This work aimed to evaluate chemical profile, antioxidant activity and topical application safety of the raw Osage orange (Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid) fruit extracts obtained by maceration using ethanol and acetone. Out of eighteen different compounds registered in the extracts, fifteen were identified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Pomiferin and osajin were characteristic and representative compounds in both ethanolic and acetone extracts of the Osage orange fruit. Both extracts showed good antioxidant activity (EC50 = 0.03 mg/cm3) after 20 min of incubation. The topical administration safety of the extracts was evaluated in vivo by measuring skin biophysical parameters: electrical capacitance and erythema index, as indicators of stratum corneum hydration and irritation, respectively. Based on the results of the in vivo skin tests, it can be concluded that both of the Osage orange fruit extracts are safe for topical administration - they increased skin hydration and reduced skin irritation under the occlusion.
Keywords: Antioxidant activity; Maclura pomifera; UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS method; erythema index; osajin; pomiferin; stratum corneum hydration.