Characteristics and in vitro anti skin aging activity and UV radiation protection of morin loaded in niosomes

Background One of the dermatologic problems in elderly people is skin aging, which is a natural and complex biological process. Morin is a flavonoid with high radical scavenging activity as well as antityrosinase effects but its low water solubility has restricted its application. Aims This research aimed to develop, characterize, and optimize morin niosomes composed of non‐ionic surfactants, and evaluate the in vitro UV protection and antiaging effectiveness. Methods Niosomes were prepared by the film hydration method with sorbitan monostearate (Span® 40), polyoxyethylenesorbitan monopalmitate (Tween® 40), and cholesterol. The niosomes were characterized in terms of size, zeta potential, morphology, in vitro release behavior, and drug entrapment efficiency (EE). Afterward, antiaging activity, including antityrosinase, antioxidant, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and sun protection factor (SPF) were evaluated. Results The optimized niosomes appeared as unilamellar vesicles with a spherical shape, with size, zeta potential, and EE values of 6.13 ± 0.40 μm, −0.81 ± 0.32 mV, and 89.35% ± 2.80%, respectively. The noisome formulation remained stable at −4°C for 3 months. The release profiles of morin loaded in niosomes revealed the extended release over 8 h and followed zero‐order release kinetics. Morin‐loaded niosomes exhibited no significant toxicity toward the L929 cell line. The niosome loaded with morin showed anti skin aging activity, including antityrosinase effects (IC50 = 13.17 ± 1.58 μg/ml), antioxidant (IC50 = 28.49 ± 2.05 μg/ml), and ROS scavenging activity. For 1% and 5% (w/w) morin niosomes in eucerin base cream, the SPF was 39.03 ± 1.01 and 38.15 ± 0.82, respectively, whereas the noisome‐free morin cream exhibited an SPF of 4.47 ± 0.56. Conclusion Morin‐loaded niosome has been shown to provide sun protection and antiaging effects, suggesting that it could be used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.