Valorization of bark extracts from Cerrado and Amazon species: phenolic characterization, antioxidant capacity, and photoprotective potential for circular bioeconomy applications

Abstract Tree bark remains an underexploited source of high‐value‐added phenolic compounds with potential circular bioeconomy applications. This work characterized bark extracts from two species of distinct Brazilian biomes, Stryphnodendron adstringens (Cerrado) and Myrcia eximia (Amazon), obtained with three solvents (ethanol, methanol and acetone). Using UHPLC–MS/MS, 15 phenolic compounds were identified in S. adstringens extracts and 14 in M. eximia extracts. Total phenolic content reached up to 503.30 milligrams of gallic acid equivalent per gram of bark in S. adstringens extracts, while total flavonoid content reached 108.47 and 116.36 milligrams of catechin equivalent per gram of bark for S. adstringens and M. eximia , respectively. Antioxidant capacity, assessed by the iron reduction mechanism, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and phosphomolybdenum assays, was consistently high for both species, with EC 50 values of 38.71 and 37.69 micrograms of bark per gram of DPPH for S. adstringens and M. eximia , respectively. The barks presented a total anthocyanin content of 40.97 and 27.97 milligrams per 100 g, respectively, together with measurable carotenoid contents. In vitro sun protection factor values reached 117.54 ( S. adstringens ) and 254.67 ( M. eximia ) in acetone extracts, exceeding minimum regulatory thresholds, although these results should be confirmed by future in vivo and formulation‐based studies. These results indicate that bark extracts from Cerrado and Amazon species are promising functional inputs, such as antioxidant and photoprotective ingredients, for circular bioeconomy applications.