Screening Bioactivity of Kersen Fruits (Muntingia calabura L.) as a Sunscreens Candidate

Abstract

Kersen (Muntingia calabura L) fruits have the potential to be used as an active ingredient in sunscreens because of phenolic and flavonoid content that can absorb UV rays. This study aims to determine the percentage of erythema/pigmentation transmission and SPF value as parameters for sunscreen activity.  Kersen fruits were extracted by maceration using 96% ethanol. The ethanol extract of Kersen Fruits was also fractionated to separate the components of the active compounds based on the polarity level using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol as solvents. The test was carried out using the in vitro method by measuring the ability of the material to absorb ultraviolet light at a wavelength of 292.5-372.5 nm. This research was conducted at concentrations of 100, 200, 400, 600, and  800 µg/mL for ethanol, lyophilisate, n-hexane, and ethanol fractions, while the ethyl acetate fraction concentrations are 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 µg/mL. The results showed the best value at the ethyl acetate fraction concentration of 250 µg/mL with % Te of 5.28 and % Tp of 28.65 and the SPF value of 16.54. Based on the % Te and Tp, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited protection against erythema and pigmentation with the category of extra protection and based on the SPF value with the category of ultra protection.