Nano encapsulation of lemongrass leaves extract (Cymbopogon citratus DC) on fibroblast viability with oxidative stress

During the wound healing process, fibroblasts may experience oxidative stress due to the high number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by inflammatory cells, which, if out of control, may cause impaired fibroblast function, leading to a slow wound healing process. Nonenzymatic antioxidants as suppressors for oxidative stress are derived from secondary metabolites of natural ingredients such as lemongrass, which is unstable when reacting with the external environment and can be minimized by encapsulation using a natural polymer of chitosan. This research is aimed to find out the antioxidant activity of chitosan-encapsulated lemongrass leaves extract (EnChLg) and its effect on the viability of fibroblasts under oxidative stress. Antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH). Viability and proliferation tests were conducted using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) at a wavelength of 450 nm. The research was divided into 8 groups consisting of groups with hydrogen peroxide, ascorbic acid, groups without treatment, and EnChLg treatment with concentrations of 100 ppm, 200 ppm, 300 ppm, 400 ppm, and 500 ppm. EnChLg antioxidant activity test showed antioxidant activity with an IC 50 value of 566.48 ppm, and administration of EnChLg with a concentration of 300 ppm was able to increase the viability of fibroblasts better than the concentrations of 100 ppm, 200 ppm, 400 ppm, and 500 ppm as well as the positive, negative, and comparison control groups. EnChLg has weak antioxidant activity. However, EnChLg is nontoxic and fibroblasts were able to survive well at a concentration of 300 ppm.