Elaboración de una crema antioxidante a partir de flavoniodes extraídos de las hojas de verbena (Verbena litoralis Kunth)

Abstract

The lack of knowledge about the bioactive properties of traditional plant species represents a significant loss of natural resources with potential added value. In Ecuador, Verbena litoralis Kunth, a plant of ancestral use, has been underutilized despite its high content of flavonoids with antioxidant properties. In response to this problem, the present study proposed the elaboration of an antioxidant cream from flavonoids extracted from verbena leaves with potential application in the natural cosmetic industry. To obtain the active compounds, an experimental design with three factors was used: mass/solvent ratio, extraction time and temperature. The flavonoid content was evaluated using a spectrophotometric method and the antioxidant capacity of the extract was determined using the DPPH assay. The optimum treatment corresponded to mass-solvent ratio (2:10), extraction time (30 minutes) and temperature of 50 Celcius degrees obtaining a flavonoid content of 32.508 milligram equivalents of quercetin per ml of extract and an antioxidant capacity of 77.74 percent inhibition. Subsequently, the extract with the highest activity was incorporated into a cosmetic base for the preparation of an antioxidant cream, which was subjected to physicochemical and organoleptic evaluations. The results obtained show that Verbena litoralis has a high potential as a source of bioactive compounds, which allows its application in natural cosmetic products, promoting the use of traditional plants and sustainable innovation in skin care.