Valorization of agri-food waste through the extraction of bioactive molecules. Prediction of their sunscreen action

The aim of this work was to identify the phenolic composition of 18 different vegetable residues and to determine the relationship between their phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity and sun protection factor. For this purpose, samples of agri-food residues were analyzed to quantify their antioxidant capacity, total polyphenol and flavonoid content, sun protection factor and individual phenolic compounds through HPLC-DAD-FLD. Among the different phenolic compounds found in the extracts, the phenolic acids, especially caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid and protocatechuic acid were the ones that have been most frequently identified, and, therefore, are present in a wide range of extracts. Black chai tea, lemon ginger tea and peanut extracts were the most antioxidant and photoprotective extracts. Phenolic compounds in the extracts have been found to contribute to their antioxidant activity and are closely correlated to their photoprotective capacity. A regression model that allows predicting the photoprotective capacity of any extract based on its total phenol content has been developed as a tool to determine the most suitable industrial application for each vegetable extract. •Agri-food wastes are an important source of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant activity.•Vegetable extracts are a good alternative to synthetic substances in light protection products.•There is relation between the phenolic content of the extracts and their photoprotective action.