Up-Cycling of <i>Olea europaea</i> L. Ancient Cultivars Side Products: Study of a Combined Cosmetic–Food Supplement Treatment Based on Leaves and Olive Mill Wastewater Extracts
Raissa Buzzi,
Irene Gugel,
Stefania Costa,
Sonia Molesini,
Silvia Boreale,
Erika Baldini,
Nicola Marchetti,
Silvia Vertuani,
Patrizia Pinelli,
Silvia Urciuoli,
Anna Baldisserotto,
Stefano Manfredini
Affiliations
Raissa Buzzi
Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Irene Gugel
Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Stefania Costa
Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Sonia Molesini
Ambrosialab, Via Mortara 171, 44123 Ferrara, Italy
Silvia Boreale
Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Erika Baldini
Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Nicola Marchetti
Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Silvia Vertuani
Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Patrizia Pinelli
Department of Statistics, Computer Sciences and Applications DiSIA—PHYTOLAB Laboratory, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff, 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
Silvia Urciuoli
Department of Statistics, Computer Sciences and Applications DiSIA—PHYTOLAB Laboratory, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff, 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
Anna Baldisserotto
Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Stefano Manfredini
Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
In recent years, a reversal of the global economic framework has been taking place: from the linear model, there has been a gradual transition to a circular model where by-products from the agri-food industry are taken and transformed into value products (upcycling) rather than being disposed of. Olive tree pruning represents an important biomass currently used for combustion; however, the leaf part of the olive tree is rich in phenolic substances, including hydroxytyrosol. Mill wastewater is also discarded, but it still contains high amounts of hydroxytyrosol. In this study, cosmetic and food supplement formulations were prepared using biophenols extracted from leaves and wastewater and were tested in a placebo-controlled study on healthy volunteers using a combined cosmetic and food supplement treatment. A significant improvement in skin health indicators (collagen density, elasticity, etc.) and a 17% improvement against Photo-induced Irritative Stimulus was observed.
