Evaluation of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus) Extracts in Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Applications: A Comprehensive Review

Dragon fruit, sometimes called pitaya or pitahaya, is a member of the Cactaceae family and is mostly grown from three species: Selenicereus megalanthus (white-fleshed with yellow skin), Hylocereus undatus (white-fleshed with red skin), and Hylocereus polyrhizus (red-fleshed with red skin). Originally from Central and South America, it has grown to be a major crop in Asia, especially in Vietnam, Thailand, China, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Although it has gained popularity as a functional food due to its eye-catching look, sweet flavor, and plenty of nutrients, growing scientific study has shown that it has significant promise as a bioactive ingredient in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.The desire from consumers for natural, sustainable, and effective ingredients has caused a significant change in the worldwide cosmeceutical market toward bioactives derived from plants. Dragon fruit is a perfect fit for this trend because of its diverse phytochemical profile, which provides multifunctional biological activities related to systemic health, wound care, and skin care. The variety of potential uses is increased by the unique compositions of bioactive compounds found in the plant's flesh, peel, seeds, and flowers. A comprehensive, systematic assessment of dragon fruit's use in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations is still lacking, despite an increasing amount of research on the fruit's nutritional and therapeutic qualities. By summarizing existing information on the following topics, this review seeks to close that gap: (i) phytochemical composition and extraction methods; (ii) pharmacological activities of important constituents; (iii) cosmetic applications and formulation design; (iv) pharmaceutical uses and drug delivery considerations; (v) safety and regulatory frameworks; and (vi) future research directions.

2. Taxonomy and Botanical Description-

There are about eighteen species in the genus Hylocereus, all of which are classified as lithophytic or epiphytic cacti with huge, nocturnal blooms and triangular, succulent stems. Hylocereus undatus is now occasionally reclassified as Selenicereus undatus in more current taxonomic systems due to changes in the taxonomy. Key botanical characteristics and the geographic range of the main commercial species are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Botanical Classification and Key Characteristics of Commercial Dragon Fruit Species

The plant is an economically appealing crop due to its exceptional capacity to adapt to tropical and subtropical temperatures, as well as its quick growth and high yield. Every component of the dragon fruit plant, including the peel, pulp, seeds, stems, and flowers, has unique bioactive profiles that open up new possibilities for use in medicine and cosmetics.

3. Phytochemical Composition

3.1 Betacyanins and Betalains

The main pigments that give red-fleshed dragon fruit types their striking reddish-violet hue are betacyanins. In addition to trace levels of hylocerenin and bougainvillein, the most common betacyanins found include betanin (betanidin 5-O-glucoside), isobetanin, phyllocactin, and isophyllocactin. Only species of the order Caryophyllales contain these water-soluble nitrogen-containing pigments, which are members of the larger betalain class. The quantities of betacyanins from H. polyrhizus have been reported to range from 32 to 62 mg per 100 g fresh weight of peel, with relatively smaller amounts found in the flesh. High antioxidant capacity is conferred by the structural characteristics of betacyanins, especially the conjugated chromophore system and the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. Depending on extraction conditions, betanin's IC50 values for DPPH radical scavenging activity range from 1.8 to 5.6 mg/mL. Their stability is extremely sensitive to heat, light, and oxygen and highly pH-dependent (ideal at pH 4–5), which creates formulation issues that are covered in following sections.

3.2 Phenolic Compounds and Flavonoids

A wide range of phenolic chemicals can be found in dragon fruit, such as flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, rutin), hydroxybenzoic acids (gallic acid, protocatechuic acid), and hydroxycinnamic acids (ferulic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid). Dragon fruit peel has a total phenolic content (TPC) of 6.2–22.4 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry weight, whereas the pulp usually has a TPC of 2.8–9.1 mg GAE/g dry weight. The peel is a valuable by-product for use in nutraceutical and cosmetic applications since it constantly exhibits higher phenolic content than the pulp.

3.3 Vitamins and Mineral Profile

Dragon fruit is very rich in vitamin C (ascorbic acid), with values of 20–25 mg/100 g fresh weight reported for white-fleshed types and somewhat lower amounts in red variations. Tocopherols, or vitamin E, are mostly found in seeds (~0.2–0.5 mg/100 g). Thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), and niacin (B3) are examples of B-vitamins that support metabolic activity. Minerals that have been identified include potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, trace iron, and zinc. Dragon fruit extracts' antioxidant and skin-conditioning qualities are enhanced by these micronutrients working in concert.

