Known as alfalfa or Lucerne, it is the most cultivated forage legume in the world. A perennial flowering plant in the pea family it is cultivated in the United States, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa and many other countries. Alfalfa is rich in several essential vitamins such as the complete spectrum…

R.damascena is the source of the damask and cabbage rose grown commonly for the distillation of its essential rose oil. Also called attar of rose or rose absolute, it is extracted from the petals of various types of rose. While rose ottos are extracted through steam distillation essential oil obtained from rose by solvent extraction or…

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…

A unique tree species native to China, ginkgo is the oldest living member of the Gymnosperms and the only survivor of Gingkoaceae, all other species being found only as fossils. Today it is widely planted as an ornamental and cultivated for drug use in Korea, France and the United States. Standardized extracts of the leaves…

Prunus amygdalis (Rosaceae) Native to the Middle East and South Asia, almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. It is considered one of the earliest domesticated tree nuts. The oil from the nuts is produced mainly in Italy, France, Spain and North Africa. The two varieties of the…

Arbutin (hydroquinone-beta-D-glucoside) which can inhibit melanin production is present in Mitracarpus scaber extract, Uva ursi (bearberry) extract, Morus bombycis (mulberry), Morus alba (white mulberry) and Broussonetia papyrifera (paper mulberry). Pure forms of arbutin are considered more potent for effecting skin lightening (alpha-arbutin, beta-arbutin, and deoxy-arbutin). Beta-arbutin is also known by its more common name of bearberry extract. Sourced from the leaves of bearberry, cranberry, mulberry…

Skin whitening refers to the practice of using chemical substances to lighten skin tone by lessening melanin concentration. Melanins are dark-coloured pigments produced by special skin cells called melanocytes. Whitening agents act at various levels of melanin production in the skin. Several of them are competitive inhibitors of tyrosinase, a key enzyme in melanogenesis. Certain…

The common sage or culinary sage is a short-lived semi-woody shrub. A small evergreen plant with woody stems, grayish leaves and blue to purplish flowers it is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. Leaves are used extensively in the kitchen to add a unique flavour to salads, egg dishes, soups, stews, meats and…

Commonly called greater burdock, edible burdock, lappa or beggar’s buttons, it is a biennial plant cultivated in gardens for its root used as a vegetable. Cosmetic use An oil extract of the roots is used for scalp conditions (dandruff and hair loss). It improves hair strength, recovering its vitality and shine. Modern studies have shown…

Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) Commonly called Neem or Indian lilac it is a tropical evergreen tree widely distributed in south-east Asia. Called Nimba in Sanskrit, it is a highly reputed medicinal tree in the Indian traditional medical systems of Ayurveda and Siddha. Extensively used for its insecticidal properties in storage grains, all parts of the plant namely…