Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of four West African spices incorporated as bioactive ingredients for dermatological formulations

Abstract In this study, we evaluated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of four West African culinary spices, Xylopia aethiopica , Tetrapleura tetraptera , Monodora myristica , and Ricinodendron heudelotii , and their suitability as bioactive ingredients in cold-process soap formulations. TLC Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of several groups of secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, saponins, terpenes, and anthraquinones, which were partially preserved in dermatological formulations after saponification. Monodora myristica exhibited the highest total polyphenol content (437.52 ± 28.56 mg GAE/g DW) and the strongest anti-inflammatory activity (IC₅₀ = 159.95 ± 72.6 µg/mL), while aqueous extracts of Xylopia aethiopica showed the most potent DPPH radical-scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 8.04 ± 4.4 µg/mL). All formulated soap bars met cosmeceutical quality standards for skin-contact products, and foaming performance correlated with species-specific saponin profiles. These findings support the use of these four African spices as ingredients in dermatological formulations.