Melanogenic Effect and Toxicity Assessments of Standardized Extract of Brosimum gaudichaudii

Abstract

Brosimum gaudichaudii Trecul, Moraceae, is a Brazilian plant species used in traditional medicine to treat vitiligo or as an additive in natural suntan lotions. Even though it is widely used in Brazil, its safety and efficacy have not been studied. In this study, the hydroalcoholic extract was standardized for its psoralen and 5-methoxypsoralen content, and its biological effects were studied in B16F10 cells. Melanin synthesis capacity of the extract was compared with synthetic psoralen and 5-methoxypsoralen in the same cell line. Safety assessment of the extract was performed by neutral red uptake, comet, and micronucleus cytome assays. The herbal extract was less cytotoxic to the B16F10 cells than pure active ingredients, psoralen, and 5-methoxypsoralen in equivalent doses. Melanin synthesis was enhanced by 300% with the extract compared with the 130% increase with psoralen and 5-methoxypsoralen. The extract prepared with the roots, as well as the synthetic compounds used as control standards, exhibited mutagenic activity on B16F10 cells. Consequently, caution has to be taken with the use of these roots for the treatment of vitiligo in popular herbal medicine.