Eco-Friendly Enhancement of Ferulic Acid-Rich Extracts from Cnidium officinale and Angelica gigas via Hot-Melt Extrusion for Skin Brightening and Regeneration

초록

Cnidium officinale (CO) and Angelica gigas (AG) are traditional herbal medicines known for their bioactive compound ferulic acid (FA), which exerts skin-whitening, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and UV-protective effects. However, conventional extraction yields are limited and often require solvent-intensive processes. In this study, an eco-friendly hot-melt extrusion (HME) process was applied to enhance the FA content and extractability from CO and AG. Process optimization significantly improved particle morphology and reduced size, as confirmed by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis. Quantitative High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed increased FA content in HME-treated extracts, which corresponded to enhanced biological efficacy. The HME extracts exhibited no cytotoxicity up to 500 mu g/mL in B16F10 melanocytes and significantly inhibited alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH)-induced melanin synthesis. In HaCaT keratinocytes, the HME group promoted superior wound closure at 24 and 48 h, indicating accelerated skin regeneration. These findings support HME as a sustainable and effective strategy for developing natural ingredient-based cosmetic formulations targeting hyperpigmentation and skin repair.

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