# A Natural Antioxidant-Rich Hydrogel Formulation with Laurus nobilis Hydrosol: Physicochemical and Cosmeceutical Evaluation

## TL;DR

This study creates a natural hydrogel using Laurus nobilis hydrosol, showing good stability and skin benefits like hydration and no interference with wound healing.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a sustainable hydrogel formulation using Laurus nobilis hydrosol with optimized physicochemical and cosmeceutical properties.

## Key findings

- HyLN hydrogels showed adequate physical and microbiological stability for 6 months.
- The hydrogel exhibited up to 80% occlusive effect compared to Vaseline, aiding skin hydration.
- In vitro tests confirmed no interference with wound healing by the developed gel.

## Abstract

Laurus nobilis hydrosol (HyLN), a water-soluble byproduct of essential oil extraction, containing beneficial antioxidants and antimicrobial compounds, was used as a sustainable ingredient in the development of a natural antioxidant-rich hydrogel formulation. Hydrogels were formulated using sodium hyaluronate and xanthan gum, natural ingredients with beneficial effects on the skin, while β-cyclodextrin (βCD) was added to enhance the stability of antioxidants in HyLN. Extensive rheological and textural analyses were employed to optimize the hydrogel formulation for dermal administration, while stability studies assessed the chemical and physical stability of developed formulations. A combination of sodium hyaluronate and xanthan gum provided several HyLN hydrogel formulations with tunable rheological and textural properties, presenting adequate physical and microbiological stability over 6 months of storage. The use of βCD failed to stabilize inherently unstable antioxidants in HyLN hydrogels, yet their residual antioxidant activity remained notable. An in vitro scratch test using a human keratinocyte cell line showed that the developed HyLN gel does not interfere with wound healing. HyLN hydrogels showed a pronounced occlusive effect in vitro, reaching up to 80% of that measured for Vaseline, which helps maintain skin hydration and appearance.