Use of Silybum marianum Extract and Bio-Ferment for Biodegradable Cosmetic Formulations to Enhance Antioxidant Potential and Effect of the Type of Vehicle on the Percutaneous Absorption and Skin Retention of Silybin and Taxifolin

Abstract

In the present study, extract (E) and bio-ferment (B) were obtained from ground and defatted thistle seeds of Silybum marianum. Their antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP techniques, while total polyphenols were measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu method. High antioxidant activity was found in both the E (0.91 mmol Trolox/L ± 0.2) and B (1.19 mmol Trolox/L ± 0.2) using DPPH methods, so the obtained cosmetic raw materials were incorporated into hydrogel and organogel substrates to obtain cosmetic formulations with antioxidant activity. However, there is a scarcity of research providing information on the skin penetration of the main active components of S. marianum, which have an antioxidant effect. Therefore, we assessed in vitro the penetration through pig skin of the main components contained in the obtained B and E, such as silybin and taxifolin, which are part of the silymarin complex. We also used pure silymarin (S) for comparison. Among the tested preparations, H-S showed the utmost significant penetration of taxifolin, having a cumulative permeation of 87.739 ± 7.457 μg/cm2. Biodegradation tests of the prepared formulations were also performed, containing cosmetic raw materials and S. Studies of the effect of the cosmetic formulations on aerobic biodegradation showed a good level of degradation for the prepared formulations, some of which (O-B and O-S) were classified as easily degradable (OECD).

Potential Role of Bioactive Compounds: In Vitro Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Fermented Milk Thistle

“…In addition, fermentation of spotted thistle P, E, O, and S was also carried out using a mixture of the listed lactic acid bacterial strains. The preparation of the inoculum (in the amount of 10 mL) was performed by a previously used procedure [14]. The following raw materials were introduced into a 500 mL conical flask: molasses (in the amount of 18.00 g), distilled water (in the amount of 300.00 g), mineral salts such as (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 (in the amount of 2 g), CaCl 2 (in the amount of 1 g), and KH 2 PO 4 (in the amount of 1 g), the P, O, and S of milk thistle (in the amount of 22.5 g), and inoculum (in the amount of 10 mL).…”

“…where: ChA-chelating activity for Fe 2+ Acidity testing [14] of appropriate bio-ferments (B-P, B-E, B-O, and B-S) was carried out by titration with a standard sodium hydroxide solution and phenolphthalein as an indicator. In a ground conical flask, 10 mL of distilled water, 2 mL of the corresponding bioferments (B-P, B-E, B-O, and B-S), and 3 drops of an ethanolic solution of phenolphthalein were introduced.…”

“…Bio-ferments are innovative cosmetic raw materials obtained mainly from plant raw materials through a fermentation process involving appropriate strains of bacteria [14]. The applications of bio-ferments include their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and anti-ageing, hydrating, and anti-allergic effects.…”

“…The applications of bio-ferments include their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and anti-ageing, hydrating, and anti-allergic effects. The wide spectrum of biological properties makes bio-ferments an innovative cosmetic raw material with great biocompatibility [2,[14][15][16]. The fermentation process increases the bioactivity of fermented plant materials by breaking down or converting unwanted substrates into compatible products.…”

“…Finally, biodegradation tests of prepared formulations containing cosmetic raw materials and silymarin were also conducted. Tests on the effect of cosmetic formulations on aerobic biodegradation showed a good level of degradation of the prepared formulations, some of which (O-B and O-S) were classified as readily degradable (OECD) [14].…”