Determination of Free Radical Protective Activity from Hydrogen Peroxide, Antioxidant and Melanogenesis Stimulating Activities of Eclipta prostrate Linn. and Sapindus rarak DC. for Hair Dye Product
Yanisa Nakeenopakun BATM*, Pannawat Chaiyawatthanananth PhD**,***, Arunporn Itharat PhD**,***
Affiliation : * Student of Master of Science (Applied Thai Traditional Medicine), Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand ** Department of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand *** Center of Excellence on Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
Background : Thai medicinal plant namely Eclipta prostrate Linn. (EP) and Sapindus rarak DC. (SR) are reported to
improve hair growth and hair color. Theories of grey hair occurred from the gradual loss of pigmentation. Intrinsic factors
are age, genetic, stress and extrinsic factor such as chemical that involved melanogenesis process and oxidative mechanism.
Moreover, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is known as an oxidant which can destroy melanocytes cell. On the other hand, if the
herb extracts can increase melanocytes cell and high antioxidant, they will protect melanocytes cell.
Objective : To investigate free radical protective activity from hydrogen peroxide, antioxidant and melanogenesis stimulating
activities of Eclipta prostrate Linn. and Sapindus rarak DC.
Material and Method: The leaves of EP and the pericarps of SR were maceration in 95% ethanol (EPE95 and SRE95), 50%
ethanol (EPE50 and SRE50), and were decoction with water (EPA and SRA). All extracts were tested antioxidant activity by
DPPH radical scavenging assay and ABTS radical cation decolorization assay. The effect of extracts on melanocytes
proliferation in mouse melanoma cell (B16F10) and in preventing cells from H2O2 by MTT assay were also investigated.
Results : The results showed that EPA had the highest DPPH radical ion inhibition with the EC50 value of 15.00 μg/ml. For
ABTS assay, EPE50 and EPA showed the highest inhibitory effect on ABTs radical assay (EC50 = 54.24 and 30.28 μg/ml,
respectively). For melanocytes proliferation assay, EPE95 showed the highest stimulating effect on melanocyte proliferation
at the concentration of 50 μg/ml. Moreover, the SRA showed high activity on the effect of herbs in preventing cells from H2O2
at the concentration of 10 and 1 μg/ml.
Conclusion : These results can be concluded that SRA showed the effect of prevention of cell from H2O2 and EPE95 showed
melanocytes proliferation stimulating effects and EPA showed high antioxidant activities. Thus, these extracts should be
continuously developed as a hair product.
Keywords : Antioxidant, Hydrogen peroxide, Melanocyte proliferation, Grey hair, Eclipta prostrata Linn., Sapindus rarak DC.
