NADES-Based Extracts of Selected Medicinal Herbs as Promising Formulations for Cosmetic Usage

What if the key to greener, more effective skincare lies in a solvent that mimics plant cells? Scientists have found a way to extract powerful antioxidants from herbs using 'natural deep eutectic solvents'—and it could revolutionize cosmetics.

The beauty industry is turning green, and not just in packaging. Researchers are exploring natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) as a way to pull out the best from medicinal herbs. These solvents can dissolve a wide range of plant compounds, offering a fresh, eco-friendly alternative to traditional extraction methods.

In this study, the team screened 18 herbs, evaluating their conventional extracts for tyrosinase inhibition (a key to skin lightening), antioxidant power, and safety on skin cells. They then used a clever computational tool, COSMO-RS, to model how 12 phenolic compounds would dissolve in 64 potential NADESs. Seven of the most promising were tested in the lab.

The winners? Betaine-based NADESs—like betaine-urea, betaine-proline, and betaine-lysine—which showed the highest levels of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. These natural extracts could become a key ingredient in sustainable cosmetics, offering both efficacy and eco-credibility. It's a small step for a lab, but a giant leap for green beauty.

Key Points

• NADESs effectively extract bioactives from 18 herbs.
• Betaine-based NADESs show highest phenolic content and antioxidant capacity.
• Computational COSMO-RS guided selection of optimal NADESs.