Crithmum Maritimum Extract is a product of natural origin obtained by in vitro cultivation of sea fennel cells belonging to the Apiaceae family.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• Crithmum Maritimum is the scientific name for sea fennel, a perennial plant that grows along maritime rocky coasts. It is known for its antioxidant properties and its resilience to salty environments.
• Extract indicates that the product is a concentrated form obtained from processing the raw material. In this case, the extract is derived from the callus of Crithmum Maritimum.

Industrial Production Process

• Harvesting of plant material. The process begins with the collection of the aerial parts of Crithmum Maritimum, typically during the flowering stage when bioactive compounds are most concentrated.
• Preparation. The harvested plants are cleaned, washed, and sometimes chopped into smaller pieces to increase the surface area exposed to the solvent during extraction.
• Extraction. The prepared plant materials are immersed in a suitable solvent, such as ethanol or water, to solubilize the bioactive compounds. Extraction can be enhanced by methods like maceration, infusion, or ultrasonic assistance.
• Filtration. After extraction, the mixture is filtered to remove plant residues and isolate the liquid extract.
• Concentration. The liquid extract is then concentrated by evaporating the solvent under reduced pressure or via distillation methods to increase the concentration of active ingredients.
• Quality control. Before being used in final formulations, the Crithmum Maritimum extract undergoes quality testing to ensure the purity and concentration of active compounds.

What it is used for and where

This extract is rich in peptides, antioxidants, and protective agents that help strengthen the skin barrier and stimulate cell renewal. It is widely used in cosmetic products for its moisturizing, revitalizing, and anti-aging properties. It contributes to improving skin elasticity, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and protecting the skin from environmental stresses, such as pollution and UV radiation.

Cosmetics - 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.

Tonic. This product is used to treat the hair when the scalp is clean or after shampooing. It stimulates hair growth, revitalises the scalp for healthy hair growth and reduces hair loss. It provides a feeling of well-being on skin and hair.

Main uses and benefits of Crithmum Maritimum Extract.

Antioxidant Properties. Rich in antioxidants (1), this extract helps protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals and environmental stresses, helping to prevent premature aging and is considered a nutraceutical (2).

Skin Regeneration. It stimulates cellular renewal (3), improving skin elasticity and firmness, and helping to reduce the visibility of wrinkles and fine lines.

Deep Hydration. Provides deep hydration to the skin, keeping it moisturized and reducing dryness.

Strengthening the Skin Barrier. It enhances the skin barrier, increasing the skin's ability to retain moisture and protecting it from external irritants.

Soothing Effect. It has soothing properties that make it effective in calming irritated skin and reducing redness (4).

Versatile Applications. It can be used in a wide range of cosmetic products, including serums, moisturizers, masks, and anti-aging treatments.

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Calvo MM, López-Caballero ME, Martínez-Alvarez O. Identification of Polyphenols in Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum) and Seaside Arrowgrass (Triglochin maritima) Extracts with Antioxidant, ACE-I, DPP-IV and PEP-Inhibitory Capacity. Foods. 2023 Oct 24;12(21):3886. doi: 10.3390/foods12213886.

Abstrct. Sea fennel and seaside arrowgrass are two abundant but underutilized halophytes along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. This study investigated the antioxidant capacity and the potential antihypertensive (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme I, ACE-I inhibition), hypoglycaemic (Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV, DPP-IV inhibition), and nootropic (Prolyl Endopeptidase, PEP inhibition) activity of their polyphenol extracts. They had a high phenol content (21-24 mEq GA/g), antioxidant capacity evaluated using the ABTS (17-2 mg ascorbic acid/g) and FRAP (170-270 mM Mohr's salt/g) assays, and effective ACE-inhibiting properties (80-90% inhibiting activity at final concentration of 0.5 mg/mL). Additionally, the sea fennel extract displayed high DPP-IV inhibitory capacity (73% at 1 mg/mL), while the seaside arrowgrass extract exhibited potent Prolyl endopeptidase inhibitory capacity (75% at 1 mg/mL). Fractionation by HPLC concentrated the bioactive molecules in two fractions, for which the composition was analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Different chlorogenic acids seemed to play an important role in the bioactivity of sea fennel extract, and different flavonoids, mainly apigenin, luteolin and chrysoeriol, in the bioactivity of the seaside arrowgrass extract. Given their potential health benefits, these extracts could serve as valuable bioactive ingredients and could potentially encourage the cultivation of these species in regions where traditional crops face challenges in growth.

