Preparation and evaluation of the clinical efficacy and safety of tomato lotion containing lycopene

Abstract

Introduction: Skin aging starts at around age of 30 with wrinkling and pigmentations as its main indicators. Delay and prevention of aging is a major concern for a great number of people. The purpose of this research was to develop and evaluate the efficacy of an anti-wrinkle tomato lotion, consisting of 5 w/w tomato powder in an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion. Methods: Different O/W emulsions were prepared and stability tests were done on them. The formulation that successfully passed the stability tests, was chosen and the Solanum lycopersicum powder was added to the oily phase of this O/W emulsion. The prepared lotion was evaluated for pharmaceutical tests. In vitro permeation studies were performed to measure permeation through cellulose acetate membrane by diffusion cell at sink condition. In vivo trial for examination of the anti-wrinkle efficacy of lotion was done on 10 healthy women as case group compared with 10 volunteers using the placebo lotion (lotion base without Solanum lycopersicum powder) as control group. Results: According to the experimented results on the formulated lotion, the efficient time duration for lotion effectiveness was 42 days. Tomato powder formulated in base of lotion significantly decreased wrinkles. Our formulation was compatible with skin and caused no sensitivity reaction in human models Conclusion: The Lycopene in Solanum lycopersicum in this formulation has anti-aging effect. This formulation might be a strong candidate for treatment of skin wrinkles.