Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Emulsification of Emollient Nanoemulsions of Seed Oil of <i>Passiflora edulis</i> var. <i>edulis</i>

• Main Authors: Caterine Guzmán, Maritza Adelina Rojas, Marcela Aragón
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
• Series: Cosmetics
• Subjects: <i>P. edulis</i> var. <i>edulis</i>; nanoemulsions; ultrasound; emollience
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/8/1/1

<i>Passiflora</i><i>edulis</i> var. <i>edulis</i> is a plant of commercial interest because of it fruits. The seeds, a by-product in the food industry, can be a source of oil for cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries. The aims of this work were to optimize the ultrasonic-assisted emulsification conditions for o/w nanoemulsions and to evaluate the emollient activity of the seed oil. The optimum emulsification conditions were established, using the response surface methodology with a Box-Behnken design (BBD). The emollient activity of seed oil of <i>P. edulis</i> var. <i>edulis</i> was evaluated with healthy volunteers using a cutometer for skin moisture and viscoelasticity measurements. The optimal formulation variables (85.34W of ultrasonic power, 5.96 irradiation time, 70.65% water and a 5:4 oil:surfactant ratio), resulted in considerable improvement in the properties of the ultrasonically formulated nanoemulsions. Finally, the seed oil of <i>P. edulis var. edulis </i>and the nanoemulsion generated by ultrasound presented emollient activity.