The Effect of Labisia Pumila Plant Extract on Biological Changes and Morphological Modifications of Various Human Skin Cells

Labisia pumila (LP) or also known as Kacip Fatimah, is a type of traditional herb that has been used from generation to generation to cure various illnesses and currently was reported having a good antiaging effect to the skin. However, an extensive research of this plant efficacy has not yet been studied into details especially in terms of biochemical and morphological changes of human skin cells .This study aimed to investigate the anti-photoaging efficacy ofLPextract on UVB-irradiated human skin cells and to observe the biochemical and morphological changes of the cells. In this study, human skin fibroblast cells (HSF1184) and melanoma cells (B16F1) were exposed to UVB irradiation and cultured in serum free media with LP extract. After UVB exposure, the changes on biochemical were investigated via cell viability assay.The cell viability result showed that LP extract at concentration below than 1 x10^-5 mg/mL does not giving any toxicity effect to the HSF118 cells but a bit higher concentration of LP extract at 1 x 10^-4 mg/mL for B16F1 cells showed LP extract caused significantly decreased of apoptosis activity compared to the control. Finally, themorphological changes of the cells were evaluated by microscopic observation using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy). The microscopic observation through SEM indicated that, at the higher concentration of LP extract at 1 mg/mL for HSF1184 and B16F1 cells, all cells were shrinking and died; whereas through TEM this concentration had caused the cells mitochondria swollen and contained disorganized of crystae which indicated the cells were programmed to death. Thus, this study revealed that both biochemical and morphological changes of the UVB-irradiated human skin cells after the treatment can be used to confirm the anti-photoaging effect of L. pumila.