Monarda Didyma Callus Extract is derived from the callus tissue of the Monarda didyma plant, commonly known as bee balm or bergamot mint. This extract is produced through tissue culture techniques, which allow for the growth of cells in a controlled environment, enhancing the concentration of beneficial compounds. Monarda Didyma Callus Extract is rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and essential oils, making it beneficial for skin care. It is known for its skin-conditioning, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties, promoting overall skin health and appearance.

Chemical Composition and Structure

Monarda Didyma Callus Extract contains:

• Flavonoids: Antioxidant compounds that help protect the skin from oxidative stress and environmental damage.
• Essential Oils: Rich in therapeutic compounds such as thymol, which contribute to its antimicrobial and soothing properties.
• Phenolic Compounds: Bioactive components that provide anti-inflammatory benefits, enhancing the extract's efficacy in skin care applications.

This unique composition allows Monarda Didyma Callus Extract to effectively nourish and protect the skin.

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Typically a dark green to brown liquid or viscous extract.

• Solubility: Soluble in alcohol and oils; limited solubility in water.

• pH: Generally neutral to slightly acidic, compatible with a range of cosmetic formulations.

• Odor: Characteristic herbal scent, aromatic and pleasant.

• Stability: Stable under normal storage conditions; should be protected from excessive heat and light.

Production Process

1. Tissue Culture: Callus tissue from the Monarda didyma plant is cultivated in a controlled environment to promote growth.

2. Extraction: The callus material is processed to obtain the extract, often through solvent extraction or other methods to retain beneficial properties.

3. Purification: The extract is purified to remove impurities and ensure a high-quality product.

4. Formulation: Purified Monarda Didyma Callus Extract is incorporated into various cosmetic products to enhance their skin-conditioning properties.

Applications

• Medical: Used in topical formulations for its soothing properties and ability to reduce skin irritation and inflammation.

• Cosmetics: Commonly found in creams, lotions, and serums for its skin-conditioning benefits. It improves skin texture and promotes a healthier appearance.

INCI Functions:

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

CAS 91722-89-3

EC number 294-492-6

• Industrial Uses: May be employed in formulations requiring natural extracts with beneficial properties.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Generally regarded as safe for topical application, however, like all extracts, it should be used in accordance with established guidelines to avoid potential allergic reactions or skin irritations. People with allergies or very sensitive skin should be careful.

 It is important to ensure that the extract is sustainably sourced and free from harmful chemicals.

References__________________________________________________________________________

Smeriglio A, Ingegneri M, Germanò MP, Miori L, Battistini G, Betuzzi F, Malaspina P, Trombetta D, Cornara L. Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Monarda didyma L. Growing in Trentino (Northern Italy) for Cosmeceutical Applications. Plants (Basel). 2023 Dec 30;13(1):112. doi: 10.3390/plants13010112. 

Abstract. Monarda didyma L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal and aromatic herb native to eastern North America and now is also cultivated in Northern Italy, which shows terminal heads of bright scarlet-red flowers, subtended by a whorl of red-tinged leafy bracts. Starting from 2018, M. didyma flowering tops have been included in the Belfrit List of botanicals. However, to date studies on the crude extract of this plant are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to investigate the morphological and anatomical features of the flowering tops and the phytochemical profile of their ethanolic and hydroglyceric extracts (EE and HGE, respectively). HGE was the richest in total phenols (105.75 ± 5.91 vs. 64.22 ± 3.45 mg/100 mL) and especially in flavonoids (71.60 ± 5.09 vs. 47.70 ± 1.27 mg/100 mL), as confirmed also by LC-DAD-ESI-MS. Fifty-three polyphenols were identified and quantified. Even if they showed a common polyphenolic profile, EE and HGE showed quantitative differences. Flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins were the most expressed metabolites in HGE, whereas flavonols were the most expressed metabolites in EE. These features confer to HGE the highest antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic properties, detected by several in vitro and in vivo assays, highlighting a promising use of this plant extract for skincare applications.

Côté H, Pichette A, St-Gelais A, Legault J. The Biological Activity of Monarda didyma L. Essential Oil and Its Effect as a Diet Supplement in Mice and Broiler Chicken. Molecules. 2021 Jun 2;26(11):3368. doi: 10.3390/molecules26113368. 

Abstract. The use of growth-promoting antibiotics in livestock faces increasing scrutiny and opposition due to concerns about the increased occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Alternative solutions are being sought, and plants of Lamiaceae may provide an alternative to synthetic antibiotics in animal nutrition. In this study, we extracted essential oil from Monarda didyma, a member of the Lamiaceae family. We examined the chemical composition of the essential oil and then evaluated the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of M. didyma essential oil and its main compounds in vitro. We then evaluated the effectiveness of M. didyma essential oil in regard to growth performance, feed efficiency, and mortality in both mice and broilers. Carvacrol (49.03%) was the dominant compound in the essential oil extracts. M. didyma essential oil demonstrated antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli (MIC = 87 µg·mL-1), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 47 µg·mL-1), and Clostridium perfringens (MIC = 35 µg·mL-1). Supplementing the diet of mice with essential oil at a concentration of 0.1% significantly increased body weight (+5.4%) and feed efficiency (+18.85%). In broilers, M. didyma essential oil significantly improved body weight gain (2.64%). Our results suggest that adding M. didyma essential oil to the diet of broilers offers a potential substitute for antibiotic growth promoters.

Ricci D, Epifano F, Fraternale D. The Essential Oil of Monarda didyma L. (Lamiaceae) Exerts Phytotoxic Activity in Vitro against Various Weed Seed. Molecules. 2017 Feb 2;22(2):222. doi: 10.3390/molecules22020222.

Abstract. The chemical composition of the essential oil of the flowering aerial parts of Monarda didyma L. cultivated in central Italy was analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). The major compounds of the oil were thymol (59.3%), p-cymene (10.3%), terpinolene (9.2%), δ-3-carene (4.4%), myrcene (3.7%), and camphene (3.4%). The essential oil was tested in vitro for its anti-germination activity against Papaver rhoeas L., Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg., Avena fatua L., Raphanus sativus L. and Lepidium sativum L. seeds, demonstrating good inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent way. The exposure of the employed weed seeds to M. didyma essential oil and thymol solution (59.3%) increased the level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), markers of oxidative stress, in emerging 5-day-old rootlets.