The investigation into promising botanical materials for natural cosmetics is expanding due to environmental and health awareness. Here, we aimed to evaluate the phytochemical substances and the potential skin-related pharmacological activities of four Mucuna seeds, namely M. gigantea (Willd.) DC. (MGG), M. interrupta Gagnep. (MIT), M. monosperma Wight (MMM), and M. pruriens (L.) DC. (MPR), belonging to the Fabaceae family. In methodology, the Mucuna seeds were authenticated using morphological and molecular approaches. L-DOPA, phenolics, and flavonoid content, incorporated with HPLC and GC–MS fingerprinting analyses, were determined. Then, skin-related antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiaging activities were determined. The results revealed that MPR showed the highest L-DOPA content (75.94 mg/100 mg extract), whereas MGG exhibited the highest phenolic and flavonoid content (56.73 ± 0.62 mg gallic/g extract and 1030.11 ± 3.97 mg quercetin/g extract, respectively). Only MMM and MPR could inhibit all of S. aureus, S. epidermidis, and C. albicans, but no sample could inhibit C. acnes. Furthermore, all samples demonstrated antioxidant activity. Interestingly, all Mucuna samples exhibited strong collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase inhibitory activities. We conclude that the ethanolic extracts of four Mucuna seeds are probably advantageous in the development of skincare cosmeceutical products.

The aim of this study was to develop green robusta coffee beans extract loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for enhancing dermal application and its efficiency. The green robusta coffee beans extract cultivated in Chumphon (CP) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay with IC₅₀ of 34.1 ± 0.9 µg/ml, lipid peroxidation inhibition with percentage inhibition of 38.8 ± 1.7, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay with a FRAP value of 234.5 ± 12.3 mM FeSO₄/g. The extract contained caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid as major compounds. The anti-inflammatory test indicated that CP could decrease the secretion of IL-6 in macrophage cells and caused no irritation to blood vessels on the irritation test by hen’s egg test chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) assay. The particle size of CP-loaded NLCs was 158.1 ± 0.2 nm with a narrow polydispersity index and showed no noticeable difference after the stability test. Entrapment efficacy of CP-loaded NLCs was found to be over 60%. Caffeine and chlorogenic acid in CP-loaded NLCs were released sustainably and penetrated deeper into the skin than the extract in a conventional emulsion. In conclusion, the CP-loaded NLCs can be further used in cosmetics for dermal applications due to good efficacy and safety.

Cuscuta chinensis (C. chinensis) presents many pharmacological activities, including antidiabetic effects, and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. However, the wound care properties of this plant have not yet been reported. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities of ethanol and ethyl acetate C. chinensis extracts. The phytochemical markers in the extracts were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Then, the selected C. chinensis extract was developed into a nanoemulsion-based gel for wound care testing in rats. The results showed that both of the C. chinensis extracts exhibited antioxidant activity when tested using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. They reduced the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells induced with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The ethyl acetate extract also had antibacterial properties. Kaempferol was found in both extracts, whereas hyperoside was found only in the ethanol extract. These compounds were found to be related to the biological activities of the extracts, confirmed via molecular docking. The C. chinensis extract-loaded nanoemulsions had a small particle size, a narrow polydispersity index (PDI), and good stability. Furthermore, the C. chinensis extract-loaded nanoemulsion-based gel had a positive effect on wound healing, presenting a better percentage wound contraction Fucidin cream. In conclusion, this formulation has the potential for use as an alternative wound treatment and warrants further study in clinical trials.

This study aimed to investigate the ability of brown Agaricus bisporus extracts to enhance xerosis treatment via their biological activities, including their antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-inflammation. Brown A. bisporus ethanol extract (EE) and brown A. bisporus water extract (WE) contained ergothioneine and gallic acid as their major compounds, as detected by HPLC, respectively. The WE exhibited the highest total polysaccharide content (734.04 ± 0.03 mg glucose/g extract) and total phenolic content (190.90 ± 0.07 mg gallic acid/g extract). The WE exhibited an inhibitory effect of 83.34 ± 18.66% on a collagenase enzyme, whereas the EE inhibited the elastase enzymes by 81.26 ± 4.37%. In addition, the EE also demonstrated strong activities against DPPH, with an IC₅₀ 0.30 ± 0.04 mg/mL, ABTS with a TEAC value of 8.06 ± 0.08 µM Trolox/g extract, and a FRAP assay with a FRAP value of 390.50 ± 0.32 mM FeSO₄/g. In addition, all extracts were non-cytotoxic and could decrease the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α in HaCaT cells. Therefore, brown A. bisporus extracts might be a potential natural raw material that can be further used in cosmeceutical products for xerosis treatment due to their good efficacy.

Mushrooms are edible fungi containing valuable nutrients. They provide attractive bio-active properties, which have confirmed anti-oxidants, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory properties. Mushrooms possess abundant natural polymers affecting skin hydration and acting as moisturizers supporting skin barrier function. In this study, cloud ear mushroom (Auricularia polytricha) water extract (CW) was produced as a natural polymer to evaluate a new film-forming spray (FFS) containing CW to increase skin hydration and protect transepidermal water loss. CW contained polysaccharides as 748.2 ± 0.02 mg glucose/g extract. CW significantly inhibited the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α and enhanced skin hydration by increasing aquaporin-3 (AQP3) and filaggrin (FLG) in HaCaT cells. The FFS was formulated using CW, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, and glycerin. The selected formulation contained brown Agaricus bisporus (BE-FFS) evaluated physical appearance, spray angle, spray pattern, and in vitro skin permeation. The BE-FFS has a transparent thin film with suitable occlusive properties, drying time, and physical appearance. Afterward, in vitro skin permeation and human hydration property studies presented the long-lasting effects and provided safety and hydration potential after 4 weeks of use. Overall, all results indicate that the BE-FFS is a natural film-forming spray for skin hydration improvement.

Black mustard (Brassica nigra L.) seeds are a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals; however, their antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory potential has not been comprehensively explored. Therefore, this study aimed to assess antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects of black mustard seed extracts obtained from Soxhlet extraction with hexane (HE) and ethanol (EE), and ultrasonic-assisted ethanolic (UE) extraction. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of sinapic acid in all extracts. Phytochemical profiling revealed that the EE was enriched in phenolic compounds, while the UE exhibited a higher flavonoid content. Accordingly, both EE and UE demonstrated strong antioxidant activities, including radical scavenging capacity, reducing power, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. All extracts demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis. The anti-inflammatory potential of extracts was supported by the inhibition of lipoxygenase and protease. The UE showed the strongest lipoxygenase inhibition, while the EE and UE exhibited comparable protease inhibitory effect. Regarding RAW264.7 cells, the extracts were non-cytotoxic and reduced the expression of IL-6 and IL-31. Molecular docking analysis suggested that sinapic acid contributes to the anti-inflammatory activity through interactions with key inflammatory targets. Overall, the EE and UE demonstrated multitarget antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities, supporting their potential application in functional and dermatological formulations for inflammation management.