In Vitro and in Vivo Skin Anti-aging Evaluation of Gel Containing Niosomes Loaded with a Semi-purified Fraction Containing Gallic Acid from Terminalia Chebula Galls

Context: The galls of Terminalia chebula Retz. (Combretaceae) frequently appear in many Thai Lanna medicinal plant recipes for promotion of longevity.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the skin anti-aging of gel containing niosomes loaded with a semi-purified fraction containing gallic acid from T. chebula galls.

Method: The semi-purified fraction containing phenolic compounds including gallic acid isolated from T. chebula galls loaded in non-elastic or elastic niosomes, and its developed gel, were evaluated for rabbit skin irritation by the closed patch test and skin anti-aging in human volunteers by measuring skin elasticity and roughness.

Results: Gel containing the fraction unloaded (SS) or loaded in non-elastic (SN) or elastic (SE) niosomes and gallic acid loaded in non-elastic (GN) or elastic (GE) niosomes showed no skin irritation, whereas the unloaded gallic acid (GS) gave the irritation in rabbit's skin by the closed patch test. The % parameter changes of skin elastic recovery and skin elastic extension when applied with SN and SE gels were +28.73 and +32.57; -21.25 and -22.63%, respectively. SN and SE gel also showed a significant decrease of the maximum and average roughness values with the parameter changes of -29.43 and -32.38; -39.47 and -35.28%, respectively.

Conclusion: The semi-purified fraction loaded in niosomes indicated not only higher chemical stability of gallic acid containing in the fraction, but also more in vivo anti-aging activities than the unloaded fraction when incorporated in gel.