Title : Comparative antioxidant activity of nail lacquers
Abstract:
Background: Oxidative stress contributes to nail fragility, discoloration, and structural damage. Cosmetic nail formulations with antioxidant ingredients may help reduce this damage, although their efficacy depends on both composition and formulation design.
This study compares the in vitro antioxidant activity of three cosmetic nail lacquers. Formulation A contains a patented dextrin-based vehicle with cyclodextrin-soluble poly(pseudo)rotaxanes, plus biotin, silicon, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), bamboo extract, and salicylic acid. Formulations B (hyaluronic acid, silicon, and Pistacia lentiscus) and C (MSM and horsetail extract) are commercially available nail lacquers included for comparison.
Methods: Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH radical inhibition. Three nail lacquer formulations (A, B, and C) were serially diluted in methanol and incubated with DPPH (200 µM) for 30 minutes at room temperature in the dark. Absorbance was measured at 517 nm using a microplate reader, and DPPH inhibition was calculated relative to the initial absorbance. Each dilution was prepared in duplicate and measured in triplicate.
Results: Formulation A demonstrated a concentration-dependent antioxidant effect, presenting the strongest DPPH radical scavenging ability among all tested samples. In contrast, Formulation B showed minimal antioxidant activity, which aligns with its low levels of compounds known for antioxidant properties. Formulation C showed no significant antioxidant activity under the assay conditions; its signal was below the detection limit (0.05 mmol/L), so results are not shown in the figure.
Formulation A contains bamboo extract, a source abundant in polyphenols, along with biotin, MSM at a 10% level, and salicylic acid. These ingredients each contribute their own antioxidant benefits.
Conclusions: Formulation A, containing the patented dextrines vehicle, showed better antioxidant performance in laboratory tests than the other nail lacquer formulations assessed. The increased free radical scavenging efficacy is attributed to optimized availability of active ingredients, leading to enhanced protection against oxidative stress. Since oxidative damage contributes to nail fragility, structural deterioration, and age-related changes, effective antioxidant delivery may support the preservation of nail integrity, mechanical strength, and aesthetic appearance over time. These findings underscore the importance of advanced antioxidant formulation strategies as a supportive measure for maintaining nail health, particularly in aging, nail alterations, or environmentally stressed nails.
