Development of a serum for melasma treatment based on the biological activities of <i>Euphorbia thymifolia</i> L. extract

Thi Thu Hau Nguyen; Van Ba Huynh; Kim Yen Huynh; Thi Yen Vu; Van Khiem Dinh; Thi Thuy Ha; Van Chuyen Hoang; Thi Thu Hau Nguyen; Van Ba Huynh; Kim Yen Huynh; Thi Yen Vu; Van Khiem Dinh; Thi Thuy Ha; Van Chuyen Hoang

doi:10.3934/molsci.2025009

AIMS Molecular Science

2025, Volume 12, Issue 2: 133-147. doi: 10.3934/molsci.2025009

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Development of a serum for melasma treatment based on the biological activities of Euphorbia thymifolia L. extract

1.
Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Rural Development, Kien Giang University, Rach Gia City, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam
2.
Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho City, Vietnam
3.
Plant Technology Department, Tay Nguyen Institute of Scientific Research, Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam
4.
Department of Pharmacognosy and Traditional Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences, Ho Chi Minh City National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
5.
Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Received: 19 December 2024 Revised: 02 April 2025 Accepted: 11 April 2025 Published: 22 April 2025

Euphorbia thymifolia Linn is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional Asian medicine due to its bioactive constituents, which exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, anticancer, and especially, antityrosinase activities. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant capacity, antityrosinase activity, and melanin inhibition potential of E. thymifolia L. extract and a serum prototype containing 2% of the extract. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid (ABTS) radical scavenging capacity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Melanin production inhibition and cytotoxicity of the extract and serum were investigated using the B16-F10 mouse melanoma cell line. The E. thymifolia L. extract scavenged free radicals, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 63.50 µg/mL in the DPPH assay and 168.55 µg/mL in the ABTS assay, and concentration at absorbance 0.5 (Abs_0.5) values of 90.99 µg/mL in the FRAP assay. Both the extract and the serum showed significant antityrosinase activity, with IC₅₀ values of 3.92 and 14.07 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the extract and serum inhibited melanin production in B16-F10 melanoma cells by 26.35% and 27.23%, respectively, at a concentration of 20 µg/mL, with relatively low cytotoxicity (46.33% and 46.87%, respectively) even at the high concentration of 100 µg/mL. The developed serum had a pH of 6.17 and high uniformity and was nontoxic to melanocytes. These promising results concerning the beneficial activities of the E. thymifolia extract and serum containing the extract suggest that this medicinal plant may be a potential source for the development of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.
- Euphorbia thymifolia Linn,
- antioxidant,
- antityrosinase,
- melanin inhibition,
- serum
Citation: Thi Thu Hau Nguyen, Van Ba Huynh, Kim Yen Huynh, Thi Yen Vu, Van Khiem Dinh, Thi Thuy Ha, Van Chuyen Hoang. Development of a serum for melasma treatment based on the biological activities of Euphorbia thymifolia L. extract[J]. AIMS Molecular Science, 2025, 12(2): 133-147. doi: 10.3934/molsci.2025009

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Abstract

Euphorbia thymifolia Linn is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional Asian medicine due to its bioactive constituents, which exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, anticancer, and especially, antityrosinase activities. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant capacity, antityrosinase activity, and melanin inhibition potential of E. thymifolia L. extract and a serum prototype containing 2% of the extract. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid (ABTS) radical scavenging capacity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Melanin production inhibition and cytotoxicity of the extract and serum were investigated using the B16-F10 mouse melanoma cell line. The E. thymifolia L. extract scavenged free radicals, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 63.50 µg/mL in the DPPH assay and 168.55 µg/mL in the ABTS assay, and concentration at absorbance 0.5 (Abs_0.5) values of 90.99 µg/mL in the FRAP assay. Both the extract and the serum showed significant antityrosinase activity, with IC₅₀ values of 3.92 and 14.07 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the extract and serum inhibited melanin production in B16-F10 melanoma cells by 26.35% and 27.23%, respectively, at a concentration of 20 µg/mL, with relatively low cytotoxicity (46.33% and 46.87%, respectively) even at the high concentration of 100 µg/mL. The developed serum had a pH of 6.17 and high uniformity and was nontoxic to melanocytes. These promising results concerning the beneficial activities of the E. thymifolia extract and serum containing the extract suggest that this medicinal plant may be a potential source for the development of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Kien Giang University for their support throughout this study. Special thanks are also due to Dr. Duong Van Nha of Kien Giang University for his valuable advice and insightful comments during manuscript preparation. Additionally, we sincerely thank Dr. Nguyen The Cuong from the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute for his assistance in reviewing the English language.
The corresponding author acknowledges the support of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE), Vietnam.

Funding

This research was funded by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam (grant number B2023-TKG-04).

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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