The potential of Wonosobo-Indonesian black and red teas as bio-cellulose masks.

UV radiation, environmental pollution, stress conditions can cause skin disorders that lead to premature aging. An antioxidant bio-cellulose mask is an option to reduce the premature aging process by using environmentally friendly materials. Natural antioxidants can be obtained from plant extract that contains phenols and flavonoids, which are found in Camellia sinensis such as black tea and red tea. The purposes of this research were to determine the total phenol and total flavonoid content of black tea and red tea extracts; to determine the physical characteristics of the essence of black tea and red tea extracts, and to know the antioxidant activity of the bio-cellulose mask extract qualitatively. Extracts were prepared using ethanol 70% with the maceration method. Total phenol and total flavonoid contents were determined with the colorimetric method. Essence physical characteristics test in the form of pH, homogeneity, viscosity, and primary irritation index. Bio-cellulose mask was obtained by fermenting coconut water using Acetobacter xylinum bacteria. The antioxidant activity of the mask was determined qualitatively using 1,1-diphenyl-2picrylhidrazyl (DPPH). The total phenol content of black tea and red tea extracts were 227.91±6.39 and 184.77±9.18 mg GAE/g extract, while the total flavonoid content of 2.71±0.006 and 2.35±0.015 mg QE/g extract. The essence of extracts was homogeneous; pH in the range of 5.42 – 5.59; viscosity of 501.50 and 634.10 cps. The primary irritation index values of essences were less than 0.05. The bio-cellulose mask showed qualitative antioxidant activity with DPPH. It can be concluded that black tea and red tea extracts are potential ingredients in the development of the bio-cellulose mask. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]