Comparative Evaluation of Herbal Sunscreen Extracts Using the Lokapure SPF Equation: A Reassessment of Classical Mansur Spectrophotometric Data Using Syzygium cumini Fruit Extract
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66220/b4rdph29Keywords:
Syzygium cumini, Jamun, Sun Protection Factor, Lokapure SPF Equation, Natural Sunscreen, UV–Visible Spectrophotometry, Broad-Spectrum Photoprotection, Flavonoids, Photoaging, DNA DamageAbstract
The increasing interest in plant-derived sunscreen agents has created a need for more comprehensive methods to evaluate their photoprotective efficacy. The classical Mansur spectrophotometric equation is widely used for in vitro Sun Protection Factor (SPF) determination but is primarily limited to UV-B-induced erythemal protection. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the photoprotective potential of Syzygium cumini fruit extract by reassessing the same UV–Visible spectrophotometric dataset using both the classical Mansur equation and the recently developed Lokapure SPF Equation. Fresh fruits of Syzygium cumini were extracted with 90% ethanol by maceration and subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening for flavonoids. The UV absorption spectrum of the extract was recorded between 290 and 400 nm using a Shimadzu UV-1700 UV–Visible spectrophotometer. The obtained spectral data were analyzed using the Mansur equation based on erythemal weighting factors and the Lokapure SPF Equation incorporating biologically weighted functions for erythema, photoaging, and DNA damage.The ethanolic fruit extract demonstrated appreciable ultraviolet absorption across both the UV-B and UV-A regions. The Mansur equation yielded an in vitro SPF value of 7.63, whereas reassessment of the same spectral dataset using the Lokapure SPF Equation produced an SPF value of 87.70, reflecting a broader biological assessment of photoprotection. The observed activity is attributed to the presence of flavonoids, anthocyanins, gallic acid, ellagic acid, quercetin, and other polyphenolic constituents. However, the present findings are based solely on in vitro spectrophotometric evaluation of a crude plant extract and do not account for formulation characteristics, photostability, skin penetration, or standardized in vivo SPF performance. Therefore, further formulation studies and clinical validation are required to confirm the practical photoprotective efficacy of the extract. The comparative evaluation demonstrates that although the Mansur equation remains suitable for routine UV-B SPF estimation, the Lokapure SPF Equation provides a more comprehensive assessment by integrating erythema, photoaging, and DNA damage. The findings support the potential of Syzygium cumini as a promising natural broad-spectrum sunscreen ingredient and highlight the usefulness of biologically weighted mathematical models for next-generation in vitro sunscreen evaluation.
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