Potential uses of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) leaf extract in topical application

The antioxidant,anti-microbial activity and potential application of oil palm (elaeis guineensis) leaf extract (ople) as a skin lightening and sunscreen agent in topical application were evaluated. currently,there are no evidence of skin lightening effect and protection against ultraviolet (uv) irradiation of ople. ople contains 9.84±0.06 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram of dry extract and shows antioxidant activity through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay with ic50 of 247±0.58 μg ml-1. ople was effective only against gram-positive bacteria and the minimum inhibitory concentration was 12.5 mg ml-1. ople also inhibited mushroom tyrosinase enzyme with ic50 254.88 μg ml-1. determination of uv spectrophotometric and in vitro sun protection factor (spf) indicated that ople provides a protection against ultraviolet b (uvb) and ultraviolet a (uva) irradiation. ople were mixed with glycerine at 1%,5% and 10% concentrations and showed slightly increase in spf values from 0.96,1.48 and 1.87,respectively. the u va/uvb ratios were significantly increase from 0.076 for glycerine to 0.645,0.906 and 0.910 for ople at 1%,5% and 10% in glycerine,respectively. ople showed potentially good uv absorbance at uvb and u va range wavelength and can be used as natural sunscreen and skin lightening agent for topical application.