Antioxidant, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities of facial serum formulation containing Melaleuca cajuputi essential oil

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities of facial serum that was formulated with Melaleuca cajuputi essential oil (MCEO). Methodology and results: The MCEO was obtained from the leaves of M. cajuputi and it was added into facial serum formulations in different concentrations (1%, 2% and 4%, v/v). The antioxidant potential of the formulated facial serum was evaluated using a DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay. The time-kill assay was used to test the antimicrobial activity kinetics of different facial serum formulations against Cutibacterium acnes. The immunomodulatory activities of the formulations were tested using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, cytokine assay and Griess assay. The MCEO-formulated facial serum showed significantly higher (p<0.05) antioxidant activity at 2% (v/v) and 4% (v/v) when compared to the facial serum without MCEO. Time-kill kinetic assay had shown the MCEO formulated facial serum (1%, 2% and 4%, v/v) exhibited a bactericidal effect against C. acnes in a concentration-dependent manner after 4-8 h. MCEO formulated facial serum at concentrations of 1%, 2% and 4% (v/v) significantly enhanced (p<0.05) the viability of the macrophages after 48 h. The level of cytokines such as IFNγ, TNFα, TGFβ1, IL6, IL17 and IL23 was significantly high (p<0.05) in the treated macrophages at a concentration of 4%. Macrophages treated with MCEO-formulated facial serum at 4% concentration exhibited significantly higher nitric oxide production (p=0.018) than the untreated macrophages. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: MCEO-formulated facial serum possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. This study highlights MCEO as a potential natural ingredient in facial serum formulations for cosmeceutical industries.