article · Plants
Chemical analysis of the hexane-soluble fraction of Stenocarpus sinuatus leaf extract revealed high levels of vitamin E, specifically alpha-tocopherol at over fifty-two percent of the extract, alongside gamma-sitosterol, neophytadiene, and beta-tocopherol. Laboratory assays demonstrated that the extract significantly inhibits four major skin-degrading enzymes: collagenase, elastase, tyrosinase, and hyaluronidase. The inhibitory concentrations were found to be comparable to standard industry reference compounds, specifically epigallocatechin gallate and kojic acid. Complementary computational docking studies confirmed strong binding interactions between the primary identified compounds and the active sites of these target enzymes. Additionally, computer-based safety evaluations predicted no skin toxicity or general toxic risks for the main constituents. These combined findings suggest the extract possesses substantial anti-ageing, anti-wrinkle, and depigmentation properties, driven by its high vitamin E content and the combined effects of accompanying volatile components.
Rising consumer demand for natural personal care items requires scientific validation of botanical ingredients. This study demonstrates that leaf extracts from Stenocarpus sinuatus block enzymes responsible for skin ageing, wrinkling, and pigmentation breakdown. Demonstrating both laboratory efficacy and initial predicted safety provides a foundation for exploring this plant as a safe, naturally sourced component for cosmetic and dermatological treatments.
The findings point to direct application as an active botanical ingredient for commercial anti-ageing, anti-wrinkle, and skin-lightening cosmetics or pharmaceutical formulations. Potential end users include cosmetic manufacturers and personal care brands seeking plant-derived alternatives to synthetic additives. Because the evidence is derived exclusively from in vitro assays and computer-modelled toxicity predictions, this technology remains at an early laboratory stage, requiring extensive real-world formulation trials and clinical testing before market adoption.
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Today, skin care products and cosmetic preparations containing natural ingredients are widely preferred by consumers. Therefore, many cosmetic brands are encouraged to offer more natural products to the market, such as plant extracts that can be used for their antiaging, antiwrinkle, and depigmentation properties and other cosmetic purposes. In the current study, the volatile constituents of the hexane-soluble fraction of a Stenocarpus sinuatus (family Proteaceae) leaf methanol extract (SSHF) were analyzed using GC/MS analysis. Moreover, the antiaging activity of SSHF was evaluated through in vitro studies of anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-hyaluronidase activities. In addition, an in silico docking study was carried out to identify the interaction mechanisms of the major compounds in SSHF with the active sites of the target enzymes. Furthermore, an in silico toxicity study of the identified compounds in SSHF was performed. It was revealed that vitamin E (α-tocopherol) was the major constituent of SSHF, representing 52.59% of the extract, followed by γ-sitosterol (8.65%), neophytadiene (8.19%), β-tocopherol (6.07%), and others. The in vitro studies showed a significant inhibition by SSHF of collagenase, elastase, tyrosinase, and hyaluronidase, with IC50 values of 60.03, 177.5, 67.5, and 38.8 µg/mL, respectively, comparable to those of the positive controls epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC, for collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase) and kojic acid (for tyrosinase). Additionally, the molecular docking study revealed good acceptable binding scores of the four major compounds, comparable to those of ECGC and kojic acid. Besides, the SSHF identified phytoconstituents showed no predicted potential toxicity nor skin toxicity, as determined in silico. In conclusion, the antiaging potential of SSHF may be attributed to its high content of vitamin E in addition to the synergetic effect of other volatile constituents. Thus, SSHF could be incorporated in pharmaceutical skin care products and cosmetics after further studies.
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DOI: 10.3390/plants11070918
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