Saponins as Natural Raw Materials for Increasing the Safety of Bodywash Cosmetic Use

Abstract

Saponins are a class of active substances found in plants. They have gained widespread interest and popularity in the cosmetic industry, where they are used as natural washing, foaming, and emulsifying agents. Extracts of saponin‐rich plants have applications as active ingredients in cosmetics, mainly on account of their antioxidant, regenerative, and antiaging properties. This study was aimed at performing a comprehensive assessment of three saponin‐containing plants (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Viola tricolor, and Solanum dulcamara) as multifunctional cosmetic materials. The highest antioxidant potential was demonstrated for the V. tricolor extract. Isolated saponins were added to the formulations of model bodywash gels based on ingredients of natural origin. Compared to the (saponin‐free) baseline sample, the addition decreases the skin‐irritation potential of bodywash gels by about 40–50%. The strongest ability to reduce the irritant activity was noted for saponins isolated from S. dulcamara.