Assessment of antioxidant and dermoprotective activities of gold nanoparticles as safe cosmetic ingredient

Hubertia ambavilla, an endemic plant originating from Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory and in healing, both for internal and external use. Polyphenolic compounds from aqueous phase extractions can reduce metal salts into nanoparticles and stabilize them in one step. Although gold nanoparticles are well described in the literature as anti-ageing ingredients, the nanoparticles presented herein are novel and are synthesized using a green process. We demonstrate their efficiency as dermoprotective, free radical scavenger and antioxidant cosmetic ingredients. Comparison with common nanoparticles obtained by the Turkevich method clearly emphasizes the necessity to carefully screen the products used for nanoparticle coatings, as they play a major role in the biological properties of the product. Hubertia ambavilla mediated gold nanoparticles are non-toxic to human dermal fibroblasts, possess free radical scavenging potential, and protect against damage to fibroblast and dermal cells caused by ultraviolet A radiation.