Sustainable extraction of polyphenol rich herbal blends using tunable natural deep eutectic solvents with antimicrobial evaluation and AGREEprep greenness assessment

Imagine a single green solvent that can unlock the healing power of ten ancient plants at once—this is the promise of natural deep eutectic solvents in cosmetics.

The beauty industry is turning to nature, and this study shows how. Researchers blended ten Middle Eastern medicinal plants—from sumac to milk thistle—and extracted their polyphenols using citric acid- and lactic acid-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES). These solvents are tunable, meaning their properties can be adjusted for optimal extraction. Eight formulations were tested, measuring viscosity, pH, density, and conductivity. The result? Efficient recovery of polyphenols, especially chlorogenic acid, with performance linked to the solvent's composition and hydrogen-bonding interactions. But the extracts didn't just look good on paper. They fought off Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, showing bactericidal effects at low concentrations. The greenness score of 0.64 on the AGREEprep scale supports their eco-friendly edge over conventional methods. This isn't just science; it's a sustainable blueprint for future cosmetics.

Key Points

• Ten medicinal plants extracted with citric/lactic acid NADES.
• Polyphenols, especially chlorogenic acid, efficiently recovered.
• Extracts show bactericidal effects; AGREEprep score 0.64.