Cecropia pachystachyaLeaves Present Potential to Be Used as New Ingredient for Antiaging Dermocosmetics

Abstract

Several biological activities have been reported for leaf extracts of Cecropia pachystachya species, including antioxidant and wound healing activities. This study aims to report, for the first time, the antiaging potential of the hydroethanolic (HE) and the ethanolic (EE) extracts obtained from the leaves of C. pachystachya using different in vitro assays. Both HE and EE presented relevant antioxidant capacity in different models, including phosphomolybdenum, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), carotene/linoleic acid bleaching, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assays. Their ability to prevent the production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) was also evaluated, and both extracts showed important activity, especially HE. The extracts also stimulated the fibroblasts proliferation in vitro, specialized cells that produce several mediators which maintain the skin integrity and youthfulness. Cytotoxicity of the extracts was not observed for this lineage or HEK-293, human embryonic kidney cells widely used to evaluate cytotoxicity of chemical compounds. HE also exhibited the ability to inhibit the collagenase (metalloproteinase MMP-2) and elastase activities. The total phenolic and flavonoids contents were also determined. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of the flavonoids orientin and iso-orientin, which were quantified to be used as chemical markers. The results suggested that the extracts of C. pachystachya leaves present the potential to be used in dermocosmetic formulations to prevent the skin aging process, which attracts the attention of pharmaceutical companies and researchers interested in the development of novel ingredients likely to be used as active principles in antiaging products.

Flavonoids as inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase

“…The inhibitory effect of water-ethanol extract obtained from Cecropia pachystachya leaves, which has a total flavonoid content of 72.71 mg QE/mg DE, began at 0.8 mg/mL (15.79% elastase inhibition) and notably increased at 4 mg/mL (41.44%), 8 mg/mL (55.45%), and 16 mg/mL (50.99%) 113 . The anti-elastase activity of aqueous extracts from the leaves of Ligustrum vulgare L. was determined based on the contents of the flavonoids aglycones and glycosides (luteolin glucoside, quercetin rutinoside, and ligustroflavone).…”

Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Ten Species of Medicinal Importance of Cecropia: Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Perspectives

“…Collagenase levels and elastase activity were reduced by a hydroethanolic extract of C. pachystachya [66], while an ethanolic extract of the leaves of C. obtusa decreased collagenase and protein carbonyl levels [67]. Chlorogenic acid, the main component of C. obtuse, was also capable of increasing collagen and hyaluronic acid contents.…”

“…Additionally, both an ethanolic and a hydroethanolic extract of C. pachystachya prevented the production of advanced glycation end products (Table 5S, Supporting Information) and were able to stimulate fibroblasts proliferation in vitro, with no sign of cytotoxicity [66].…”

“…For instance, C. pachystachya and C. obtusa have been shown as promising candidates for dermo-cosmetic formulations to prevent skin aging or for photochemoprotection [66,67]. Special interest may be given to flavonoid-rich C. pachystachya extracts to treat and manage skin damage, due to their capacity to produce angiogenesis, epithelialization, and collagen deposition [69].…”

The Cosmetic Effects of Various Natural Biofunctional Ingredients Against Skin Aging: A Review

“…Cytotoxicity of the extracts was not observed. The results suggested that the extracts of C. pachystachya leave present the potential to be used in dermocosmetic formulations to prevent the skin aging process [99].…”