Different solvents water, ethanol and ethanol/water (6:4 v/v), were compared in the extraction of pomegranate peels and seeds (PPS) in terms of recovery yields, antioxidant properties, and antimicrobial action against typical spoilage bacterial and fungal species. The best performing extract (ethanol/water (6:4 v/v) was shown to contain mostly ellagic acid and punicalagin as phenolic compounds (5% overall) and hydrolysable tannins (16% as ellagic acid equivalents) and was able to inhibit the growth of the acidophilic Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris at a concentration as low as 1%. The preservation of the organoleptic profile of A. acidoterrestris-inoculated apple juice with extract at 1% over 20 days was also observed thanks to the complete inhibition of bacterial growth, while the extract at 0.1% warranted a significant (40%) inhibition of the enzymatic browning of apple smoothies over the first 30 min. When incorporated in whey proteins’ isolate (WPI) at 5% w/w, the hydroalcoholic extract conferred well appreciable antioxidant properties to the resulting coating-forming hydrogel, comparable to those expected for the pure extract considering the amount present. The WPI coatings loaded with the hydroalcoholic extract at 5% were able to delay the browning of cut fruit by ca. 33% against a 22% inhibition observed with the sole WPI. In addition, the functionalized coating showed an inhibition of lipid peroxidation of Gouda cheese 2-fold higher with respect to that observed with WPI alone. These results open good perspectives toward sustainable food preservation strategies, highlighting the potential of PPS extract for the implementation of WPI-based active packaging.

Immediate pigment darkening, the first response of skin to solar exposure leading to undesired irregular pigmentation and dark spots, is the rapid onset of melanin pigmentation resulting from oxidation of the melanogenic indoles, namely 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) available in epidermal melanocytes. The search for effective sunscreen formulations is nowadays focused on UVA/B filters and additional ingredients that may scavenge the reactive oxygen species generated in these processes. In this work the effects of phenolic cosmetic ingredients (CIs), paradol-6, a ginger CO₂ extract, and phenylethyl resorcinol on photosensitized DHI and DHICA oxidation were investigated showing a decrease of their consumption and melanin formation (25–30% decrease with phenylethyl resorcinol). The photoprotective role of CIs was also evaluated in model systems. Paradol-6 and ginger CO₂ extract can halve linoleic acid peroxidation in the riboflavin-sensitized reaction, while dienes generation reduction (30% of control) was observed in the Rose-Bengal-sensitized photooxidation with paradol-6. The presence of DHI/DHICA melanin exerted a synergistic effect. The decay of thymine free or as a DNA base was almost completely inhibited by CIs. These results open new perspectives in the design of skin care formulations for ameliorating skin spots and contrasting ageing processes associated with sun exposure.