Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 28 (4) December 2016, p. 520-530

POTENTIAL USES OF OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis) LEAF EXTRACT IN TOPICAL APPLICATION

NOR ZULIANA YUSOF*; SITI SALWA ABD GANI**; YASMEEN SIDDIQUI‡; NOR FADZILLAH MOHD MOKHTAR‡‡ and ZAFARIZAL ALDRIN AZIZUL HASAN*

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2016.2804.13
ABSTRACT

The antioxidant, anti-microbial activity and potential application of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) leaf extract (OPLE) as a skin lightening and sunscreen agent in topical application were evaluated. Currently, there are no evidence of skin lightening effect and protection against ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of OPLE. OPLE contains 9.84±0.06 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram of dry extract and shows antioxidant activity through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay with IC of 247±0.58 μg ml-1. OPLE was effective only against 50 gram-positive bacteria and the minimum inhibitory concentration was 12.5 mg ml-1. OPLE also inhibited mushroom tyrosinase enzyme with IC 254.88 μg ml-1. Determination of UV spectrophotometric and in 50 vitro sun protection factor (SPF) indicated that OPLE provides a protection against ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. OPLE were mixed with glycerine at 1%, 5% and 10% concentrations and showed slightly increase in SPF values from 0.96, 1.48 and 1.87, respectively. The UVA/UVB ratios were significantly increase from 0.076 for glycerine to 0.645, 0.906 and 0.910 for OPLE at 1%, 5% and 10% in glycerine, respectively. OPLE showed potentially good UV absorbance at UVB and UVA range wavelength and can be used as natural sunscreen and skin lightening agent for topical application.

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* Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia. E-mail: zuliana@mpob.gov.my