Abstract

INVITRO EVALUATION OF SUN PROTECTION FACTOR OF PASSIFLORA EDULIS LEAF EXTRACT BY USING UV SPECTROPHOTOMETER

*Baiju Mathews, Ajisha Shibu, Asil Samad, 4Devika A. S., Falaha Kabeer, Haifa Shajahan

ABSTRACT

Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation was a major contributor to erythema, photoaging, and other forms of skin damage, highlighting the need for effective and safer photoprotective agents. The present study evaluated the in vitro sun protection factor (SPF) of ethanolic leaf extracts of Passiflora edulis (purple variety) and Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa (yellow variety) using UV spectrophotometric analysis. Dried leaves were defatted and subjected to Soxhlet extraction with a hydroethanolic solvent to obtain flavonoid-rich extracts. The UV absorption spectra were recorded in the ultraviolet-B region (290–320 nm) at 5 nm intervals, and SPF values were calculated using the Mansur equation. Both extracts exhibited measurable absorbance across the erythemogenic UV-B range, indicating their ability to absorb biologically relevant ultraviolet radiation. At a concentration of7.5 mg/ml, the purple variety showed a higher SPF value (37.44) compared to the yellow variety (30.93), both samples demonstrated a concentration-dependent increase in SPF. The superior photoprotective activity of the purple variety was attributed to a higher content or more favorable profile of UV-absorbing phytoconstituents, particularly flavonoids and polyphenols. These findings suggested that passion fruit leaves, commonly discarded as agro- waste, possessed significant natural photoprotective potential and could serve as sustainable, plant-based ingredients for the development of eco-friendly sunscreen formulations.

Keywords: Ultraviolet (UV) protection, Passsiflora edulis leaf, Soxhlet extraction, Sun Protection Factor (SPF), UV spectrophotometry, Mansur equation.