Background: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces skin inflammation and oxidative stress through reactive oxygen species generation, lipid peroxidation, and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Ellagic acid, a natural polyphenolic antioxidant, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and photoprotective properties.
Objectives: This study aimed to formulate, optimize, and evaluate an ellagic acid topical serum for its protective effect against UV-induced skin inflammation.
Materials and Methods: Topical ellagic acid serums (1% and 2% w/v) were prepared using Carbopol 940 and evaluated for physical appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, drug content, and stability. Optimized formulations were evaluated in UV-induced skin inflammation models using Wistar rats. The effects were assessed through gross skin observation, inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]), oxidative stress markers (catalase and malondialdehyde [MDA]), and histopathological examination.
Results: All formulations showed acceptable physicochemical properties with drug content above 95%. F2 was selected as the optimized formulation based on its balanced viscosity, spreadability, pH, and stability. UV exposure increased inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, whereas ellagic acid in serum significantly reduced IL-6 from 43.32 to 26.65 pg/mL and TNF-α from 91.81 to 34.37 pg/mL compared with the UV-induced control (P < 0.001). MDA levels were decreased, and catalase activity increased from 41.59 to 78.57 U/mg (P < 0.001). The 2% w/v formulation showed greater protective activity than the 1% formulation and exhibited effects comparable to hydrocortisone.
Conclusion: Optimized ellagic acid serum demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and photoprotective activity against UV-induced skin injury, suggesting its potential as a topical therapeutic formulation for inflammatory skin disorders.
Keywords: Ellagic acid, oxidative stress, skin inflammation, topical serum, ultraviolet radiation