3.4 Other Bioactive Constituents

By oil weight, dragon fruit seeds have between 42 and 50 percent fatty acids, with linoleic acid (omega-6, ~42%), oleic acid (~22%), and palmitic acid (~17%) being the most common. This lipid profile promotes moisturization and the function of the epidermal barrier. Pectin-type dietary fiber, which has prebiotic, film-forming, and moisturizing qualities, makes up 5–13% of the peel's dry weight. Red variants are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid antioxidant with proven photoprotective and anti-carcinogenic properties.

Table 2: Summary of Major Phytochemical Classes in Dragon Fruit and Their Bioactivities

4. Extraction Methodologies

4.1 Conventional Extraction Techniques

For dragon fruit phytochemicals, the most popular conventional techniques are maceration, Soxhlet extraction, and aqueous-ethanolic extraction. Polyphenols and betacyanins are efficiently recovered by maceration (50–70% ethanol, 24–72 hours at room temperature) with little heat degradation. For nonpolar components and seed oil, soxhlet extraction works well; however, it is not appropriate for thermolabile betacyanins. Pectin is frequently extracted from dragon fruit peels using water at temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees Celsius.

4.2 Advanced and Green Extraction Techniques

By using acoustic cavitation, Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) greatly improves the extraction efficiency of betacyanins and phenolics, cutting down on solvent consumption and extraction time to 10–30 minutes while improving yields by 15–30% when compared to maceration. Although Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) provides great extraction efficiency and quick extraction (5–15 min), it necessitates careful temperature management to avoid betacyanin degradation above 50°C. Dragon fruit seed oil is especially well-suited for Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) utilizing CO2, with or without polar co-solvents like ethanol, which produces high-purity extracts devoid of solvent residue—a crucial factor for raw materials used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Enzyme-Assisted Extraction (EAE) produces extracts with improved antioxidant capacity by breaking down cell walls with cellulases, pectinases, and proteases. It has been shown that High-Pressure Processing (HPP) at 200–600 MPa for 1–10 minutes increases betacyanin production and maintains bioactivity without thermal degradation. High recovery rates can be achieved in 10–20 minutes with Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE/ASE), which allows for quick extraction at high temperatures and pressures.

5. Pharmacological Activities of Dragon Fruit Extracts

5.1 Antioxidant Activity

Dragon fruit extracts' antioxidant potential has been thoroughly studied utilizing DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC assays. Because of their higher betacyanin and lycopene content, red-fleshed varieties (H. polyrhizus) regularly show better antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50: 1.2–4.8 mg/mL) than white-fleshed types (DPPH IC50: 4.2–12.6 mg/mL). All types of peel extracts are more potent antioxidants than pulp extracts. The overall ability to scavenge radicals is enhanced by the synergistic interplay of phenolics, vitamin C, and betacyanins. Dragon fruit peel extract at 50–200 µg/mL dramatically decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in H2O2-challenged keratinocytes in cellular models without causing cytotoxicity.

5.2 Anti-inflammatory Activity

Through a variety of ways, extracts from dragon fruit suppress important inflammatory mediators. By inhibiting NF-κB activation, phenolic substances (quercetin, kaempferol) lower the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β). These pathways facilitate the use of formulations that treat inflammatory skin disorders such psoriasis, rosacea, acne vulgaris, and atopic dermatitis.

5.3 Antimicrobial Activity

Extracts from dragon fruit pulp and peel show broad-spectrum antibacterial action. Ethanolic peel extract has a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.12 to 12.5 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus, 6.25 to 25 mg/mL against Escherichia coli, and 6.25 to 50 mg/mL against Candida albicans. Phenolic acids and flavonoids, which compromise the integrity of microbial membranes and impede enzymatic activities, are mainly responsible for the antibacterial activity. Peel extracts are useful for acne treatment formulations since they have demonstrated inhibitory efficacy against Propionibacterium acnes (MIC: 1.56–6.25 mg/mL).

5.4 Anti-aging and Skin-Brightening Effects

Extracts from dragon fruit alter a number of targets related to aging skin. In UV-irradiated fibroblasts, betanin and phenolic fractions inhibit matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and MMP-3, decreasing collagen breakdown. By serving as an enzymatic cofactor for prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases, vitamin C concentration encourages the production of collagen. In photoprotection, ferulic acid works in concert with vitamins C and E to improve their UV stability and effectiveness. Gallic acid and other flavonoids from dragon fruit extracts inhibit kojic acid-like tyrosinase (IC50: 12–35 µg/mL), which helps skin-brightening treatments for hyperpigmentation.

