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   ISSN : 2693 6356 

2018 | Vol 1 | Issue 2 
 

 

In Vitro Anti-Oxidant Study of 
Pure Mattifying Face Cream 
Using HEPG2 Cell Line 

Harsha M R*, Baidyanath Mishra1 ,Chaithra C S 2 

*,1,2 

R & D Center, InnoVision HealthCare Limited, P 6(B), 1st Cross, 1st Stage, Peenya Industrial Area, 
Bangalore-5600058 

 

Abstract 

Background: Herbal cosmetics are gaining a wide popularity in world market mainly due to the 
concern of consumers with regards to its safety and minimum or nil untoward effects. They are used for 
variety of reason in almost all the age group. Aim: The present study deals in vitro anti-oxidant assay of 
the poly-herbal formulation, Pure Mattifying Face Cream. Materials & Methods: Human liver cancer 
cell line (HepG2) was used as an in vitro model to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the test 
substance. HepG2 cells were exposed to carbon tetra chloride (CCL4) in order to induce hepatotoxicity. 

Cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of test substance to assess the antioxidative effects 
as opposed to control untreated cells. Investigation of cytotoxicity, and markers of oxidative stress 
(reduced glutathione content) was carried out. Results: The test substance showed low cytotoxicity, on 
the basis of CTC50 (the cytoxic concentration / dose that kills 50% of cells) value the concentration of 
the test substance considered for Ant-oxidant activity against HepG2 cell line. The test product showed 
dose dependent anti-oxidant activity. The test substance showed higher content of glutathione with 

16.138 and 13.179 µM of glutathione content per mg of protein against toxicant CCL 4. Conclusion: The 
result suggested that the Pure Mattifying Face Cream did possess a positive anti-oxidant activity in 
HepG2 cell line. Which implies that the cream can be effectively used in oxidative stress due to free 
radicals damage to skin. 

 

Keywords: Anti-Oxidant assay, HepG2 cell line, In vitro study, Pure Mattifying Face Cream 

 

Introduction 
cosmetics are products which are used for variety of reasons ranging from enhancing of beauty to minimizing 
the skin defect, with 
later being the major reason. The Federal Food, Drug,  their 
intended use, as "articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise 
applied to the human body...for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance" 
[FD&C Act, sec. 201(I)] [1]. 

 
The history of cosmetics dates back to time immemorial which undoubtedly was natural. The invent of 
synthetic or chemical substance has taken over the cosmetic market by storm.  However the 
recent ban on animal testing of cosmetics by European union has lead to a serious concern on the safety and 
adverse effects of these cosmetics [2]. 
Advances in technology has helped in reinventing the potential of natural substances as cosmetics in an 
applicable  way. The fact is coupled by various clinical and laboratory studies which have 

 activities in many natural ingredients that  care [3-

4]. 



2 

 

 

Among various causes of skin aging, oxidative stress due to free radical damage which cannot be 
neutralized by internal defenses is said to be the most common and important one [5]. Pure Mattifying Face 
Cream is one such natural cosmetic enriched with natural revitalize, essential oils that nourish, renew and 
provide a long standing skin hydration. enrichment with all the natural goodness of Liquorice, Aloe vera, 
Lotus, Hibiscus and Coconut in a  balanced formulations that synergistically helps to revive dry 
lusterless skin and reveals youthfulness. Its continued application can help in fastening the renewal of skin 

 wrinkles and age spots making one look younger. 
 

The present study is purported to assess the anti- oxidant activity of test substance in HepG2 cell line model. 

Materials and Methods: 
Test System: HepG2 (Human, Hepatocellular carcinoma) has been routinely used as a test system, which, 
when treated with CCL4 induces severe hepatotoxicity resulting in oxidative stress with reduced amounts of 
reduced glutathione (GSH). 

 

Test culture preparation: Cell lines were cultured in MEM media supplemented with 10% inactivated Fetal 
Bovine Serum (FBS), penicillin (100 IU/ml), streptomycin  (100µg/ml)  and  amphotericin  B  (5 µg/ml) in a 

  TPVG solution 
(0.2% trypsin, 0.02% EDTA, 0.05% glucose in PBS). The stock cultures will be grown in 25 
all experiments will be carried out in 96 micro titre plates. 

 

Test Product: Pure Mattifying Face Cream, each gram of Cream contains, Licorice (30 mg), Aloe vera (30 
 mg) and Coconut in a  balanced formulation. 

