Changes in dermoscopic photoaging and serum MMP-1 following 12 weeks of 5% lady finger banana peel extract nanoparticle serum: a single-arm proof-of-concept study.

BACKGROUND: Lady finger banana peel (Musa acuminata Colla) contains several phytochemical compounds with antioxidant activity that may be relevant to skin aging. However, clinical evidence regarding its use as a nanoparticle-based topical formulation remains limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate within-participant changes in facial photoaging manifestations and serum matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) levels following 12 weeks of topical application of a 5% lady finger banana peel extract nanoparticle serum. METHODS: This prospective, single-center, single-arm, uncontrolled pretest-posttest proof-of-concept study enrolled women aged 25-50 years with clinical signs of facial skin aging. Participants applied 10 drops, approximately 0.5 mL, of the study serum once nightly for 12 weeks. Serum MMP-1 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline and week 12. Dermoscopy Photoaging Scale (DPAS) scores were evaluated at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12. Changes in serum MMP-1 levels and DPAS scores were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Friedman test, respectively. Adherence and adverse events were evaluated throughout the study. RESULTS: Fifty participants were enrolled, of whom one discontinued the study because of non-adherence. A total of 49 participants completed the study and were included in the analysis. Mean serum MMP-1 levels decreased from 0.48 ± 0.39 ng/mL at baseline to 0.26 ± 0.25 ng/mL at week 12 (p < 0.001). Mean DPAS scores decreased from 12.69 ± 0.92 at baseline to 9.51 ± 0.77 at week 12 (p < 0.001). Changes in DPAS scores were modestly correlated with changes in serum MMP-1 levels (r = 0.347; p = 0.015). No adverse events were observed or reported among participants who completed the study. CONCLUSION: Lower DPAS scores and serum MMP-1 levels were observed following 12 weeks of topical serum use. Because this was an uncontrolled single-arm study, the findings should be regarded as preliminary and do not establish treatment efficacy, causality, systemic absorption, or modulation of cutaneous MMP-1. Randomized vehicle-controlled studies incorporating local skin biomarkers are required.