Potential of Artemisia annua hydroalcoholic extracts in skin care and dermatocosmetic products

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of plant extracts derived from the native flora of Iasi region, Romania as valuable natural sources of polyphenols and flavonoids for the development of dermatocosmetic formulations aimed at protecting the skin against oxidative stress. Dried Artemisia annua L. samples were used for extracted using three techniques: classical cold maceration (M), heat reflux extraction (R), and Soxhlet heat reflux extraction (Sx). Spectrophotometric analyses were performed to determine the total polyphenol and flavonoid content and to assess the antioxidant capacity using DPPH and ABTS assays. Among the tested methods, heat reflux and Soxhlet extraction proved to be the most efficient, yielding extracts rich in bioactive compounds when using 50% ethanol as solvent and a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:5. Soxhlet extraction provided the highest total polyphenol content (11.26 mg GAE/mL), while heat reflux extraction resulted in the highest flavonoid concentration (7.97 mg QE/mL). Subsequently, an emulsion containing the most active extract in polyphenols was formulated and subjected to a preliminary evaluation of physicochemical stability. The results demonstrated encouraging stability profiles and antioxidant potential, supporting the use of A. annua extracts as promising ingredients in dermatocosmetic applications. Further investigations, including comprehensive cytotoxicity and dermatological testing, are warranted to confirm their efficacy and safety in topical formulations.