Hypromellose Highly Swellable Composite Fortified with Psidium Guajava Leaf Phenolic-rich Extract for Antioxidative, Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-melanogenesis, and Hemostasis Applications

Bacterial infection has become one of the most common challenges associated with wound healing, causing severe inflammatory responses, with delayed healing. Herein, a phenolic-rich Psidium guajava leaf ethanolic extract with chlorophyll (PGE), chloroform dechlorophyllized extract (PGC) or sedimentation dechlorophyllized extract (PGS) was fortified within hypromellose polymeric matrix, characterized, and investigated for effective antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tyrosinase, and hemostasis activity. Infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis of PGE, PGC, and PGS fortified composite indicated significant hydrogen bond-based cross-linkage. Scanning electron microscopy of the composite with or without P. guajava leaf extracts showed uniformly distributed porous structure. Antioxidant efficacy and antibacterial activity of the composite fortified with dechlorophyllized extract were significantly ( p < 0.001) higher than those of PGE composite. Biocompatibility results revealed that extract-fortified composites were compatible with > 80% viability of HaCaT and RAW 264.7 cells. The blood-coagulation and clotting kinetics assessment showed dose-related hemostasis. Psidium guajava leaf dechlorophyllized extract incorporated composite effectively attenuated the nitrite production against lipopolysaccharides-stimulated macrophage cells with amelioration of HaCaT cell migration. In addition, the dechlorophyllized extract-fortified composite considerably suppressed tyrosinase activity. Overall, the dechlorophyllized extract showed improved bioactive properties, suggesting its potential for wound healing hemostats dressing and anti-melanogenesis with attenuation of inflammatory response.