Evaluation of the, in vitro, photoprotetive capacity of Moringa oleifera oil for its use in sunscreen formulation

Adriana Okuma,Gabriela Cristina Ferreira Mota,Kamila Campos,Lucas Sousa,Paula Vieira,Tatiane Amparo,Tânia Melo,Viviane Martins Rebello Dos Santos

doi:10.31668/rbc.v10i2.11909

Abstract

Moringa oleifera Lam is an Indian plant with applications in the agricultural and medical fields. The assets development capable of increasing the efficiency of sunscreens, mainly those of plant origin, due to their natural benefits, represents an increasing demand for cosmetology. The present study aims to identify by CG-MS the constituents of the most active oil and to evaluate the photoprotective capacity of Moringa oil, and its action in sunscreen formulations. Extracts of the oils from the Moringa seeds were evaluated for the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) observing the highest result for the dichloromethane extract. This extract showed low cytotoxic potential for human fibroblasts and it was incorporated into a sunscreen. The extract increased the SPF of the sunscreen and its effect may be related to fatty acids identified by GC-MS. The results showed the benefit of Moringa oil as a vegetable active in the sunscreen formulations by increasing the SPF of sunscreens in a natural and sustainable way.

Highlights

Moringa oleifera is a plant, belonging to the Moringaceae family, native to northern India, and with much potential in technological development for the cosmetic industries, possessing biochemical components with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties (Abdulkarim et al, 2005; Anwar et al, 2007; Falowo et al, 2017)
Moringa oleifera has various applications in agriculture, medicine, cosmetology and biodiesel, being considered an exceptional source of vitamins A, B and C, with a high protein content coming from the oil of its seeds, leaves and branches (Anunciação et al, 2004) The oil extracted from the seeds, known as ben oil or behen oil, is applied as a fixative for the perfume and cosmetic industries, as well as in the production of soap (Anunciação et al, 2004; Nascimento et al, 2009; Almeida et al, 2019; Almeida et al, 2020)
Despite Moringa oil has already been used in cosmetics, there are no scientific studies about itsevaluation on sun protector formulations

Summary

Introduction

Moringa oleifera is a plant, belonging to the Moringaceae family, native to northern India, and with much potential in technological development for the cosmetic industries, possessing biochemical components with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties (Abdulkarim et al, 2005; Anwar et al, 2007; Falowo et al, 2017). Brazil is the fourth greatest consumer of cosmetic products in the world, in the scientific literature only a few studies about the use of Moringa in cosmetic formulations in the country were verified. Despite Moringa oil has already been used in cosmetics, there are no scientific studies about itsevaluation on sun protector formulations. Sun filters with vegetable origin components have great interest in the cosmetic industries, tending to the use of sustainable cosmetics from natural raw materials with photo protective activity or the capacity in potentiating the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) (Nascimento et al, 2009). The present work aimed to evaluate and determine the sun protection factor in vitro, by means of a spectrophotometric method, from the Moringa oleifera seed oil for the incorporation process into the formulation systems of commercial sunscreens

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion