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Extraction of Active Compounds from Dioscorea quinqueloba and Their Encapsulation Using Mucin and Chitosan for Application in Cosmetic Formulations

Summary

Researchers created tiny capsules containing beneficial compounds from yam plants using natural materials like chitosan and mucin, designed for use in cosmetic products. These microcapsules were shown to be safe, effective at protecting skin from oxidative damage, and capable of reducing signs of aging similar to green tea extract. The study demonstrates that yam-based microcapsules have strong potential as natural ingredients in skincare formulations.

Background

Dioscorea quinqueloba (yam) contains various medicinal compounds including saponins, mucin, and diosgenin with reported pharmacological properties. Encapsulation technologies are essential tools for protecting and delivering active substances in cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. Natural polymers like chitosan and mucin offer biocompatible options for microcapsule formation.

Objective

This study aimed to develop cosmetic ingredients by extracting active compounds from Dioscorea quinqueloba and encapsulating them using mucin and chitosan derived from natural sources. The resulting microcapsules were evaluated for toxicity, antioxidant activity, and anti-aging properties.

Results

Spherical microcapsules were produced with sizes ranging from 890 to 1130 nm depending on manufacturing conditions. The microcapsules demonstrated no toxicity at concentrations up to 4 mg/mL and showed antioxidant activity approximately twice that of potato extract and three times that of sweet potato extract. Anti-aging effects comparable to EGCG were observed based on MMP-1 expression.

Conclusion

Microcapsules successfully encapsulated Dioscorea quinqueloba extract using natural materials chitosan and mucin, demonstrating significant antioxidant and anti-aging properties suitable for cosmetic formulations. The encapsulation process effectively protected the bioactive compounds while maintaining their biological activity and showed no toxicity, supporting their potential as fundamental cosmetic ingredients.
  • Published in:Materials (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.3390/ma18102178, PMID: 40428915
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