Formulation and Development of Skincare Cream Using Pleurotus djamor

Authors

K. A. E. Madushanka, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, CINEC Campus, Sri LankaFollow
W. V. P. M. Weligalla, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, CINEC Campus, Sri LankaFollow
K. D. K. P. Kumari, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, UKFollow
W. M. K. M. Ratnayake, Department of Cosmetic Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, CINEC Campus, Sri LankaFollow

Document Type

Original Study

Abstract

Mushrooms have emerged as versatile and valuable resources in the cosmetic industry, offering a plethora of benefits that range from skincare to haircare formulations. As natural alternatives to synthetic ingredients, mushrooms not only cater to the growing consumer demand for sustainable and eco-friendly products but also offer unique properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effects. Hence, Pleurotus djamor, which is a grown mushroom in Sri Lanka was selected to prepare a new cream formulation for skincare. In the study, an aqueous extract of P. djamor (AEPD) was used and phytochemical screening was done to screen alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, leucoanthocyanins, tannins and phenols. Antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and total flavonoid content of the AEPD were evaluated by using the DPPH radical scavenging activity assay, Folin – Ciocalteu method and the Aluminium chloride method, respectively. The AEPD was incorporated to develop cream formulas, and stability tests were carried out to determine organoleptic characteristics, pH, viscosity and phase separation. The toxicity of the cream formula was evaluated by brine shrimp assay. The AEPD exhibited dose-dependent DPPH scavenging activity with IC₅₀ values of 37.42 mg/mL, whereas 12.91 μg /mL for ascorbic acid. The result showed the total phenolic present in the AEPD was 0.51 ± 0.06 mg GAE/g fresh weight of P. djamor. Further, the total flavanoid was 9.88 ± 0.11 mg QE/g fresh weight of P. djamor. All these results confirmed the antioxidant potential of the AEPD. Hence, it was selected to develop a new skincare formula containing AEPD. Among the developed formula, F₁ was identified as a stable formula after being subjected to certain stability tests. The F₁ cream formula containing AEPD exhibited dose-dependent DPPH scavenging activity with IC₅₀ values of 1.5 mg/mL. In conclusion, as the developed cream formula showed antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay it was identified as a skincare formula with antioxidant potential.

Recommended Citation

Madushanka, K. A. E.; Weligalla, W. V. P. M.; Kumari, K. D. K. P.; and Ratnayake, W. M. K. M. (2026) "Formulation and Development of Skincare Cream Using Pleurotus djamor," Journal of Innovation in Science, Engineering and Technology: Vol. 7: Iss. 1, Article 8.
Available at: https://jiset.cinec.edu/journal/vol7/iss1/8

Pages

65

Last Page

75