Valorization of bioactive compounds from residual saffron biomass (Crocus sativus L.) to obtain high value added dermato-cosmetic products
Delia Turcov, Ana Simona Barna, Oana Teodora Ciupercă, Adriana Trifan, Adrian Cătălin Puițel, Daniela Șuteu
Abstract
The valorization of indigenous flora waste by extraction of biologically active compounds has potential applications in the medical and cosmetic fields. The polyphenols and flavonoids extracted from this waste are valuable compounds for the manufacture of new cosmetic and/or dermato-cosmetic formulas to protect the skin from oxidative stress. This study obtained plant extracts from saffron waste—petals, tepals, and superior portions of stem—using different solid-liquid extraction techniques. The influence of some physical operating parameters was studied (extraction time, solid/liquid ratio, solvent extraction composition). The extraction method performance was assessed by the value of the extraction yields. The obtained extracts were characterized by the content of polyphenols and flavonoids, and the antioxidant activity determined with the DPPH and ABTS methods and the UV-VIS spectrometry. Some emulsions O/W were prepared and preliminarily characterized (pH, sensory analysis, stability after centrifugation and storage). The obtained results showed that the incorporation of this natural extract did not negatively affect the stability of the studied cosmetic formulations and advanced characterization (microbiological control of contamination, rheology studies and in vitro and in vivo studies) can be continued in order to implement a new product.