This study aims to investigate the biological activities related to hair loss of Equisetum debile extracts, including 5α-reductase inhibition, interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion reduction, and anti-oxidation. E. debile extracts were obtained by maceration in various solvents. Crude extract (CE) was obtained by maceration in 95% ethanol. Chlorophyll-free extract (CF) was the CE which of the chlorophyll has been removed by electrocoagulation. Hexane extract (HE), ethyl acetate extract (EA), and ethanolic extract (ET) were fraction extracts obtained from maceration in hexane, ethyl acetate, and 95% ethanol, respectively. The extracts were investigated for inhibitory activity against 5α-reductase and IL-6 secretion. Total phenolic contents (TPC) were investigated and antioxidant activities were determined by means of 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation was determined by the ferric thiocyanate method. The cytotoxicity of the extracts on dermal papilla cells and irritation test by hen's egg test chorioallantoic membrane assay were also investigated. All extracts could inhibit 5α-reductase and decrease IL-6 secretion in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophage. The antioxidant activity of E. debile extracts was directly related to their TPC. ET which contained the highest TPC (68.8 ± 6.7 mg GA/g) showed the highest equivalent concentration (EC1) of 289.1 ± 26.4 mM FeSO4/g, TEAC of 156.6 ± 34.6 mM Trolox/g, and 20.0 ± 6.0% DPPH inhibition. However, EA exhibited the highest inhibition against lipid peroxidation (57.2 ± 0.4%). In addition, EA showed no cytotoxicity on dermal papilla cell line and no irritation on chorioallantoic membrane of hen’s eggs. In conclusion, EA was suggested as the most attractive ingredients for functional food and nutraceuticals because of the high inhibitory activity against 5α-reductase, IL-6 secretion, and lipid peroxidation inhibition.

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In this study we aimed to compare the chemical composition and biological activity between Morus alba L. leaf extract obtained with 95% v/v ethanol using a pulsed electric field (PEF) and the conventional maceration method. Extracts of M. alba leaves collected from Chiang Mai (CM), Sakon Nakon (SK), and Buriram (BR), Thailand, were investigated for 1-deoxynojirimycin content by high-performance liquid chromatography and for total phenolic content by the Folin–Ciocalteu method. Antioxidant activity was investigated by 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Anti-tyrosinase and anti-hyaluronidase activity was investigated by in vitro spectrophotometry. The results show that this is the first study to indicate PEF as a novel method for enhancing the phenolic content and antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-hyaluronidase activity of M. alba leaf extract (P < 0.05). PEF extract of M. alba leaves collected from BR had comparable ABTS•+ scavenging activity to l-ascorbic acid and comparable anti-tyrosinase activity to kojic acid (P > 0.05). On the other hand, PEF extract of M. alba leaves collected from SK exhibited significantly high anti-hyaluronidase activity, comparable to that of oleanolic acid (P > 0.05). Therefore, PEF is suggested for further M. alba leaf extraction in the production of natural whitening and anti-aging cosmetic ingredients.

This study aimed to investigate Malassezia furfur inhibitory activity of the fermented product from Ocimum sanctum and develop an antidandruff shampoo. The fermented product was obtained by the fermentation process of the aerial part of O. sanctum. Total soluble protein was detected in the fermented product with the amount of 65.32 ± 0.14 mg/100 mL, whereas there was no organic acid. The inhibitory activity against four strains of M. furfur (No. 133, 656, 6000, and 7966) of the fermented product and shampoos containing the fermented product were investigated by broth dilution and agar diffusion method, respectively. The fermented product possessed high antifungal activity with the minimum inhibitory concentrations for 50% (MIC50) of M. furfur 133, 656, 6000, and 7966 of 0.125, 0.25, 0.125, and 0.125 mg/mL, respectively. Interestingly, the antifungal activity against M. furfur 656 was comparable to that of ketoconazole. Shampoo formulation C, which was the best formulation in terms of characteristics and stability, obtained a high level of satisfaction scores in terms of hair smoothness, hair shine, ease in combing, frizz reduction, and triboelectric reduction while brushing. Additionally, the shampoo containing 2% (w/w) of the fermented product of O. sanctum also possessed inhibitory activity against M. furfur 133, 656, 6000, and 7966 with inhibition zones of 13.2 ± 1.6, 12.8 ± 1.1, 18.7 ± 0.3, and 17.0 ± 1.1 mm respectively. Therefore, this shampoo was suggested for use as an antidandruff shampoo.

The aim of this research was to investigate and compare the antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, anti-aging, and antiinflammatory activities of 16 herbal extracts for topical application in cosmetic/cosmeceutical products. Herbal plant materials were extracted by infusion in boiled water for 15 min. The total phenolic content and total flavonoid content of each extract were investigated by the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. Antioxidant activities were investigated using 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. Anti-tyrosinase and anti-aging activities were investigated using an in vitro enzymaticspectrophotometric method. Anti-inflammatory activities were investigated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The findings show that the Stevia rebaudiana extract has the most significant levels of both phenols and flavonoids (p < 0.05). The S. rebaudiana, Rosa damascene, and Phyllanthus emblica extracts possessed the most significant antioxidant activities (p < 0.05) and a promising whitening effect with moderate antityrosinase activities. Furthermore, the Echinacea purpurea extract possessed the most significant anti-collagenase (78.5 � 0.0 %), anti-elastase (69.0 � 1.4 %), and anti-hyaluronidase activity (64.2 � 0.3 %). The Morus alba extract possessed the most significant anti-inflammatory activity since it could inhibit the secretion of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (p < 0.05). Therefore, these herbal extracts have promising skin benefits and have potential for use as active ingredients in cosmetic/cosmeceutical products.