5.5 Wound Healing Activity

Formulations containing dragon fruit peel extract show faster wound closure in both in vivo excision wound models and in vitro scratch assays. Increased collagen deposition, improved fibroblast migration and proliferation, and anti-inflammatory actions are all part of the wound-healing pathways. In comparison to controls, a 5% (w/w) peel extract gel considerably accelerated wound closure in Sprague-Dawley rats by day 14 (97.2% vs. 72.4% wound contraction). Additionally, dragon fruit peel pectin forms a hydrogel film that creates a moist healing environment and physical framework for cellular regeneration.

5.6 Photoprotective Activity

In vitro SPF values are influenced by UV-absorbing substances found in dragon fruit extracts, including as flavonoids, which absorb light at 300–350 nm, and betacyanins, which absorb light at 536 nm. According to studies, adding 2–5% w/w of dragon fruit peel extract to emulsion formulations raises SPF values by 3–8 units when compared to base formulations. Additionally, singlet oxygen produced by UVA exposure is quenched by lycopene and beta-carotene. Dragon fruit extracts are multifunctional photoprotective substances because they combine UV absorption with antioxidant neutralization of UV-induced free radicals.

6. Cosmetic and Cosmeceutical Applications

6.1 Anti-aging Formulations

The use of dragon fruit extracts in anti-aging serums, lotions, and masks that target several aging processes at once is growing. MMP inhibition (collagen preservation), antioxidant defense against oxidative aging, and moisture improvement via peel-derived pectin and seed oil emollients are important processes. In clinical pilot investigations, formulations containing 3–5% dragon fruit peel extract and hyaluronic acid have shown statistically significant increases in skin elasticity (up to 18% improvement by cutometry) and reduction of fine lines (up to 12% decrease evaluated by optical profilometry).

6.2 Moisturizing and Skin-Conditioning Products

Rich in linoleic acid, cold-pressed dragon fruit seed oil effectively penetrates the stratum corneum and reinstates skin barrier function. By restoring the intercellular lipid matrix, linoleic acid specifically treats ceramide insufficiency in dry and atopic skin. Seed oil considerably raises skin hydration scores and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) at doses of 2–5% in formulations. When added to hydrogels and lotions, the mucilaginous polysaccharides from dragon fruit peel show film-forming moisturizing activity, providing an occlusive layer that lowers TEWL.

6.3 Skin Brightening and Pigmentation Management

Dragon fruit extracts are formulated in brightening serums and spot treatments targeting tyrosinase-mediated melanogenesis. Gallic acid and quercetin, acting as tyrosinase inhibitors, reduce melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cell models without cellular toxicity at effective concentrations. Formulations containing 2% dragon fruit extract showed a significant reduction in melanin index (measured by Mexameter MX18) comparable to 1% kojic acid in a 12-week pilot clinical study. The Vitamin C content additionally functions as a melanin oxidation inhibitor, providing dual-action brightening.

6.4 Sunscreen Formulations

The UV-absorbing properties of dragon fruit betacyanins, flavonoids, and carotenoids make them attractive as natural SPF-boosting ingredients. Multilamellar liposomal encapsulation of dragon fruit peel extract at 3–5% concentration improves photostability and enhances SPF contribution. Studies demonstrate synergistic photoprotection when dragon fruit extracts are combined with synthetic UV filters (oxybenzone, avobenzone), potentially enabling reduced concentrations of synthetic filters and improving the safety profile of sunscreen formulations. The photoquenching activity of lycopene against UVA-induced singlet oxygen provides additional photoprotective value.

6.5 Hair Care Applications

Dragon fruit extracts show promise for hair care through a variety of mechanisms: antimicrobial activity relevant to dandruff management (Malassezia furfur inhibition); anti-inflammatory effects on the scalp; conditioning benefits from seed oil fatty acids; and antioxidant protection of hair proteins (keratins) against oxidative damage from UV, pollution, and chemical treatments. On bleached and grey hair substrates, betacyanins have been studied as natural hair colorants that provide rose-violet tones with moderate wash fastness (5–8 wash cycles). In mechanical tests, peel extract at 1-3% in shampoo formulations significantly increases the tensile strength of chemically damaged hair.

Table 3: Summary of Cosmetic and Cosmeceutical Applications of Dragon Fruit Extracts