The effects of water and methanolic extracts of Labisia pumila on collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblast (HSF1184) Cells

Abstract

Labisia pumila (Myrsinaceae) or commonly known as 'Kacip Fatimah' is traditionally used by Malaysian women to address reproductive health. In this study, we investigated the effects of standardized water extract and methanolic extract of Labisia pumila on the collagen synthesis in UVB-irradiated and nonirradiated Human Skin Fibroblast cells (HSFl184). Both plant extracts caused significant increase in the collagen production of the HSFl184 cells in both UVB and non UVB irradiated HSFl184 cells. At concentration of 1 x 10-5 ug/ml, the standardized water extract of Labisia pumila promoted an increase of up to 70% in the collagen synthesis in for the HSFl184 UVB irradiated cells whereas in the methanolic extract at similar concentration the increase was only 20%. This concentration is shown to be the optimum concentration for both extracts of Labisia pumila throughout the course of the study. Beyond this concentration, the methanolic extracts indicated dose dependent inhibition effect.The result clearly indicates that the standardized water extract of Labisia pumila provides better effect than the methanolic extract.