Abstract
Introduction: Free radicals are formed mainly as a result of environmental pollution, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and stress. These factors contribute to the formation of oxidative stress, which is involved in the aging process of the skin, among other things. Antioxidants are compounds found naturally in plant products that have beneficial effects on human health. Natural antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, and other plants have a positive antiaging effect. Therefore, in recent years there has been an increased interest in plant raw materials to obtain antioxidants useful not only in cosmetology. One of these plants that is commonly grown in our country is chicory (Cichorium intybus L.). The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of alcoholic extracts obtained from 3 parts of C. intybus L. The influence of extraction time and solvent selection on the antioxidant activity of various parts of chicory was also investigated.
Materials and methods: The research material consisted of dried herb, stem, and root of Cichorium intybus L. Low molecular weight alcohols, i.e. methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and n-propanol at concentrations of 40%(v/v), 70%(v/v) and undiluted were used to obtain extracts using ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azinobis[3-ethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzothiazole- 6-sulfonate] diammonium salt (ABTS) methods.
Results: Extracts from all parts of chicory showed antioxidant potential, but it varied depending on the part of chicory to be used. The highest activity was observed for herb extracts and the lowest for root extracts. Methanol seemed to be the best solvent for extraction to obtain the extracts characterized by high antioxidant capacity.
Conclusions: Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that due to their antioxidant activity, C. intybus L. extracts, especially those obtained from the herb, can be suggested as components of natural cosmetics.