The use of sumac (Rhus coriaria) plant in value-added cosmetic, health and food products

Musa Karadag^1,2*, Mehmet Firat Baran³, Kadir Sinan Aslan⁴, Mehmet Tevfik Adican⁵

1. Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Processing Technologies, Igdir University, 76100, Igdir, Turkiye
2. Research and Application Laboratory and Research Center, Igdir University, 76100, Igdir, Turkiye
3. Department of Medical Services and Techniques, Vocational School of Health Services, Mardin Artuklu University, Mardin, Turkiye
4. Dicle University, Science Faculty, Department of Biology, 21280, Diyarbakir, Turkiye
5. Electricity and Energy Department, Vocational School, Mardin Artuklu University, Mardin, Turkiye

Musa Karadag: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2498-3403 Mehmet Firat Baran: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8133-6670 Kadir Sinan Aslan: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4564-1285 Mehmet Tevfik Adican: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7733-9676

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the phenolic compound profile of Rhus coriaria L. (sumac) and to investigate the potential of these components for developing value-added products in the cosmetic, health, and food industries. Sumac, which holds an important place among medicinal and aromatic plants, possesses strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects thanks to its rich content of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and organic compounds. In this study, the phenolic content of ethanol-water (80:20, v/v) extracts obtained from sumac fruit samples was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD). A total of 10 phenolic compounds were identified as a result of the analysis. The compound with the highest concentration was gallic acid (5212.65 ng/µL), followed by ferulic acid (671.76 ng/µL), ascorbic acid (255.23 ng/µL), protocatechuic acid (111.67 ng/µL), and o-coumaric acid (81.76 ng/µL). Rutin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, vanillic acid, and p-coumaric acid were detected in lower concentrations. The results indicate that sumac extracts are among the natural antioxidant sources with high phenolic content. The presence of phenolic compounds reveals that the sumac plant plays an effective role in combating oxidative stress, cell regeneration, and suppressing microbial activity. Compounds such as gallic and ferulic acids, in particular, can be evaluated as natural active agents in the cosmetics industry due to their anti-aging, UV-protective, and collagen synthesis-supporting properties. Furthermore, sumac extracts can be used as natural preservatives and flavorings in food products; thanks to their antimicrobial properties, they extend shelf life and increase product stability. In the health sector, due to their antioxidant and metabolic balancing effects, they can be considered as a potential raw material in phytotherapeutic formulations. These findings demonstrate that Rhus coriaria is a rich source of phytochemicals in terms of biologically active components and can be a strategic raw material in sustainable production, natural cosmetic formulations, and functional food development processes. Considering Turkey's climatic advantages, the study also reveals the potential of sumac to create economic added value through domestic production.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to Iğdır University Research Application and Analysis Laboratory (ALUM) for providing technical infrastructure and analytical support during the HPLC-DAD analyses. The authors also thank Mardin Artuklu University and Dicle University for their institutional support and contributions to the successful completion of this research.

Ethical Considerations

This study did not involve human participants or experimental animals. The plant material (Rhus coriaria L.) used in the research was obtained from commercially available sources and/or collected in compliance with national and institutional regulations governing the collection and use of plant resources in Turkey. All experimental procedures were conducted in accordance with internationally accepted ethical standards for laboratory research, ensuring scientific integrity, data accuracy, and reproducibility. The authors confirm that no ethical approval was required for this study.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there are no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

References