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

The purpose of this study is to develop a fundamental material for cosmetics by encapsulating the extract obtained from <i>Dioscorea quinqueloba</i> using chitosan, a natural material. Active compounds were extracted using ethanol from <i>Dioscorea quinqueloba</i> produced in Andong, South Korea. These compounds were encapsulated in mucin extracted from <i>Dioscorea quinqueloba</i> and chitosan derived from cuttlefish bones to form microcapsules. The encapsulation process involves the formation of a W/O emulsion, followed by crosslinking with glutaraldehyde. The resulting microcapsules were examined by scanning electron microscopy, which revealed spherical structures with an average size ranging from 890 to 1130 nm. The toxicity, antioxidant activity, and anti-aging properties of these microcapsules were assessed to evaluate their potential use in cosmetic formulations. The microcapsules showed no toxicity at the concentrations used, and their antioxidant and anti-aging activities were significantly higher than those of the control group. These findings suggest that microcapsules have strong potential as components in cosmetic compositions.