Abstract:
The aim of this study was to develop cream containing mangosteen pericarp extract (MPE) encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) in order to achieve enhanced photoprotection and to be an alternative for synthetic sunscreens in the market. The MPE was prepared by maceration method and evaluated for SPF value by UV-Vis spectrophotometer. SLNs were prepared by ultrasonication method. Blank SLNs were formulated using stearic acid (SA) or palmitic acid (PA) as a solid lipid at a concentration of 3%. Tween® 80 or PVA was employed as a surfactant with concentrations ranging from 1 to 2%. The obtained blank-SLNs were investigated for its physical characteristics, i.e., morphology, particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential value. The blank SLNs with suitable physical characteristics were selected to encapsulate MPE and evaluated for the physical characteristics. Finally, the cream containing MPE encapsulated in SLNs (MPE-SLNs) were formulated and evaluated for their physical properties, chemical stabilities, and SPF values during storage at 4-8oC for 3 months. The obtained MPE was a dark brown powder with an SPF value ranged from 3.09±0.01 to 27.20±0.05 at concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 0.1 mg/ml. Based on the physical characteristics, the blank SLNs employing PA or SA with 1% of PVA were selected. MPE-SLNs were successfully loaded into cream at the MPE concentration of 3%. The SLNs enhanced the SPF values of cream containing MPE-SLNs by two-fold compared with cream containing 3% MPE. The cream containing MPE-PA-SLNs and MPE-SA-SLNs displayed good physical appearances, and was chemically stable, without any significant difference of SPF values after storage at 4-8 oC for 3 months. The results indicated that the cream containing MPE-SLNs had a promising potential to be used as an alternative UVB photoprotector to the synthetic sunscreens.