In vitro and In vivo Activity of Myrsine africana on Elastase Inhibition and Anti-wrinkle Activity

(MA) is a plant traditionally used in South Africa to treat various diseases. The ethanolic extract of MA, was used for and studies to determine its elastase inhibitory activity. MA and its isolated compound, myrsinoside B, were tested for their elastase inhibitory activity. The MA extract was also evaluated for mutagenicity using two strains of (TA 98 and TA 100), microbial count, metal analysis, and stability. studies included irritancy and wrinkle reduction trials using Visioscan and Visioface. The leaf extract showed good elastase inhibition with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC ) of 28.04 μg/ml. Myrsinoside B inhibited the elastase enzyme at an IC of 4.68 ± 0.34 μg/ml. No colony growth observed during mutagenicity studies and it was concluded that MA ethanolic extract is a nonmutagen. MA extract was found to be a nonirritant during the patch test clinical trial. MA was found to contain negligible amounts of microorganisms and heavy metals. Gel cream containing MA crude extract was found to be stable for 2 years when kept at temperatures below 30°C. In clinical trials ( ), it was found that the test product containing 5% ethanolic extract of MA was effective in reducing wrinkles after application 2 times a day for 14 days and 28 days compared to the placebo aqueous cream. MA is effective in reducing the appearance of wrinkles. This is a first time report of the elastase inhibitory potential of and myrsinoside B and the anti-wrinkle potential of ethanolic extract effectively inhibited the elastase enzyme was effective in studies to reduce the appearance of wrinkles after 14 days. 4-NQO: 4-nitroquinoline, D14-BL: Baseline to day fourteen, D28-BL: Baseline to day twenty-eight, CFU: Colony forming units, IC : 50% inhibitory concentration, MA: , MOU: Measurement of uncertainty, NaCl: Sodium chloride, NaH PO .H O: Sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate, SEM: Standard error of the mean, TA 98: strain 98, TA 100: strain 100, TLC: Thin layer chromatography, TMA: Total microbial activity, XVB salt: Vogel-Bonner medium E.