Preparation of Test Doses: 
For studies, each weighed test drugs were separately dissolved in 1% between 80 and volume was made up 
with MEM supplemented with 2% inactivated FBS to obtain a stock solution of 1 mg/ml concentration and 
sterilized by  Serial two fold dilutions were prepared from this for carrying out cytotoxic studies. 
Procedure: Determination of Cytotoxicity in HepG2 cell line The monolayer cell culture was trypsinized 
and the cell count was adjusted to 1.0 x 105 cells/ml using MEM containing 10% FBS. To each well of the 96 
well microtitre plate, 0.1 ml of the diluted cell suspension (approximately 10,000 cells) was added. After 24 
h, when a partial monolayer was formed, the supernatant was discarded and the cells were washed 
with medium and 100 µl of different test concentrations of test drugs were added on to the 
partial monolayer in microtitre plates. The plates were then incubated at 37o C in 5% CO2 atmosphere. After 
24 h, the drug solutions in the wells were discarded and 50 µl of MTT in PBS was added to each well. The 
plates were gently shaken and incubated for 3 h at 37o C in 5% CO2 atmosphere. The supernatant was 
removed and 100 µl of propanol was added and the plates were gently shaken to solubilize the formed 
formazan. The absorbance was measured using a microplate reader at a wavelength of 540 nm. The 
percentage growth inhibition was calculated and concentration of test drug needed to inhibit cell growth by 
50% (CTC50) values is generated from the dose-response curves for each cell line [6]. 

In vitro anti-oxidant activity of extracts Step I: Cell Lysates (Treatment) 
Cell lysates were prepared for the assessment of antioxidant activity. HepG2 cells were grown to 
in 60mm petri dishes. Test substance (500, 250 µg/ml) along with CCL4 (1%) was added to the culture and 
incubated for 24 h. Cell samples were homogenized in lysis buffer containing Tris buffer. Cell homogenates 
were then centrifuged at 2000 RPM for 10 min at 4 °C. The clear supernatant was collected for determination of 
protein concentrations using the Bradford Protein assay, using bovine serum albumin as a protein standard [7]. 

Step II: Reduced glutathione (GSH) 
Reduced glutathione (GSH) activity was assayed according to the method of Ellman, 1959. To 0.1 ml of 
different cell supernatant, 2.4 ml of 0.02 M EDTA solution was added and kept on ice bath for 10 min. Then 
2 ml of distilled water and 0.5 ml of 50 %w/v TCA were added. This mixture was kept on ice for 10- 15 min, 
and then centrifuged at 3000 g for 15 min. To 1 ml of supernatant, 2.0 ml of Tris buffer (0.4M) was added. Then 
0.05 ml of DTNB solution (Ellman's reagent; 0.01M DTNB in methanol) was added and 



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No 

vortexed thoroughly. OD was read (within 2-3 min after the addition of DTNB) at 412 nm in 
spectrophotometer against a reagent blank. 

Results 
The test substance showed low cytotoxicity, on the basis of CTC50 value, the concentration of the test 
substance which is considered for anti-oxidant activity against HepG2 cell line (Table 1). 

 

Table 1: Cytotoxic properties of test drugs against HepG2 cell line 

ingredients, many of which are carcinogenic and toxic in nature, can potentially result in various 
degenerative diseases. Of-late, interest in research towards exploring natural antioxidants for skin care has 
greatly risen. Principal sources in this discovery process are herbal and medicinal plants which are touted to 
be safe and effective. Thus, relying on herbal based cosmetic preparations over their synthetic counterparts 
that come with a potential tag of side effects, is always welcome. The test substance used in this study is a 
multi-herbal formulation intended to minimize pre-mature ageing and improve skin 

 
 

Sl. Name of Test Test % Cytotoxicity CTC50 No sample Conc.(µg/ml)  (µg/ml) 

complexion keeping the skin soft and supple. The test substance exhibited potent antioxidant actions and 
found to be non-toxic. The combinatorial effect of the 
1 R 2272 (IHC/2014/AC) 

1000 
500 
250 
125 

62.5 

20.81±4.6 
16.02±3.0 
13.11±3.0 
8.05±3.5 

7.46±2.8>1000 

 

different constituent herbs and the respective active ingredients might have been mainly responsible for the 
observed effects. The constituent herbs and their active principles in the enriched formulation – (i) Licorice 
(Glabridin and other phytonutrients); (ii) Aloe vera (amino acids, various minerals like Ca, Mg, 

The test product showed dose dependent anti-oxidant 
activity. HepG2 cells pre-treated with test substance had higher glutathione content of 16.138 and 13.179 
micromoles/mg protein, at 250 and 500µg/ml test substance respectively, against toxicant CCL4, as 
mentioned in Table 2. 

 

Table 2: Anti-oxidant activity of test substance in HepG2 cells against CCl4 induced toxicity. 
Na, bioactive enzyme alosein and polysaccharides); 
(iii) Lotus  (the  acid, AHA (alpha hydroxyl acid)) and (iv) Chinese rose (alpha-hydroxy- acids 
(AHA)) - might offer a synergistic effect towards antioxidant features complimented by  and 
antibacterial properties, which probably could be the mode of action of the substance studied[9-12]. 

Conclusion 

{ į 
Samples 

 
Concentration tested 

Glutathione (micromoles/mg protein)Pure Mattifying Face Cream has shown positive anti- oxidant activity in 
HepG2 cell line and found to be non-toxic. Hence it can be advocated in condition of 



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250 µg/ml 
1 IHC/2014/AC 

500 µg/ml
 

 

 
 

Discussion16.13±1.169 

13.17±0.902oxidative stress due to free radical damage to skin. 

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2 CCl4 1% 7.92±0.103 

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