Title : Exploring introduced plant species from Chocó as sources of anti-inflammatory agents for skin applications
Abstract:
The skin is the primary protective interface between the human body and the external environment, and disruption of this barrier can promote inflammation, impair tissue homeostasis, and interfere with repair processes. Although inflammation is essential during the early stages of wound healing, an excessive or prolonged inflammatory response may delay progression toward the proliferative phase and compromise tissue restoration. Plant-derived natural products represent a valuable source of structurally diverse specialized metabolites capable of modulating processes associated with inflammation. In this context, introduced plant species occurring in the department of Chocó, Colombia, remain comparatively underexplored and may constitute an alternative source of bioactive compounds for cutaneous applications. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro anti-inflammatory potential and cytotoxicity of ethanolic extracts obtained from selected introduced plant species from Chocó. Plant materials were acquired from local markets, dried, ground, and extracted by maceration with ethanol. Anti-inflammatory potential was investigated using complementary assays based on inhibition of protein denaturation, protease inhibition, and nitric oxide (NO)-scavenging activity, the latter assessed through nitrite quantification using the Griess reaction. Extracts were initially screened at 1000 µg/mL, and those exhibiting more than 60% activity were selected for concentration–response assays and determination of half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC??). Cellular safety was additionally assessed in RAW 264.7 macrophages and HaCaT keratinocytes at 100 and 1000 µg/mL. The most promising extracts displayed IC?? values in the approximate range of 390–510 µg/mL in the protein denaturation assay and 130–840 µg/mL in the NO-scavenging assay, demonstrating differences in activity among the evaluated plant materials and experimental models. In contrast, no relevant protease inhibitory activity was observed under the tested conditions. Importantly, the evaluated extracts did not produce significant reductions in cell viability in either RAW 264.7 or HaCaT cells at the assessed concentrations. Overall, these findings identify introduced plant species occurring in Chocó as potential sources of metabolites capable of modulating inflammation-related processes while showing a favourable preliminary cellular safety profile. The results provide a basis for subsequent bioassay-guided fractionation, chemical characterization, and identification of the metabolites responsible for the observed activities. Further studies using cellular inflammatory models and in vivo approaches will be required to clarify mechanisms of action and establish their efficacy and safety for the development of innovative topical or dermocosmetic formulations aimed at skin care and inflammation management. This study was funded by Colombia’s Sistema General de Regalías under project BPIN 2023000100047. The collection of plant material and access to genetic resources and their derived products the research activities were covered by the amnesty established under Article 6 of Law 1955 of 2019.
