Potential of Ethanol Extract Ulva Lactuca Cream in Inhibiting Tyrosinase Enzyme Activity as an Anti-Hyperpigmentation Agent in Guinea Pig (Cavia Porcellus) Skin Exposed to Ultraviolet Radiation

The ethanol extract of Ulva lactuca cream was developed to assess its potential as an anti-hyperpigmentation agent by inhibiting tyrosinase enzyme expression and melanin formation. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the cream in preventing hyperpigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase enzyme activity. This study uses a randomized post-test-only control group design. The subjects were 27 healthy male guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), aged 3-4 months, weighing 300-350 grams, divided into three groups. The control group received a base cream, while treatment group 1 received a cream with 30% ethanol extract of Ulva lactuca. Treatment group 2 received a cream with 50% ethanol extract. All of the groups were exposed to UVB radiation, three times a week at a dose of 65 mJ/cm² for 65 seconds for two weeks. The cream was applied daily, 20 minutes before and 4 hours after UVB exposure. The levels of tyrosinase enzyme were measured and analyzed using an independent T-test. The average tyrosinase enzyme level in the control group was significantly higher, at 111.92 ng/ml ± 6.56, compared to Group 1 with 91.42 ng/ml ± 0.96, and Group 2 with 58.83 ng/ml ± 1.21. This indicates that tyrosinase enzyme was inhibited in the groups treated with 30% and 50% Ulva lactuca extract cream compared to the control group (p<0.001). It can be concluded that the ethanol extract Ulva lactuca creams have significant potential to inhibit the formation of tyrosinase enzyme, which plays a role in hyperpigmentation, in guinea pig skin exposed to UVB radiation.