Phormidium versicolor PC skin cream evaluation for its stability and biological activities

In the present investigation, 13% ± 0.84 of the extracted and purified phycocyanin from Phormidium versicolor was obtained, with a purity of 0.69 following dialysis. FT-IR analysis of purified phycocyanin revealed stretching vibration peaks in the profiles of the functional groups of N–H, O–H, C = O, N–H, C = O, and C = NH⁺. The phycocyanin had a significant DPPH radical scavenging ability (IC₅₀ = 0.6 ± 0.02 mg mL⁻¹) confirmed with FRAP assay, and it exhibited microbiological activity between 1.25 and 2.5 mg mL⁻¹ against Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis. Phycocyanin showed no cytotoxic and improved the viability of HEK-293. It was added to skin cream at a rate of 6 mg g⁻¹ because of its significant yield extraction and biological activity. At 10 mg mL⁻¹, a bactericidal activity has been noted, inhibiting the growth of bacteria responsible for inflammatory skin conditions. For 60 days, the emulsion’s stability was monitored at room temperature, 25 °C, and 45 °C. The appearance of the batch kept at 45 °C was changed to beige after 7 days, while the others were kept for 15 days. Skin creams enhanced with phycocyanin were found to be stable over the course of storage at both room temperature and 25 °C, based on centrifugation stability analysis. But starting on the fifteenth day, the items kept at 45 °C were unstable. Thus, the current study’s findings are in favor of using phycocyanin as an antioxidant in cosmetic products. However, further investigation is required before using it in clinical trials.

• Phycocyanin extraction field (13%) is particularly significant compared to other cyanobacteria.

• Phycocyanin at 0.6 μg g−1 in skin cream fights bacteria in skin inflammation.

• Phycocyanin-enriched cream was stable at room temp, 25 °C, and unstable at 45 °C after day 15.