Commonly called safflower, this highly branched herbaceous thistle-like annual is commercially cultivated for vegetable oil extracted from the seeds. It is a very ancient crop plant as revealed from the safflower-based dyes found in textiles of Egyptian mummies dating back to the 12th century.

Safflower seed oil is flavourless and colourless, and nutritionally similar to sunflower oil. An edible vegetable oil it used as cooking oil and in salad dressing. Having an extensive history of use in food, it is commonly found in mayonnaise, salad dressing, frozen desserts and speciality breads. Linoleic acid, which is considered to be an essential fatty acid, is a major component of this oil.

Cosmetic use

Safflower seed oil is included in topical skin care lotions, moisturizers, bath products etc. as its lubricant effect gives a soft and smooth appearance to the skin. Dried flowers of safflower are used as a natural textile dye.

Carthamin, a quinine-type dye, is the pigment responsible for its natural red colour. This dye used as a food additive and in cosmetics is coded as CI Natural Red 26. Safflower pigment is used for imparting yellow, mustard, khaki, olive or even red colours to textiles.

Carica papaya (Caricaceae)

Commonly called papaya it yields a fruit of the same name. The sole species in the genus Carica, the tree is native to the tropics of the Americas, perhaps from southern Mexico and neighbouring Central America.

The latex obtained from the unripe fruit is the source of the proteolytic enzyme papain. It is applied topically in countries where it grows for the treatment of cuts, rashes, stings and burns. Papain ointment is commonly made from fermented papaya flesh and is applied as a gel-like paste.

Cosmetic use

Papaya is frequently used as a hair conditioner, but should be used in small amounts. Because of its exfoliating property it is used in some skin care products.

Papaya fruit is rich in vitamins A, B₁, B₂, niacin, ascorbic acid and β-carotene. Papaya skin, pulp and seeds also contain a variety of phytochemicals including natural phenols.