Phytochemical profiling and evaluation of the anti-aging and anti-inflammatory potential of cultivated Eclipta alba (L.)

Abstract

Natural products are increasingly studied for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. In our continuing search for new natural active ingredients for cosmetic uses, we investigated the phytochemistry and studied the bioactivity of Eclipta alba (L.) cultivated in center-Val de Loire Region (CVLR) in France to develop a new anti-aging active ingredient. This plant is known as the false daisy and is traditionally used in Ayurveda for the treatment of digestive, respiratory, hepatic, and cutaneous disorders and for its activity as a hair growth promoter.To highlight the compounds involved in different bioactivities, a metabolomic study of the plant was undertaken. The extract of the aerial parts, obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction in ethanol, was tested for antioxidant activity and for its inhibitory effect on various enzymes involved in skin aging. The raw extract was fractionated using liquid/liquid extraction (LLE) and Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC), then fraction activity was evaluated to target the main active compounds. HRMS/MS and NMR were used to identify the compounds contained in the active fractions.Some fractions had showed strong collagenase, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition. The two most active fractions contained mostly coumestans (demethylwedelolactone (DWL) and wedelolactone (WL)), and other phenolic compounds present in lower amount, which were identified as carriers of the anti-collagenase, anti-cyclooxygenase 2 and anti-xanthine oxidase activity.Therefore, this study suggested that Eclipta alba grown in CVLR has a phytochemistry in line with the description reported in literature and is highly composed of coumestans, phenolic compounds and saponins. The ethanolic extract has shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity and for the first time an anti-collagenase activity has been demonstrated. These activities have been correlated with the presence of wedelolactone (WL) and demethylwedelolactone (DWL), the two majors’ compounds, and other phenolics compounds. Thus, Eclipta alba (L.) cultivated in CVLR could be used as an interesting antioxidant and anti-aging agent for cosmetical applications.