Acute toxicity profile and sun protection factor (Spf) nanoemulgel combination of c-phenylcalix4 resorcinaryl octacinnamate, c-methylcalix4 resorcinaryl octabenzoate, and quercetin in vitro and in vivo

Background: The ageing process (photoaging) can be caused by sun exposure, especially ultraviolet light. Organic and inorganic sunscreen products are commercially available. Two calixarene organic compounds, namely C-phenylcalix4resorcinaryl octacinnamate and C-methylcalix4resorcinaryl octabenzoate, have been successfully synthesized. Besides, the antioxidant quercetin can be potentially combined with these two compounds since ultraviolet rays also cause reactive oxygen species. This study aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity profile in vitro by cell line Vero and to develop the optimal activity of the product in New Zealand rabbit skin. Methods: Optimal formulation of three formulas nanoemulgel of sunscreen was using D Optimal Mixture Design. Acute cytotoxicity test in vitro by culture cell line Vero was using randomized post-test only control group design. The activity of the product was measured by the value of Sun Protection Factor (SPF) in vivo using randomized post-test only control group design. Data of acute toxicity in vitro test (IC50 value) was analyzed using probit analysis and activity sun protection factor was analyzed using one-way ANOVA on SPSS version 20 for Windows. Results: The in-vitro toxicity test of formula 1, 2, 3 nanoemulgel were 2,940.569 µg/mL, 13,489.728 µg/mL, and 6,289.248 µg/mL respectively. The formula 1 nanoemulgel sunscreen products were produced with the three highest SPF values. SPF in vivo test showed that the nanoemulgel protection capability of the formula 1 with three different doses were 34; 36; dan 43 respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the nanoemulgel sunscreen products were successfully formulated with high in vivo SPF value and can be potentially developed as organic sunscreens in the future because it is not toxic in culture cell. © 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.