This study investigated the phytochemical composition and biological activity of Cymbopogon citratus microshoot cultures and evaluated their suitability for incorporation into a cosmetic formulation. Microshoot cultures were established on Murashige and Skoog media supplemented with plant growth regulators and served as a reproducible source of biomass. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Chemical composition was characterized using LC-MS/MS analysis, which revealed the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids, with p-coumaric, caffeic, and ferulic acids being among the most abundant detected constituents. In biological assays, the extracts inhibited murine tyrosinase in a concentration-dependent manner and exhibited antimicrobial activity against selected oral and skin-associated microorganisms, including Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, as well as showing fungistatic and fungicidal effects against Candida albicans. Cytotoxicity analysis performed on HaCaT keratinocytes confirmed biocompatibility within the tested concentration range. To assess formulation suitability, the microshoot extract was incorporated into an oil-in-water (O/W) cream, which maintained stable pH, viscosity, and physical properties while preserving the antioxidant activity of the extract. Overall, these findings indicate that C. citratus microshoot cultures represent a reproducible source of bioactive metabolites with potential application in cosmetic formulations.
Błońska-Sikora et al. (Fri,) studied this question.