(2) Kraouia M, Nartea A, Maoloni A, Osimani A, Garofalo C, Fanesi B, Ismaiel L, Aquilanti L, Pacetti D. Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) as an Emerging Crop for the Manufacturing of Innovative Foods and Nutraceuticals. Molecules. 2023 Jun 13;28(12):4741. doi: 10.3390/molecules28124741. 

Abstract. Sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) is a perennial, strongly aromatic herb that has been used since ancient times in cuisine and folk medicine due to its renowned properties. Recently described as a "cash" crop, sea fennel is an ideal candidate for the promotion of halophyte agriculture in the Mediterranean basin due to its acknowledged adaptation to the Mediterranean climate, its resilience to risks/shocks related to climate changes, and its exploitability in food and non-food applications, which generates an alternative source of employment in rural areas. The present review provides insight into the nutritional and functional traits of this new crop as well as its exploitation in innovative food and nutraceutical applications. Various previous studies have fully demonstrated the high biological and nutritional potential of sea fennel, highlighting its high content of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, carotenoids, ω-3 and ω-6 essential fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, and essential oils. Moreover, in previous studies, this aromatic halophyte showed good potential for application in the manufacturing of high-value foods, including both fermented and unfermented preserves, sauces, powders, and spices, herbal infusions and decoctions, and even edible films, as well as nutraceuticals. Further research efforts are needed to fully disclose the potential of this halophyte in view of its full exploitation by the food and nutraceutical industries.

Gnocchi D, Sabbà C, Mazzocca A. The Edible Plant Crithmum maritimum Shows Nutraceutical Properties by Targeting Energy Metabolism in Hepatic Cancer. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2022 Sep;77(3):481-483. doi: 10.1007/s11130-022-00986-z. Epub 2022 Jul 14. 

(3) Caucanas M, Montastier C, Piérard GE, Quatresooz P. Dynamics of skin barrier repair following preconditioning by a biotechnology-driven extract from samphire (Crithmum maritimum) stem cells. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2011 Dec;10(4):288-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2011.00584.x. 

(4) Pedreiro S, Figueirinha A, Cavaleiro C, Cardoso O, Donato MM, Salgueiro L, Ramos F. Exploiting the Crithmum maritimum L. Aqueous Extracts and Essential Oil as Potential Preservatives in Food, Feed, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industries. Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Jan 22;12(2):252. doi: 10.3390/antiox12020252. 

Abstract. Chritmum maritimum, sea fennel, is a facultative halophyte used in salads, soups, and sauces, as well as used to prepare medicinal juices and aqueous extracts (AE) to treat several ailments. Its essential oil (EO) is used as a spice and aromatizing. In this work, the nutritional (crude protein, fiber, lipids, and ashes content) and HPLC-PDA phenolic profiles were determined. Furthermore, the antioxidant potential of the infusion and of the decoction, as well as the antibacterial activity of both, the AE and EO, were assessed against food-contaminating bacteria. The composition of the EO was also established. Sea fennel exhibited considerable fiber (34.3 ± 1.92%) and mineral content (23.6 ± 4.8%). AE contains chlorogenic acid as the major phenolic compound, 49.7 ± 0.8 mg/g in the infusion dry extract and (26.8 ± 0.9 mg/g in the decoction dry extract). EO contains high amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons, namely γ-terpinene and sabinene. In regards to the antioxidant activity, IC50 values for the infusion and decoction were, respectively: 36.5 ± 1.4 μg/mL and 44.7 ± 4.4 μg/mL in the DPPH assay; 37.3 ± 2.6 μg/mL and 38.4 ± 1.8 μg/mL, in the ABTS assay. EO is particularly active against Bacillus cereus and Lactobacillus plantarum. The results support the use of sea fennel AE and EO as a potential alternative preservative ingredient for feeds, foods, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, due to the antioxidant activity of infusion and decoction, and antibacterial properties of essential oil.