UV-Protection Performance of Calophyllum inophyllum Seed Extracts: A Natural Ultraviolet Screening Agent

Abstract

Demand for sunscreen products has been rising in recent years due to increasing cases of skin damage caused byultraviolet radiation (UVR). Recent studies have proved that some materials in commercial sunscreen products are harmful to the marine ecosystem. Therefore, the development of a photoprotective and environmentally friendly screening agent has been a leading direction for the cosmetic industry. Calophyllum inophyllum is a seaside plant found in the Pacific Rim, regarded as a potential source of biodiesel feedstock given the high oil content of its seeds. Due to the harsh environment of its natural habitat, C. inophyllum has developed UV-absorbing secondary metabolites, which are natural sources for screening agents. In this study, samples of seed extracts of C. inophyllum were subjected to in vitro UV, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and cytotoxicity analysis; all the samples extracted by solvents of various polarities showed different chemical compositions by FTIR spectroscopy and levels of cytotoxicity. The n-hexane seed extract showed the highest UVA and UVB absorption efficiencies. In the in vitro cytotoxicity test on human skin fibroblast cells, seed oil of C. inophyllum demonstrated low cytotoxicity. Results have shown that seed extracts of C. inophyllum can be an ideal material for a natural high-efficiency screening agent.