Philippine Journal of Science
150 (2): 397-406, April 2021
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 27 Jul 2020

Evaluation of the Bioactivities of Natural Phenolics
from Mango (Mangifera indica Linn) Leaves
for Cosmetic Industry Applications

Arsenia B. Sapin*, Maria Katrina N. Alaon, Fides Marciana Z. Tambalo,
Rodney H. Perez, and Arra Gaylon

National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna 4031 Philippines

*Corresponding author: absapin@up.edu.ph

ABSTRACT

Mango is one of the most important crops in the Philippines but there had been no local study on the possible utilization of its non-food parts such as the barks and leaves, which were reported to be rich in compounds with biological activities that are of significance in the development of cosmetic products (Masibo and He 2008; DA 2018). In this study, aqueous acetone extracts from leaves of the Philippine mango cultivars (“carabao,” “pico,” “apple mango, “sinaging,” and “sipsipin”) were investigated for their total phenolics content (TPC), phenolics composition, and biological activities – specifically, antioxidant as well as tyrosinase and elastase inhibitory properties. Results show that all mango leaf extracts had significant levels of TPC. Phenolic compounds such as mangiferin, gallic acid, quercetin 3-β-D-glucopyranoside, and kaempferol were all found to be present in the extracts with mangiferin as the predominant compound. All the extracts exhibited greater antioxidant capacity than the standard ascorbic acid, implying greater protection against skin damages due to free radicals. Also, all extracts exhibited greater inhibition on elastase than tocopherol, suggesting a greater anti-aging property. While only some extracts showed greater inhibition on tyrosinase than ascorbic acid, it did not surpass but gave comparable inhibitory activity with that of kojic acid. This implies that the extracts and kojic acid have comparable whitening capacities. Overall, the results affirm the great potential of the extracts of the local mango leaves as a cosmetic active ingredient.