Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology

The medicinal plants have numerous pharmacological properties and having lesser side effects. Today there is increasing trend of medicinal plants as anti-aging and anti-wrinkle agents.

The aim of this study is to evaluate antioxidant, anti-aging and anti-wrinkle potential of Fumaria officinalis.

Fumaria officinalis, fumitory (Papaveraceae) is native to Europe and Asia, now grows wild in parts of North America. Powdered crude drug 100 g were successively extracted in a soxhlet apparatus with petroleum ether (60–80ºC), chloroform and methanol. After successive solvents extraction methanolic extract was used for testing of antioxidant potential using DPPH assay. Further, anti-aging potential of extract was investigated by inhibitory effect of various enzymatic estimations i.e. Col-I, Ela-I and Hya-I inhibitory assays on early aging human skin fibroblasts. Anti-wrinkle potential of plant Fumaria officinalis was done by using UV light induced photo aging model.

Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of glycosides, alkaloids flavonoids, and triterpenoids, saponins and Phenolic compounds in high level. Extract showed inhibitory concentration (IC50: 35.5) and ascorbic acid the standard antioxidant showed inhibitory concentration (IC50: 20.10). In enzymatic estimations assay, the Col-I, Ela-I and Hya-I of extract were assessed showing inhibitory concentration as Col-I (IC50: 41.25), Ela-I (IC50: 45.31) and Hya-I (IC50: 30.55) respectively. Thus, MeOH extract of Fumaria officinalis able to inhibit 50% of the activity of aging related enzymes Col-I, Ela-I and Hya-I. The wrinkle score of negative control i.e. UV treated group was 2.83±0.408 and MeOH extract of Fumaria officinalis treated group is 2.33±0.516.

This study concluded that MeOH extract of Fumaria officinalis has confirmed the high antioxidant potential and In vitro and In vivo inhibitory potential of antiaging enzymes assessed, thus they could be used for further development of cosmetic products and nutraceuticals.