Advancements in conventional and supercritical CO2 extraction of Moringa oleifera bioactives for cosmetic applications: A review

Moringa oleifera L. extracts (Mo) have attracted attention as a sustainable and effective alternative to synthetic ingredients for cosmetic formulations. The unique and diverse phytochemical profile of the Mo tree enhances the quality and appeal of commercial products, as evidenced by numerous studies and patents. Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SFE-CO₂) is particularly advantageous for this purpose, offering enhanced thermostability and selectivity of extracted compounds compared to conventional methods. This review examines the safety and efficacy of Mo seed, leaf, and root extracts as cosmetic ingredients, focusing on their bioavailability and performance by considering the thermodynamics and operational benefits of SFE-CO₂. The collected data highlights the method’s efficiency in terms of the total extraction yield and the recovery of target compounds from Mo, providing insights from optimisation studies and linking the solvation power of supercritical CO₂ with the significant non-polar and low-polar compounds present in Mo extracts.