Bioactive rich fingered citron leaves: investigation of usage potential in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products

Background. Fingered citron is one of the important plants attracting attention with its important bioactive components. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential for use of fingered citron leaves in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Materials and Methods. The antimicrobial activity of fingered citron leaf ethanol extract was determined by disc diffusion and micro-dilution methods against clinical pathogens. Furthermore, fingered citron leaf ethanol extract sun protection factor (SPF) was spectrophotometrically evaluated. Results and Discussion. The inhibition zone diameters obtained as a result of the disc diffusion method were 9.16 mm against Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and 9.63 mm against C. glabrata RSKK 04019. Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 was inhibited by fingered citron leaf ethanol extract with 7.76 mm of inhibition zone. Minimal inhibition (MIC) and bactericidal or fungicidal (MBC or MFC) concentrations values varied between 2.5 and 40 mg/mL. Additionally, the biological activity of the cream formulation obtained with cream, probiotic strain Limosilactobacillus fermentum MA-7 and fingered citron leaf extract was evaluated using the well diffusion method. The inhibition zone diameters of cream, L. fermentum MA-7, and fingered citron leaf extract cream group against C. albicans ATCC 10231, C. glabrata RSKK 04019 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 were determined as 2.73 mm, 4.37 mm, and 5.21 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the SPF value of fingered citron leaf ethanol extract was determined as 25.82. Then, fingered citron leaf ethanol extract-cream mixtures were prepared at various concentrations. It was determined that the SPF values of the extract and cream mixtures were higher at all concentrations compared to the commercial cream (control). The highest SPF value was determined as 6.7 at 10 mL concentration. Conclusion. The results indicated that fingered citron leaf ethanol extract can be a valuable resource for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries in the development of natural origin and effective products.