Investigation of Antimicrobial and Photoprotective Activity of Hylocereus undatus Methanol Extracts

Abstract

Hylocereus spp, which is very rich in bioactive substances, is known to be protective against various metabolic disorders. Probiotics are known to be useful microorganisms and have potential use in the cure and prevention of some disorders. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the use potential of cream formulations containing Hylocereus undatus extracts in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Firstly, the antimicrobial activity of H. undatus extracts against some pathogenic microorganisms and probiotic candidate strains were determined. Inhibition zone diameters of the extracts against the tested pathogenic microorganisms were obtained in the range of 7.00-12.14 mm. Then, a cream formulation containing H. undatus fruit methanol extract and probiotic strain L. fermentum MA-7 against the pathogenic microorganisms was tested to determine its antimicrobial activity. Among the cream formulations, cream+ H. undatus fruit methanol extract + L. fermentum MA-7 (CEL) showed the highest inhibition zone diameter (17.59 mm) on Escherichia coli O157:H7. The solar protection factor (SPF) of the extracts and the extract-cream mixture was also determined in vitro. The peel extract exhibited the best SPF value of 25.92. The highest SPF values of peel and fruit extract cream mixtures were determined as 22.76 and 10.58 at 10 ml concentration. The result of the study indicated that H. undatus extracts and L. fermentum MA-7 cream formulation containing may have the potential to inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries as natural antimicrobial additives. In addition, H. undatus methanol extracts with high UV blocking capacity can be used as a natural protective additive in sunscreens for the cosmetic industry.

Keywords

• White pitahaya
• probiotic
• cream formulation
• antibacterial
• antifungal
• photoprotective activity

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