Sostenibilità e innovazione nella cosmetica: Estrazione e valorizzazione di composti bioattivi da sottoprodotti del melograno

The purpose of this study is to valorize the use of by-products derived from pomegranate to promote a circular economy based on the reuse of food waste, which still contain high levels of bioactive compounds exploitable in both cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields. Microstructured lipid carriers (MLCs) were developed to deliver pomegranate extract, using sustainable raw materials such as beeswax, rhus wax, and rice bran oil. Ultrasonication was employed as extraction method. The microparticles were prepared using the high-shear homogenization method and their morfological characterization was assessed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while their size and zeta potential were evaluated using DLS. The encapsulation efficiency of the extract was calculated considering the quantity of polyphenols in both the extract and the MLCs, applying the Folin-Ciocalteu assay. Analyses demonstrated that MLCs exhibit antioxidant activity, assessed through the DPPH assay, owing to the presence of both pomegranate extract and rice bran oil. The findings suggest that these delivery systems can be the starting point of a hypothetical formulations with high antioxidant activity.