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British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research - Vol. 9, No. 3
Publication Date: June, 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/jbemi.93.12570. Cynthia, G., Fachrial, E., & Lister, I. N. E. (2022). The Biorevitalization Effect of Serum Containing Rose Apple Leaf Extract on the
Parameters of Premature Skin Aging. British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research, 9(3). 228-248.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
The Biorevitalization Effect of Serum Containing Rose Apple Leaf
Extract on the Parameters of Premature Skin Aging
Gabriella Cynthia
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
Universitas Prima Indonesia, Medan, Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9640-0911
Edy Fachrial
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine
Universitas Prima Indonesia, Medan, Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5237-5803
I. Nyoman Ehrich Lister
Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
Universitas Prima Indonesia, Medan, Indonesia
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1325-5208
ABSTRACT
Rose apple (Syzygium jambos) is known for its antioxidants and could potentially
be used as an anti-aging cosmetic. This study reported the potential of rose apple
leaf extract as a skin serum for the biorevitalization- with improvement based on
pigmentation, wrinkles, pore, and sensitivity parameters in the skin of women aged
30 to 40. The skin serum was formulated with various concentrations of 5%, 10%,
and 15% of rose apple leaf extract. The Pretest-Posttest with Control Group Design
were conducted by measuring skin condition with the API-100 Aram Huvis
Innovation Skin Analysis System. Data analyses using the Kruskal-Wallis’s test and
Mann-Whitney’s test. The phytochemical contents of rose apple leaf extracts
showed alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenol as gallic acid, and tannic acid, which
function as antioxidants that is comparable to vitamin C with IC50 of up to 7.29%.
Experimental data showed that rose apple leaf extract affects skin biorevitalization
based on reduction in pore size, skin pigmentation, and sensitivity parameters. This
study strongly suggests the potential of rose apple leaf extract as an anti-aging
ingredient to prevent premature skin aging.
Keywords: syzygium jambos, premature aging, pore, melanin, sensitivity
INTRODUCTION
The development of skin revitalization methods, i.e., recovery after any damage (including
aging) has increased in recent years [1]. Sunray exposure is often considered a major cause of
skin damage by initiating reactive oxygen species (ROS) [2]. It can interfere with protein; fatty
acids and saccharides causing oxidative damage [3] leading to a degeneration of skin collagen
and ultimately signs of premature aging in the skin. Aging is related to morphological changes,
which include loss of skin elasticity, increased wrinkling, uneven pigmentation, dryness, and
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Cynthia, G., Fachrial, E., & Lister, I. N. E. (2022). The Biorevitalization Effect of Serum Containing Rose Apple Leaf Extract on the Parameters of
Premature Skin Aging. British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research, 9(3). 228-248.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/jbemi.93.12570
roughness [4][5]. Topical formulations have recently attracted a lot of attention and interest as
a method of medication delivery to the human skin. The current approach in skin protection to
reduce the rate of skin aging is the topical use of plant extract containing phenolics and
antioxidants [6].
Rose apple (Syzygium jambos) has been used as a traditional medicinal plant as a diuretic agent,
for rheumatism, toothache, gastrointestinal disease, and fever as well as its antibacterial and
anti-inflammatory effects [7]. A report showed the presence of flavonoid compounds, anacardic
acid, myricetin, gallic acid squalene, and ursolic acid from S. jambos extract [8]. Other
researchers studied the chemical profile of S. jambos and discovered 17 substances such as
flavonol glycosides and flavones, as well as ellagitannins and phenolic acids. Anacardic acid has
also been linked to antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties.
Furthermore, ethanol extract and three components, myricetin, myricitrin, and gallic acid,
shown strong antioxidant activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.8-1.9 g/ml, equivalent to
vitamin C, the reference antioxidant agent. Furthermore, S. jambos leaf extract containing
ursolic acid and myricitrin components effectively reduced the production of inflammatory
cytokines IL-8 and TNF- by up to 99%. Rose apple leaf extract has also shown promising
antioxidant activity in different experimental models [9]. Quantitative tannin content was also
shown in rose apple bark extract with water and acetone as solvents of 77% and 83% [10].
Another study stated that the tannin content was also found to be very high in rose apple bark
at 2.5 mg/ml, in seeds at 1.9 mg/ml while in leaves 1.4 mg/ml in acetone solvent [11]. The
tannin concentration of the tropical plant’s lower stems is relatively high, approximately 16%.
Extracts of S. jambos' bark, leaves, and seeds have a strong inhibitory impact on the
development of S. aureus and E. coli [12]. Squalane, ursolic acid, gallic acid, myricetin, myricetin,
and anacardic acid have all been extracted from the ethanolic extract of S. jambos leaves [7].
Another study discovered that S. jambos ethanolic stem bark extract and extracted
triterpenoids such as friedelin, -amyrin acetate, betulinic acid, and lupeol [13]. The seeds are
used to treat diarrhea and even diarrhea accompanied by fever, dysentery, sore throat,
diabetes, and infectious diseases. A decoction of the bark is given to relieve asthma and
bronchitis [14].
