In Vitro Tyrosinase and Collagenase Inhibitory and Antioxidant Potential of Smyrnium rotundifolium Mill. and Euphorbia virgata Waldst.&Kit. from Türkiye

Antioxidants help prevent signs of aging and skin tone inequalities by protecting our skin from free radicals. High tyrosinase inhibition has a whitening effect on the skin, while collagenase inhibition has an anti-sagging effect on the skin. Antioxidant activity and tyrosinase/collagenase enzyme inhibition capacities have mutually supporting effects. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activities, tyrosinase and collagenase inhibitory potentials of ethanol extracts of two medicinal plants from Turkey (Smyrnium rotundifolium and Euphorbia virgata). In the study, 6 different reference substances and their chemical contents were investigated. Myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol were observed in S. rotundifolium extract, and quercetin was observed in E. virgata extract. According to the antioxidant capacity results measured by both analyses; S. rotundifolium (IC50 DPPH•: 4.9±0.15 µg/mL, IC50 ABTS•+: 4.3±0.2 µg/mL) and E. virgata (IC50 DPPH•: 4.6±0.11 µg/mL, IC50 ABTS•+: 4.1±0.13 µg/mL) extracts were observed to have antioxidant capacities similar to each other. It was determined that S. rotundifolium had higher anti-collagenase (27.9±0.13% inhibition) and anti-tyrosinase (11.1±0.14% inhibition) activities compared to E. virgata extract. These results showed us that S. rotundifolium can be considered as a strong candidate for the management of epidermal hyperpigmentation and skin elasticity and deserves further study.