Controlled-Release Wedelia trilobata L. Flower Extract Loaded Fibroin Microparticles as Potential Anti-Aging Preparations for Cosmetic Trade Commercialization

Duy Toan Pham,1 Quoc Cuong Huynh,1 Ruby Lieu,2 Viet Bach Nguyen,3 Van De Tran,4 Bui Thi Phuong Thuy5 1Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Can Tho University, Can Tho, 900000, Vietnam; 2Faculty of Commerce, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 3Faculty of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Can Tho University, Can Tho, 900000, Vietnam; 4Department of Health Organization and Management, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho, 900000, Vietnam; 5Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamCorrespondence: Bui Thi Phuong Thuy, Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Van Lang University, 69/68 Dang Thuy Tram Street, Ward 13, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Email thuy.btp@vlu.edu.vnBackground: Wedelia trilobata L. (WT), a common herbal plant in Vietnam, is popularly used as a strong antioxidant in Vietnamese folk medicine. However, limited studies have reported the application of WT flower in cosmeceutical area.Purpose: This study explored the potentials of WT loaded fibroin microparticles (FMPs-WT) as a novel anti-aging cosmeceutical product.Methods: The WT flower was firstly extracted by maceration with methanol, ethanol 60%, and ethanol 96%, and its chemical compositions and total polyphenol content were investigated. Then, the FMPs-WT were developed by desolvation method and physicochemically characterized. Finally, the product antioxidant activities were in-vitro determined using DPPH assay.Results: The optimal WT extract was the ethanol 60% extract, which contains polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, and organic acids; with a total polyphenol content of 46.47 ± 2.32 mg GAE/g plant powder. The FMPs-WT were successfully formulated, with a distinct silk-II polymorph; varied sizes of 0.592 to 9.820 μm, depending on the fibroin concentrations and the WT extraction solvent; high entrapment efficiencies of > 65%; and sustained-release patterns of polyphenol in pH 7.4 for > 6 h. Regarding the antioxidant activity, the pure WT flower extracts possessed high scavenging actions with IC50 of 7.98 ± 0.40 μg/mL, comparable with the standard ascorbic acid (IC50 = 4.23 ± 0.21 μg/mL). Moreover, the FMPs-WT could retain the extract antioxidant capacity, and exert the effects in a timely manner, corresponding to its release profile.Conclusion: The FMPs-WT could be further investigated to become a potential anti-aging cosmeceutical product in the market.Keywords: Wedelia trilobata L., silk, fibroin, microparticles, antioxidant, DPPH