Formulation of Skin Bleach Using Fruit and Vegetable Peels

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable and plant-based cosmetic formulations has promoted the exploration of agro-waste materials as potential sources of bioactive compounds. The present study investigates the extraction of phytochemicals from selected fruit and vegetable peels, namely pomegranate (Punica granatum), orange (Citrus sinensis), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and carrot (Daucus carota), and their application in the formulation of a herbal face cream. The combined peel powder was subjected to Soxhlet extraction using ethanol, followed by preliminary phytochemical screening, antioxidant evaluation using DPPH radical scavenging assay, antimicrobial activity assessment by agar well diffusion method, and chromatographic analysis using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and other secondary metabolites. The extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity, indicating strong free radical scavenging potential. Antimicrobial studies demonstrated inhibitory effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. HPLC chromatograms recorded at 214 nm and 280 nm revealed multiple peaks corresponding to UV-active phenolic and flavonoid compounds indicating effectiveness to be used as a skin bleach.