# Chemical Profiling and Photoprotective Activity of Extracts from Colombian Passiflora Byproducts

## TL;DR

This study explores the chemical makeup and sun protection potential of byproducts from six Colombian Passiflora species, showing they could be used in cosmetics.

## Contribution

The study identifies new photoprotective metabolites in underutilized Passiflora byproducts and evaluates their cosmetic potential.

## Key findings

- Leaf extracts showed the highest sun protection factor (SPF) due to their phenolic content.
- Molecular networking identified 74 metabolites, including flavonoids, saponins, and stilbenoids.
- All extracts provided broad-spectrum UV protection with high UVA ratios and critical wavelengths.

## Abstract

Agro-industrial byproducts from Colombian Passiflora species represent an underexplored source of chemically diverse metabolites with promising cosmetic and pharmaceutical potential. This study investigated the chemical profiles and photoprotective potential of polar extracts obtained from byproducts (leaves, pericarps, and seeds) of six commercially relevant Passiflora species cultivated in Colombia (P. ligularis, P. edulis var. edulis, P. edulis var. flavicarpa, P. maliformis, P. quadrangularis and P. tarminiana × P. tripartita). Butanolic fractions from leaves and pericarps and hydroethanolic seed extracts were analyzed using 1H NMR, GC-FID, GC-MS and UHPLC-qTOF. NMR profiling revealed aromatic signals mainly associated with flavonoids and stilbenoids in leaves and pericarps, while seeds exhibited abundant fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid. Molecular networking enabled the visualization of chemical diversity and supported the identification of 74 metabolites, including flavonoids, saponins, and stilbenoids, using Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS), SIRIUS (Version 6.0.5) software, and comparison with the literature. In vitro spectrophotometric photoprotective evaluation using the Mansur equation at 200 ppm showed that leaf extracts exhibited the highest sun protection factor (SPF) values, followed by seeds and pericarps, consistent with their phenolic composition. All active extracts demonstrated broad-spectrum protection, with high UVA ratios and critical wavelength values. These findings highlight the potential of Passiflora byproducts as sustainable sources of natural photoprotective agents for cosmetic applications.