A green approach for the sustainable and effective valorization from Populus nigra buds as a renewable source of high value-added extract using an alternative solvent with prospective application in skin care formulation

What if the key to better sunscreen was hiding in tree buds? Scientists have unlocked a green extraction method from black poplar buds that packs a powerful antioxidant punch—and could one day protect your skin.

Forget harsh chemicals. Researchers turned to Populus nigra buds, a renewable resource, and used ultrasound-assisted lactic acid—a green solvent—to pull out phenolic compounds. The result? A solid 42.64 mg GAE/g dw of phenolics, with antioxidant activity reaching 72.20 mmol TE/100g dw against DPPH radicals and 72.73 mg AAE/g dw against hydroxyl radicals. That's a serious shield for your cells.

The extract didn't stop there. It showed significant iron chelation capacity (104.45 mg EDTA E/g dw) and strong anti-inflammatory effects, with IC50 values of 0.122% and 0.1788% for nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase inhibition, respectively. Even better, it boasted a high sun protection factor of 34.81—and no irritant effects, making it a promising candidate for skincare.

Chemical analysis via FTIR, LC-MS, and GC-MS revealed a treasure trove of metabolites: alcohols, ketones, amines, and 15 bioactive compounds, including 9 phenolics and 6 organic acids, identified for the first time in these buds. This eco-friendly approach could redefine how we design antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and photoprotective extracts—naturally.

Key Points

• Green extraction using ultrasound-assisted lactic acid yields potent antioxidants.
• Extract shows high sun protection factor (34.81) with no irritant effects.
• First identification of 15 bioactive compounds in P. nigra buds.