Development of Anti-Acne Film from Bio-Cellulose Incorporating Punica granatum Peel Extract.

The aim of this study was to formulate bio-cellulose film incorporating Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel extract for application as anti-acne product. The dried pomegranate peels were extracted by water (PPEwater), 50% (PPE50E), 70% (PPE70E) or 95% (PPE95E) (v/v) ethanol. The extracts were total phenolic content (TPC) and free radical scavenging activity. PPE50E had highest TPC (55.95±1.44 gGAE/100g of dried peel extract), highest free radical scavenging activity with IC50 of 18.77±1.73 µg/ml and exerted the activity of bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acne (P. acne). The PPE50E was selected for formulating anti-acne bio-cellulose (BC) film. The BC film prepared from bacteria Acetobacter xylinum. It showed a strong film with the tensile strength in range of 5 - 15 MPa and the elongation at break about 5%. The simple soaking method was used to combine BC with 5 or 10 mg/ml of PPE50E. By the SEM, the assemble nanofibrils and the layer structure of the BC combining with the PPE50E (BCP) was found. The BCP had higher tensile strength and lower elongation at break than the BC. The BCP at wet state showed a soft and flexible film. The anti-bacterial efficacy of the BCP against tested bacteria was observed, according to the disc diffusion assay. The P. acne inhibition zones of the BCP at the concentration of 5 and 10 mg/ml were 27.7 and 35.5 mm which closed to the clindamycin (45.5 mm) as positive control. From the remarkable results, the BCP is interestingly natural device for acne treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]