Determination of In Vitro Photoprotective Potential of Methanolic Leaf Extract of x Citrofortunella microcarpa (Calamondin)

This study focused on the evaluation of in vitro Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of leaf extract of x Citrofortunella microcarpa since it has not been investigated. Collected leaves were air-dried, powdered and macerated in methanol. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness and subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis. The concentration series of 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, 0.25, and 0.05 mgmL-1 of leaf extract and a solution of 2.0 mgmL-1 Dermatone？ were prepared in methanol. The absorbance of each sample was determined in triplicate by spectrophotometry in the range of 290–320 nm, at 5 nm intervals, using methanol as the blank. The SPF values were calculated using the Mansur-equation. Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, sterols, saponins, terpenoids, and glycosides were qualitatively observed. The SPF of leaf extract with respect to the concentrations 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, 0.25, 0.05 mgmL-1 and Dermatone？ were 43.93, 42.38, 40.97, 36.63, 13.31 and 34.26 respectively. According to Pearson’s correlation, a positive statically not significant relationship was observed in between SPF and concentration (r = 0.655, p > 0.05). Since the presence of profound sun screening activity, this would offer an exciting avenue for further research towards the development of herbal sunscreens of high importance especially for the people living in tropical countries