Photoprotective, Anti-Fungal Activity and Cytotoxicity of Capsanthin
from Capsicum Annum Fruits on Mouse Skin Melanoma and AQP-3 Gene
Expression in Human Keratinocyte HaCaT Cells
Authors: Shanmugham Velmurugan , Subban Ravi 
Published: April 2022

Background:
Phytochemicals utilization in the cosmetics are the current trend in the beauty and fashion. Most women prefer the cosmetics derived from natural products over synthetic chemicals, as the natural products are devoid of undesirable side effects. Skin protection has become not only aesthetic, but also linked to health. Therefore, exploring the use of phytochemicals in cosmetic dermatology is essential.

Objective:
In the current in vitro studies, we investigated the skin-protection properties of capsanthin 50%w/w crystals (CAP-50CR) and capsanthin 1.5% w/w soft extract (CAP-1.5SE) obtained from red bell pepper fruits, out of which one is an industrial by-product on sunburn, melanin inhibition, tyrosinase inhibition, anti-fungal activity and, gene expression of Aquaporin 3 (AQP-3) in the human keratinocyte cell line.

Methodology:
The two extracts, obtained by solvent extraction, super critical extract purification, saponification, characterized, and examined on their dermatological activities.

Results:
Capsanthin 50%w/w crystals (CAP-50CR) showed a sun protection factor (SPF) value of 34.44 whereas capsanthin 1.5% w/w soft extract (CAP-1.5SE) showed a value of 20.63. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CAP-50CR against Malassezia furfur was 0.625 mg/mL and CAP-1.5SE showed a MIC of 5mg/mL. Both CAP-50CR and CAP-1.5SE showed the same MIC against Candida albicans which is 2.5 mg/mL. In the MTT assay on mouse skin melanoma cells (B16F10), the test substance CAP-50CR showed a CTC50 value of 98.44±2.55 µg/mL whereas the test substance CAP-1.5SE exhibited a CTC50 value greater than 1000 µg/mL. Further, the non-toxic concentrations of the test items were evaluated for forskolin-induced melanin inhibition activity. For CAP-50CR, the non-toxic concentration of 7 and 3 µg/mL showed the melanin inhibition of 48.73±0.75% and 42.29±5.2% and for CAP-1.5SE the melanin inhibition was found to be 55.84%±1.47 and 46.44%±1.05 for the non-toxic concentration of 50 and 25µg/mL. The CAP-50CR extract showed 43.78% and 39.37% tyrosinase inhibition at the tested concentrations of 7 and 3 µg/mL. Similarly, CAP-1.5SE showed the tyrosinase inhibitions as 34.6% and 22.9% for the concentrations of 50 and 25 µg/mL. The test substances CAP-50CR and CAP-1.5SE exhibited a CTC50 value of 76.59±3.25 μg/mL and 664.95±2.88 µg/mL on the HaCaT cells. In the gene expression study, both the test substances showed an increase in the levels of AQP-3 mRNAs at lower and higher concentrations as compared to the control in the semi-quantitative RT-PCR procedure.

Conclusion:
CAP-50CR and CAP-1.5SE showed skin protection from UV radiation and hyperpigmentation. Also exhibits anti-fungal, skin brightening, anti-wrinkle and moisturizing properties. These results suggests that capsanthin from red bell pepper fruit can be employed as cosmetic active ingredient in skin guard formulations and as a potential therapeutic agent for variety of dermatological disorders. This study breaks new ground by investigating the potential of capsanthin in the management of skin protection for the first time.