Optimizing ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from Canthium horridum blume leaves utilizing polyols: A study on skin-related activities

What if the secret to greener cosmetics lies in a plant extract made with everyday ingredients like glycerine and butylene glycol? A new study shows that ultrasound and a simple polyol mix can unlock powerful skin-benefiting compounds from Canthium horridum leaves.

The push to ditch harsh organic solvents has scientists turning to nature's own recipe book. Canthium horridum, a plant with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers, is now at the center of a greener extraction revolution. Researchers swapped traditional solvents for a blend of water, glycerine, and butylene glycol—common, skin-friendly polyols—and used ultrasound to speed up the process.

Using a clever statistical design, they pinpointed the perfect solvent mix: about 32.6% butylene glycol, 32.9% glycerine, and 34.5% water. They also found the sweet spot for extraction: just 15 minutes with a solvent-to-plant ratio of 32.94:1. This ultrasound-assisted method, dubbed GB-UAE, pulled out more phenolic compounds and showed stronger antioxidant activity than ethanol-based extraction.

The extract was packed with bioactive stars like quercetin derivatives and caffeoylquinic acid. Better yet, it was kinder to skin cells than ethanol extracts, showing higher cell viability and even comparable melanin-reducing effects at higher concentrations. A promising step toward safer, greener cosmetic ingredients.

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