DrEFO: A Fermented Oil Rich in Dihydroquercetin With High Antioxidant Activity

The study aims to tackle the limitation of natural plant-based oils in insufficient potency for addressing complex skin issues and explore a strategy to enhance the value of natural oils in skincare. A dihydroquercetin (DHQ) enriched eleven-seed fermented oil (DrEFO) was achieved by fermenting an eleven-seed oil (ESO).

The distinctive antioxidant property of DHQ was first measured by DPPH radical scavenging experiment to evaluate its long-term antioxidant capacity and its continuous antioxidant effect. To assess the distinctive long-term antioxidation property of DHQ, DHQ was subjected to harsh real-life conditions such as UV stress and thermal attack and monitored its antioxidant activity. To determine its continuous antioxidant effect, DPPH was continuously introduced into the system and the antioxidation result was measured. Then, a S. cerevisiae strain was engineered via synthetic biology approaches to produce DHQ, which was then used for large-scale fermentation of DrEFO. The antioxidant property of DrEFO was tested by measuring the DPPH radical scavenging rate, as well as scavenging rates against ABTS, hydroxyl, superoxide anion, PTIO, and ROS radicals. The collagen synthesis boosting effect was also evaluated in cell models.

When exposed to harsh daily-life conditions like UV stress and thermal attack, DHQ impressively retained its ability to combat oxidative stress over an extended period, clearly showcasing its long-term protective effect. More significantly, DHQ was able to continuously neutralize DPPH radicals as they were introduced into the system. Thorough fermentation, more than 1000 ppm of DHQ was detected in DrEFO. DrEFO also showed outstanding antioxidant properties. Its DPPH radical scavenging rate was 4.3 times that of ESO, and it had high scavenging rates against multiple other radicals. In cell models, DrEFO significantly boosted collagen synthesis.

These findings highlight DrEFO's potential as an effective skincare solution for various skin concerns. Moreover, this research pioneers a new way to enhance the value of natural oils in skincare by leveraging the power of fermentation. It transforms the capabilities of traditional natural oils to meet the diverse needs of consumers.