Title:The Cosmetic Potential of The Medicinal Halophyte Tamarix Gallica L. (Tamaricaceae) Growing in The Eastern Part of Algeria: Photoprotective and Antioxidant Activities
Volume: 24
Issue: 10
Author(s): Mostefa Lefahal, El-Hani Makhloufi, Warda Trifa, Radia Ayad, Mohamed El Hattab, Merzoug Benahmed, Merve Keskin* Salah Akkal
Affiliation:
- Vocational School of Health Services, Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Bilecik,Turkey
Keywords:
Sun protection factor, photoprotective activity, Tamaricaceae, chemical analysis, spectroscopy, statistics.
Abstract:
Aim and Objective: Currently, the use of ingredients from natural sources has gained
great attention in the cosmetic field, especially for the development of new photoprotective
formulations. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the cosmetic potential of the crude
methanol extract and the ethyl acetate fraction of the medicinal halophyte Tamarix gallica L. (Tg)
growing in the area of Tebessa in the eastern part of Algeria, by assessing their phenolic and
flavonoid contents, photoprotective and antioxidant activities.
Methods: The research approach consisted of determining phenolic and flavonoid contents of
aerial parts via Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. The antioxidant
activity was measured through two in vitro methods, DPPH radical scavenging activity and total
antioxidant capacity test (TAC). The in vitro photoprotective effect was evaluated according to the
parameter SPF (Sun Protection Factor) by using the UV spectroscopic method in the UV-B region
(290-320 nm).
Results: The methanol extract (Tg-MeOH) and ethyl acetate (Tg-EtOAc) fraction showed good
antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 14.05±0.66, 27.58±1.98 μg/mL respectively in the DPPH
test. Furthermore, both extracts displayed strong total antioxidant capacity (287.01±7.85,
246.7±1.12 mg AAE/g, respectively) in the TAC test. Both extracts exhibited high photoprotective
activity, with sun protection factor (SPF) values 37.03±0.22 and 36.08±0.03. The antioxidant and
photoprotective activities of these extracts were probably related to polyphenols content
(190.27±0.74 mg AGE /g and 121.77±1.29 mg AGE /g, respectively) and flavonoids (78.75±0.06
mg QE /g and 58.67±1.19mg/g).
Conclusion: Our findings show that extracts of Tamarix gallica L. could be a promising source to
be mixed as a natural sunscreen and antioxidant agents into photoprotective cosmetic formulations.
