2.1. Plant Material and Extraction
Flowers of Vatica diospyroides were collected from Yala Province, Thailand, during their peak blooming season (November to March). A botanist from Yala Rajabhat University authenticated the plant species, and a voucher specimen (YRU2024/VD01) was deposited in the university herbarium. The collected flowers were separated into buds, petals, and whole flowers, dried at 40°C for 48 h, and finely ground into powder (Fig. 1).
The extraction process involved macerating 20 g of the powdered material in 200 mL of solvents with varying polarities (ethanol, hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate) for 72 h at room temperature. Each extract was filtered using Whatman No. 1 filter paper and then concentrated using a rotary evaporator under reduced pressure. The dried extracts were stored at − 20°C until further analysis.
2.2. Phytochemical Screening
Phytochemical screening was performed on the hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of Vatica diospyroides flowers to identify the presence of bioactive secondary metabolites. The screening targeted nine groups of phytochemicals: alkaloids, phenolics (including tannins), flavonoids, anthraquinones, coumarins, saponins, terpenoids, steroids, and cardiac glycosides. Standard methods, based on colorimetric and precipitate formation reactions, were employed (Ayoola et al., 2008; Harborne, 1998; Trease & Evans, 2002).
2.2.1. Alkaloids
Alkaloids were detected using Wagner’s reagent, prepared by dissolving 2 g iodine and 6 g potassium iodide in 100 mL distilled water. A total of 0.2 g of the extract was mixed with 1 mL of 1.5% v/v hydrochloric acid (HCl) and heated in a water bath for 5 min. The solution was filtered, and 5 drops of Wagner’s reagent were added to the filtrate. The formation of a yellow or brown precipitate confirmed the presence of alkaloids (Trease & Evans, 2002).
2.2.2. Phenolics and Tannins
The presence of phenolics and tannins was tested by dissolving 0.2 g of the extract in 1 mL distilled water, heating the solution in a water bath for 5 min, and filtering. The filtrate was treated with 5 drops of 1% ferric chloride (FeCl₃) solution. A greenish-black or bluish-black coloration indicated phenolics and tannins (Harborne, 1998; Ayoola et al., 2008).
2.2.3. Flavonoids
Flavonoids were detected using the magnesium ribbon test. A total of 0.2 g of the extract was dissolved in 1 mL of 50% ethanol, filtered, and treated with a small piece of magnesium ribbon and 5 drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl). The solution was heated for 5 min, and a yellow, pink, or red coloration indicated the presence of flavonoids (Trease & Evans, 2002).
2.2.4. Anthraquinones
The presence of anthraquinones was assessed by mixing 0.2 g of the extract with 1 mL of 10% sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), heating the solution in a water bath for 5 min, and filtering. To the filtrate, 0.5 mL of 10% ammonia (NH₃) was added. A reddish-pink coloration confirmed anthraquinones (Ayoola et al., 2008).
2.2.5. Coumarins
Coumarins were detected by dissolving 0.2 g of the extract in 1 mL of 50% ethanol, filtering, and mixing with 1 mL of 6 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH). A yellow coloration indicated the presence of coumarins (Ayoola et al., 2008).
2.2.6. Saponins
Saponins were identified using the froth test. A solution of 0.2 g of the extract in 5 mL distilled water was heated in a water bath for 5 min, then shaken vigorously. Persistent froth formation in the test tube indicated the presence of saponins (Harborne, 1998).
2.2.7. Terpenoids
To test for terpenoids, 0.2 g of the extract was dissolved in 1 mL dichloromethane, filtered, and layered with 0.5 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). A reddish-brown ring at the interface confirmed the presence of terpenoids (Trease & Evans, 2002; Ayoola et al., 2008).
2.2.8. Steroids
Steroids were detected by dissolving 0.2 g of the extract in 1 mL dichloromethane, filtering, and mixing the filtrate with 0.5 mL of glacial acetic acid. Three drops of concentrated sulfuric acid were added, and a blue or green coloration indicated steroids (Harborne, 1998).
2.2.9. Cardiac Glycosides
Cardiac glycosides were detected by dissolving 0.2 g of the extract in 1 mL dichloromethane, filtering, and adding 5 drops each of 1% ferric chloride (FeCl₃) and glacial acetic acid. The solution was layered with 0.5 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid, and a brown ring at the interface confirmed cardiac glycosides (Ayoola et al., 2008).
