Cnidium Officinale Leaf Extract is derived from the leaves of the Cnidium officinale plant, commonly known as Chinese chervil or She Chuang Zi. This extract has been traditionally used in herbal medicine for its various health benefits. In cosmetic formulations, Cnidium Officinale Leaf Extract is valued for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and skin-soothing properties. It helps to improve skin texture, enhance hydration, and promote a healthy, radiant complexion.

Chemical Composition and Structure

Cnidium Officinale Leaf Extract contains:

• Phytochemicals: Rich in flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and essential oils that provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Vitamins: Contains essential vitamins that contribute to skin health.
• Minerals: Provides essential minerals that support skin function and vitality.

The unique composition of Cnidium Officinale Leaf Extract allows it to effectively nourish, protect, and revitalize the skin.

Physical Properties

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

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

• pH: Generally neutral to slightly acidic, ensuring compatibility with various cosmetic formulations.

• Odor: Fresh, herbal scent characteristic of Cnidium officinale leaves.

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

Production Process

1. Harvesting: The leaves of the Cnidium officinale plant are harvested at the appropriate time for maximum potency.

2. Extraction: The leaves are processed to obtain the extract, often using methods such as steam distillation or solvent extraction to retain beneficial properties.

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

4. Formulation: Purified Cnidium Officinale Leaf Extract is incorporated into various cosmetic products to enhance their soothing and nourishing 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 antioxidant and skin-conditioning benefits. It improves skin texture and promotes a healthy, vibrant appearance.

INCI Functions:

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product. 

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.

Perfuming. Unlike fragrance, which can also contain slightly less pleasant or characteristic odours, the term perfume indicates only very pleasant fragrances. Used for perfumes and aromatic raw materials.

Flavoring agent. The purpose of this ingredient is to modify the solution to impart a certain flavour. Natural flavouring extracts are rather expensive, so the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries resort to synthesised substances that have sensory characteristics mostly similar to natural flavourings or are naturally equivalent. This ingredient is isolated through chemical processes or is synthesised from chemicals. It is also referred to as Aroma.

CAS 168456-52-8

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Cnidium officinale is generally safe for cultivation and use, with no significant environmental threats. However, like many medicinal plants, it should be used under the guidance of a healthcare provider to avoid potential side effects, especially when used in combination with other medications. 

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.

Sustainable harvesting practices are crucial to preserve wild populations and ensure the availability of this valuable medicinal plant.

References__________________________________________________________________________

Lee MJ, Kang MK. Analysis of the Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic, and Antioxidant Activities of Cnidium officinale Extracts. Plants (Basel). 2020 Aug 4;9(8):988. doi: 10.3390/plants9080988. 

Abstract. This study analyzed the antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antioxidant properties of Cnidiumofficinale (CO) extracts to confirm their antimicrobial activity toward oral microorganisms. The control group contained 0 μg/mL of CO, and the experimental groups contained 50, 100, 150, and 200 μg/mL of CO. To confirm the antibacterial activity of CO extracts against microorganisms in the oral cavity, an inhibition zone test, a colony-forming unit (CFU) analysis, an optical density (OD) evaluation, and a SEM (scanning electron microscopy) analysis were performed. A cytotoxicity test was also conducted to determine cell viability, and the contents of flavonoids and polyphenols were measured to analyze the extract components. In the control group, the growth inhibition zone increased, while the CFU and OD values decreased (p < 0.05). The SEM analysis confirmed that the number of microorganisms for both the microbes decreased. The cell viability was more than 80% in both the control and experimental groups, excluding the 200 μg/mL sample. The flavonoid and polyphenol contents in the experimental groups showed higher values than those of the control group. Therefore, the CO extract showed considerable antimicrobial activity toward both Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, suggesting that it may be used as a natural antimicrobial agent for dental applications.

Tran HNK, Cao TQ, Kim JA, Youn UJ, Kim S, Woo MH, Min BS. Anti-inflammatory activity of compounds from the rhizome of Cnidium officinale. Arch Pharm Res. 2018 Oct;41(10):977-985. doi: 10.1007/s12272-018-1048-9. 

Abstract. Five new compounds, 9,3'-dimethoxyhierochin A (1), 6-oxo-trans-neocnidilide (2), (±)-(3E)-trans-6-hydroxy-7-methoxydihydroligustilide (3), (±)-cnidiumin (4), and 6-(1-oxopentyl)-salicylic acid methyl ester (5), together with twenty known compounds (6-25), were isolated from the rhizome of Cnidium officinale. The chemical structures of new compounds were established by NMR spectroscopic techniques, mass spectrometry, Mosher's method, and CD spectrum. Their anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 7, 13, and 14 showed inhibitory effects with IC50 values of 5.1, 24.5, and 27.8 μM, respectively. In addition, compounds 7, 13, and 14 reduced LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in a concentration-dependent manner.

Kim TY, Kwon HC, Lee SY, Lee CM, Lee KS, Lee KK. Antibacterial Activity of Senkyunolide A Isolated from Cnidium Officinale Extract. J Cosmet Sci. 2020 Nov-Dec;71(6):377-383. 

Abstract. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of Cnidium officinale hexane (COH) extract and senkyunolide A (SA). The antibacterial activities were measured using the paper disk diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Propionibacterium acnes and Malassezia furfur. COH extract showed antibacterial activity at a concentration of 50 mg ml-1. The MICs of COH and SA were determined using the broth microdilution method. COH was found to be active on all the bacteria tested (10 ≤ MIC ≤ 20 mg ml-1). SA showed antibacterial activity against P. acnes. The anti-inflammatory properties were determined using a pancreatic lipase inhibition activity method, lipoxygenase inhibition activity, and inhibition of nitric oxide production activity. COH and SA inhibited the production of nitric oxide by up to 50 µg ml-1 in a dose-dependent manner. COH and SA possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. They could be used as antibacterial ingredients in various industries.

Lim EY, Kim JG, Lee J, Lee C, Shim J, Kim YT. Analgesic Effects of Cnidium officinale Extracts on Postoperative, Neuropathic, and Menopausal Pain in Rat Models. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Jun 16;2019:9698727. doi: 10.1155/2019/9698727.

Abstract. Cnidium officinale, widely cultivated in East Asia, has been reported to exhibit pharmacological efficacy in various disorders. However, little has been reported on its role as a pain killer. In this study, we reveal that the C. officinale extract (COE) has great efficacy as a novel analgesic in various in vivo pain models. Administration of COE attenuated hypersensitivity in all postoperative, neuropathic, and menopausal pain models. Decreased hyperalgesia was confirmed by a mechanical withdrawal threshold assay and ultrasonic vocalization call analysis. In addition, application of COE inhibited the induction of the proinflammatory cytokines and calpain-3 on dorsal root ganglion neurons in a spared nerve injury rat model. Treatment with ferulic acid, which was identified as one of the components of COE by HPLC analysis, alleviated nociceptive behaviors. Our findings suggest that ferulic acid is an active compound from COE, and COE is a potential phytomedical source for pain relief by inhibiting the process of inflammation.