Cosmetic products with natural ingredients have been widely developed in Indonesia and are
more attractive to the market. There is a higher demand for cosmetic products that can prevent
or inhibit the premature aging process. Studies have shown that anti-aging cosmetics are
becoming a trend for consumers over the age of 25 to prevent premature aging [15][16].
Several benefits of anti-aging products are supplying antioxidants to skin tissue, stimulating the
regeneration process of skin cells, maintaining skin moisture and elasticity, stimulating the
production of collagen and glycosaminoglycans, and protecting the skin from ultraviolet
damage. The benefits of anti-aging skincare include preventing degenerative damage that
causes the skin to look dull and wrinkled and making the skin look healthy and bright [17].
One of the cosmetic dosage forms that have recently gained exponential development and have
high popularity in the realm of skincare is serum. The serum has low viscosity and is
categorized as an emulsion preparation [18]. The serum itself can be processed using two bases,
namely water, and oil bases. The serum has the advantage that it has a high concentration of
active ingredients so that the effect is more quickly absorbed by the skin, can provide a more
comfortable skin feel and better spread on the surface of the skin. Serums contain a higher
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British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research (BJHMR) Vol 9, Issue 3, June - 2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
percentage of natural active substances that are good for the skin compared to other products
such as face creams. Serum can also be used by people of various ages, parents, and young
people/teenagers. Nowadays cosmetic serum is just a commercial term in the cosmetic world,
known for its low viscosity with a high concentration because it contains more bioactive
ingredients with lesser solvent [19].
So far, there are no anti-aging cosmetic products, especially serum, which is made of the natural
ingredient, the rose apple extract. This research aims to determine the potential of rose apple
ethanol leaf extract on the effect of skin biorevitalization- namely improvement of skin
parameters in terms of pigmentation, wrinkles, pore, and sensitivity on the skin of women aged
30-40 with signs of premature aging. For this reason, it is necessary to apply bioactive
antioxidants that are applied topically to prevent premature skin aging [20].
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The research method used Pretest-Post test Control Group Design involves sampling and sample
processing, making simplicia, extract making, quantitative phytochemical screening,
antioxidant activity test, formulating anti-aging serum and anti-aging activity test by measuring
skin condition with the API-100 Aram Huvis Innovation Skin Analysis System and data analysis
with the Kruskal-Wallis’s test and Mann-Whitney’s test. The independent variable is the ethanol
extract of rose apple in serum formulations, the dependent variable is the biorevitalizing effect
of the ethanol extract of rose apple on the improvement of skin conditions in terms of
pigmentation, wrinkle, pore, and sensitivity to the skin. 24 volunteers in this study are women
aged 30-40 with signs of premature aging on their skin.
The tools used in this research include glassware, juicer, incubator, autoclave, analytical
balance, filter paper No.1, pH meter, centrifuge, rotary evaporator, Brookfield viscometer, glass
serum container, stirring rod, and Ultraviolet-spectrophotometer visible (Shimadzu 1800),
analytical balance (Precisa), rotary vaporizer (IKA®), sonicator (Branson 1800), test tube
(Iwaki), separating funnel (Iwaki), Erlenmeyer (Iwaki), porcelain crucible, vaporizer,
ultraviolet lamp (Camag), measuring flask (Iwaki), beaker glass (Iwaki), pipette (Iwaki), oven
(Memmert), Whatman filter paper No. 42, pH paper and API-100 Aram Huvis Innovation Skin
Analysis instrument.
The testing material used was rose apple ethanol extract. The chemicals used in this study were
aqua dest, 70% ethanol, xanthan gum, glycerin, sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate, 96%
ethanol, 30% ethanol, n-hexane p.a, acetone, distilled water, silica gel 60 F254 20 x 20 cm,
quercetin, gallic acid, catechins, and all reagents purchased from Merck: aluminum chloride
(AlCl3), chloroform (CHCl3), methanol (CH3OH), ethyl acetate (C4H8O2), hydrochloric acid (HCl),
glacial acetic acid solution, ninhydrin, -naphthol, nitric acid (HNO3), sulfuric acid (H2SO4),
rhodamine B, zinc powder (Zn), magnesium (Mg) powder, boric acid (H3BO3) powder, oxalic
acid (C2H2O4) powder, vanillin sulfuric acid, vanillin hydrochloric acid, iron (III) chloride (FeCl3)
salt, gelatin, ether (C2H5)20, iodine, potassium iodide (KI), potassium permanganate (KMnO4),
mercury (II) chloride (HgCl2), bismuth nitrate (Bi(NO3)3), picric acid (C6H3N3O7), ammonium
molybdate (NH4)6MO7O24), acetic acid anhydride, Baljet's solution, sodium hydroxide (NaOH),
n-butanol (C4H10O), diethyl ether, and petroleum ether.