Potencial antienvelhecimento cutâneo da espécie Cecropia pachystachya Trécul

Abstract

The species Cecropia pachystachya belongs to the genus Cecropia Loefl. and has wide distribution in brazilian lands, from south to north in the country. The main synonyms for the species are: Cecropia carbonaria Mart., Cecropia catarinensisCuatrec., Cecropia cyrtostachya Miq. eCecropia lyratiloba Miq. Cutaneous aging is a process that can be classified as intrinsic (natural) or extrinsic (accelerated by external factors). The inevitable exposure to the ultraviolet radiation is one of the main extrinsinc aging factors. The damage caused by radiation is related to excess free radicals generated causing changes in DNA and dermal and immune metabolism, culminating in photoaging. Another factor that can accelerate skin aging is the glycation of proteins involved in dermal metabolism, such as collagen. In order to restore the skin, products are used to treat the damage caused by the sun. Some constituents already identified in the leaves, especially flavonoids, being a class of compounds known as antioxidants could help in the treatment of skin aging. In this way the dosage of phenols and flavonoids in the hydroethanolic and ethanolic extract of Cecropia pachystachya (EH and EE) was performed. As well as the antioxidant potential through the methods of formation of the phosphomolybdenum complex, sequestration of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and bleaching by the β-carotene / linoleic acid system. In view of the good results obtained with the samples, the action of the extracts was evaluated against other factors involved in aging. Antiglycant capacity and inhibitory power against important enzymes of the dermal metabolism (elastase and metalloprotease 2) were evaluated, as well as the proliferative potential in cell culture of fibroblasts. The EH presented better antiglycant capacity than the reference substance, even at low concentrations, in the same way that it was able to inhibit elastase and metalloprotease 2. Thus it could be used in the formulation of dermocosmetics, since it acts in several points of the skin encelemation process.