Ameliorative effect of transfersome gel of kepok banana peel extract (Musa balbisiana) against photoaging in Wistar rat skin.

Background: Repeated acute exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays can cause photoaging. Musa balbisiana peel contains flavonoid compounds which act as antioxidants. However, the physicochemicals of flavonoids are unstable, have high molecular weight, and are easily oxidized, causing their use is still limited and transdermal delivery to be inefficient.

Aim: To investigate the ameliorative effect of transfersome gel of M. balbisiana peels against photoaging in Wistar rat skin.

Methods: Transfersome gel was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In vivo research was used to determine the ameliorative effects of M. balbisiana peel. The composition of transfersome consists of ethanol extracts of M. balbisiana peel, soybean phosphatidylcholine, and tween 80. The gel was applied three times a week for 4 weeks with a total UVB radiation dose of 840 mJ/cm². To evaluate the repair mechanism by measuring the degree of wrinkles, epidermal thickening, dermal thinning, collagen fiber irregularity, matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) expression, malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) levels.

Results: TEM results show that gel transfersome M. balbisiana peel has a round morphology with a diameter of ±50 nm and no aggregation, which are defined as nanoparticles. Transfersome gel ameliorated the degree of wrinkle, epidermal thickening, dermal thinning, and irregularity of collagen fibers caused by UVB exposure, suppresses lipid peroxidation by decreasing MDA and TNFα level, also collagen imbalance by inhibiting MMP-1 expression and activating TGF-β expression, which was found statistically significantly different from non-transfersome gel group.

Conclusion: Transfersome gel of M. balbisiana peel can act as an alternative medicine to ameliorate clinical photoaging due to exposure to UVB.