a decrease in glutathione level (###p < 0.001). However, significant improvement in these parameters was observed after 12 days of topical treatment (***p < 0.001). The identified molecules in the A. buettneri extract, including protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, homo-orientin, and ferulic acid, may contribute to the observed anti-acne properties.