2.3. Antioxidant Activity
The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, following the method of Brand-Williams et al. (1995). Briefly, 100 µL of each extract at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 10 µg/mL was added to 2.9 mL of 0.1 mM DPPH solution in methanol. The mixtures were incubated in the dark at room temperature for 30 min. The absorbance was measured at 517 nm using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The IC50 value, representing the concentration required to scavenge 50% of DPPH radicals, was calculated from the resulting inhibition curve. Ascorbic acid was used as a positive control.
2.4. Anti-inflammatory Activity
Anti-inflammatory activity was measured by evaluating the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The cells were seeded at a density of 1×105 cells/well in a 96-well plate and allowed to adhere overnight. The cells were then treated with various concentrations of the extracts (0.5–5 mg/mL) for 1 h, followed by stimulation with LPS (1 µg/mL) for 24 h. The supernatant was collected, and NO levels were quantified using the Griess reagent, with absorbance measured at 540 nm. Indomethacin served as the positive control.
$$\:NO\:Inhibition\:\left(\%\right)=\:\frac{(A0-A1)}{A0}\:x\:100$$
where A0 is the absorbance of the LPS-stimulated control and A1 is the absorbance of the sample-treated group.
2.5. Tyrosinase Inhibition Assay
Tyrosinase inhibitory activity was determined using a modified dopachrome assay. A mixture consisting of 100 µL of the extract, 80 µL of phosphate buffer (pH 6.8), 20 µL of mushroom tyrosinase enzyme (100 U/mL), and 100 µL of 0.5 mM L-DOPA was incubated at 37°C for 30 min. The formation of dopachrome was monitored at 475 nm. The percentage of tyrosinase inhibition was calculated based on the reduction in absorbance compared to the control (without extract). Kojic acid was used as a reference standard.
$$\:Tyrosinase\:Inhibition\:\left(\%\right)=\:\frac{(A0-A1)}{A0}\:x\:100$$
where A0 is the absorbance of the L-DOPA-stimulated control and A1 is the absorbance of the sample-treated group.
2.6. Antimicrobial Activity
The antimicrobial activity of the extracts against Cutibacterium acnes was assessed using the agar disc diffusion method. Sterile paper discs (6 mm) were impregnated with 10 µL of extract at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 10 mg/mL. The discs were placed on Mueller-Hinton agar plates inoculated with C. acnes (1×107 CFU/mL). Plates were incubated under anaerobic conditions at 37°C for 48 h. The diameter of the inhibition zones was measured in millimeters. Clindamycin (10 µg/disc) was used as the positive control.
2.7. Cytotoxicity Assay
The cytotoxicity of the extract was evaluated on human skin fibroblasts using the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay, as described by Vichai and Kirtikara (2006). This assay was conducted to assess the safety of the extract for potential use in skincare products. Human skin fibroblasts were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% penicillin-streptomycin and seeded into 96-well plates at a density of 1 × 104 cells/well. Following a 24-hour incubation at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂, the cells were treated with varying concentrations of CP (0.1–1.0 mg/mL), dissolved in 10% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), for 48 h. After treatment, cells were fixed with cold 10% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid, stained with 0.4% SRB solution, and the absorbance was measured at 515 nm using a microplate reader. Vitamin C, known for its cytoprotective properties (Packer et al., 2008), was used as a reference standard. The percentage of cell viability was calculated to determine the cytotoxicity profile of the extract.
2.8. In Vitro Wound Healing Activity
The wound healing potential of the extract was assessed using an in vitro scratch assay on human skin fibroblasts, following the method outlined by Cory (2011). Human skin fibroblasts were cultured in 6-well plates until 90% confluence was achieved. A uniform scratch (wound) was created using a sterile 200 µL pipette tip across the cell monolayer. Detached cells were removed by washing with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and cells were treated with the extract at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, dissolved in 10% (v/v) DMSO. Control wells received the DMSO solvent alone. Plates were incubated at 37°C in a 5% CO₂ atmosphere, and images of the wound area were captured at 0, 6, 24, and 48 h using a phase-contrast microscope.
Wound areas were analyzed using ImageJ software, and the percentage of wound closure was calculated using the following formula,

Where W1 is the initial area of the wound and W2 is the area at a specific time point
2.9. Statistical Analysis
All experiments were performed in triplicate, and data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The IC50 values and wound closure percentages were calculated using GraphPad Prism software (version 9.0). Statistical differences among groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test for multiple comparisons. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.