Herbal Extracts as Potential Antioxidant, Anti‐Aging, Anti‐Inflammatory, and Whitening Cosmeceutical Ingredients

AbstractThe aim of this research was to investigate and compare the antioxidant, anti‐tyrosinase, anti‐aging, and anti‐inflammatory activities of 16 herbal extracts for topical application in cosmetic/cosmeceutical products. Herbal plant materials were extracted by infusion in boiled water for 15 min. The total phenolic content and total flavonoid content of each extract were investigated by the Folin‐Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. Antioxidant activities were investigated using 2,2’‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl and a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. Anti‐tyrosinase and anti‐aging activities were investigated using an in vitro enzymatic‐spectrophotometric method. Anti‐inflammatory activities were investigated using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The findings show that theStevia rebaudianaextract has the most significant levels of both phenols and flavonoids (p<0.05). TheS. rebaudiana,Rosa damascene, andPhyllanthus emblicaextracts possessed the most significant antioxidant activities (p<0.05) and a promising whitening effect with moderate anti‐tyrosinase activities. Furthermore, theEchinacea purpureaextract possessed the most significant anti‐collagenase (78.5±0.0 %), anti‐elastase (69.0±1.4 %), and anti‐hyaluronidase activity (64.2±0.3 %). TheMorus albaextract possessed the most significant anti‐inflammatory activity since it could inhibit the secretion of interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α (p<0.05). Therefore, these herbal extracts have promising skin benefits and have potential for use as active ingredients in cosmetic/cosmeceutical products.