DPPH scavenging capacity of extracts from Camellia seed dregs using polyol compounds as solvents

This study investigated the properties of extracts of Camellia oleifera Abel seed dregs, which were extracted using polyol compounds. Solvents employed to extract the Camellia seed dregs included water, methanol, ethanol, and polyol compounds. The examined properties included ultraviolet (UV) absorbance, total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging efficiency as an antioxidant ability. The results revealed that the glycerol, glycerol plus ethanol, and propylene glycol plus ethanol solvents yielded extracts with greater DPPH scavenging efficiency and total polyphenol and flavonoid content than the water, methanol, and ethanol solvents did. In addition, the polyol plus ethanol solvents yielded extracts with greater DPPH scavenging efficiency, total polyphenol and flavonoid content, and antioxidant ability than the single polyol solvents did. Furthermore, both the UV and infrared absorption spectra and color reaction test of triterpenoid glycosides revealed that polyol or polyol–ethanol solvents effectively extracted quintessential ingredients such as flavonoids and triterpenoid glycosides and other polyphenols from the Camellia seed dregs. In addition, because polyols are moisture-retaining and nontoxic solvents, the extracts can be directly added to cosmetics after simple filtration. Without the need for solvent separation, C. oleifera Abel dregs extracts exhibit excellent potential for application in products such as body washes, shampoos, hair conditioners, skin care products, cosmetics, and sunscreen lotions.