Free Radical Scavenging and Tyrosinase Inhibition Activity of Physic Nut (Jatropha curcas Linn.) Seed Oil Entrapped in Niosomes

The Physic Nut seed oil extracted by screw pressing was assayed for free radical scavenging activity by DPPH and tyrosinase inhibition activity by the dopachrome methods. The oils gave both activities similar to vitamin C. The maximum loading of the oil in niosomes composed of Tween 61/cholesterol at 3:7 molar ratio prepared by chloroform film method with sonication was 1%w/v. The niosomes were stable at 28°C for 8 weeks with an average size determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) of about 120 nm. The oil entrapped in niosomes gave higher scavenging and tyrosinase inhibition activity than the unentrapped oil of about 3-5 and 1-2 times (p < 0.1), respectively. This study has indicated the potential enhancement of free radical scavenging activity and tyrosinase inhibition activity of Physic Nut oil by entrapping in niosomes.