Collagenase inhibition activity of Indian medicinal plants: an approach to moderate collagen turnover

Abstract

Inhibition of collagenase plays a vital role in protecting unbalanced turnover of collagen in human inflamed or UV-irradiated skin. In recent years, plants have been widely investigated and found to have anti-collagenase activity. Therefore, in the present study we have screened eleven Indian medicinal plants viz., Aegle marmelos, Acalypha indica, Calotropis gigantea, Nerium oleander, Adathoda vasica, Erythrina indica, Acalypha fruiticosa, Vitex negundo, Morinda citrifolia, Nyctanthes arbortristis and Acorus calamus for gelatinase/collagenase inhibition activity. Anti-collagenase activity of plant extract was assessed by plate assay and gelatin-zymogram methods. Primarily, the plant extracts were subjected to investigation for the presence of various phytochemicals such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, steroids, carbohydrates, glycosides and flavonoids etc. Out of eleven Indian medicinal plants studied, three plants extracts namely Erythrina indica , Nyctanthes arbortris-tis and Acorus calamus exhibited significant collagenase inhibition activity (at 50µg/ml concentration level). The three plants, Erythrinaindica , Nyctanthes arbortris-tis and Acorus calamus find potential cosmetic applications.