FORMULATION AND IN VITRO EVALUATION OF SUNSCREEN GEL FROM THE METHANOLIC RIPEN FRUITS PULP EXTRACT OF PHALERIA MACROCARPA

Exposure of ultraviolet light at cellular level in our skin will lead to sunburn, that results in the formation of free radicals which in turn causes serious illness like skin cancer. However, sunscreen protectors helps to prevent sunburn and reduces the risk of skin cancer and also helps in prevent early sign of skin aging. The current study was designed to formulate and evaluate the sunscreen gel from the methanolic fruit extract of Phaleria macrocarpa. The free radical scavenging activity was initially compared between methanolic extracts of unripen and ripen fruits pulp of P.macrocarpa using DPPH assay. However, the potential free radical scavenging extract was chosen for further formulation into a sunscreen gel. Free radical scavenging activity of the methanolic fruit pulp extract of P. macrocarpa exhibited IC50 at a concentration range between 62.50 µg/ml and 125 µg/mL when compared with the unripen fruits pulp extract which resulted IC50 at the range 125 µg/mL and 250 µg/mL. Nevertheless, the standard ascorbic acid showed highly potential IC50 range between 15.625 µg/mL and 31.25 µg/mL. The formulated sunscreen gel from the ripen fruit extract was evaluated for its Sun Protection Factor (SPF) and was found to be 8.58. The physiochemical evaluation on the formulated gel was analysed, that showed good results on the following parameters like viscosity, opacity, extrudability, spreadability, stability and pH. Thus, the formulated sunscreen gel from the ripen fruit pulp extract of P. macrocarpa can be used as a potential UV rays barrier due to its commendable free radical scavenging activity and its effective sun protection factor. Keywords: P. macrocarpa fruits pulp, DPPH, IC50, SPF, UV rays.