Osmanthus fragrans flower extract is obtained from a shrub Osmanthus fragrans belonging to the Oleaceae family and, is a common ingredient in cosmetics and skin care products, as well as in some beverages and foodstuffs. Osmanthus fragrans is known for its aromatic properties, often described as a mixture of jasmine and apricot.
The name describes the structure of the molecule
- "Osmanthus" is the genus of the plant
- "fragrans" denotes the species, and also is a nod to the distinctive and pleasant scent of its blooms.
- "Flower extract" indicates that the ingredient is derived from the osmanthus flowers.
Description of raw materials used in production
The flowers of Osmanthus fragrans are the primary raw material for this extract. They are harvested at their peak bloom to ensure the highest concentration of essential oils and other aromatic compounds.
Synthesis process
- Flower harvesting - Flowers are harvested from the plant during their blooming phase.
- Drying - The flowers might be dried to preserve essential oils.
- Extraction - The flowers, whether fresh or dried, are then immersed in a solvent, like alcohol or water, to extract the beneficial compounds.
- Separation - After a set period, the solvent is separated, leaving behind the concentrated flower extract.
- Purification - The extract is then purified to remove any impurities.
- Packaging - The purified extract is packaged for sale or used as an ingredient in various products.
The extract appears as a yellowish powder
What it is for and where
Cosmetics
Fragrance. It plays a decisive and 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.
CAS 92347-21-2
EC number 296-209-1
Applications
Perfumery - Due to its sweet, apricot-like scent, Osmanthus fragrans flower extract is often used in perfumes and fragrances.
Cosmetic Products - The flower extract can be found in skincare products such as creams, lotions, and masks for its emollient and aromatic properties.
Hair Care Products - The extract may be included in shampoos and conditioners to scent them and provide nourishing benefits.
Teas and Liquors - In certain Asian cultures, Osmanthus fragrans flowers are used to brew teas or to flavor liquors.
Traditional Medicine
In some traditions, the flowers are used for their purported therapeutic benefits, such as calming the mind and reducing heat in the body, although scientific research has sometimes failed to confirm some of these uses. Indeed, studies on the positive biological activities of Osmanthus fragrans referred to the bioactive principles of this plant, and the mechanism responsible for these extracts and ingredients has not been well identified (1).
Studies
Yang J, Gu T, Lu Y, Xu Y, Gan RY, Ng SB, Sun Q, Peng Y. Edible Osmanthus fragrans flowers: aroma and functional components, beneficial functions, and applications. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2023 Jun 7:1-14. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2220130.
Abstract. Osmanthus fragrans (O. fragrans) has been cultivated in China for over 2,500 years as a traditional fragrant plant. Recently, O. fragrans has drawn increasing attention due to its unique aroma and potential health benefits. In this review, the aroma and functional components of O. fragrans are summarized, and their biosynthetic mechanism is discussed. The beneficial functions and related molecular mechanism of O. fragrans extract are then highlighted. Finally, potential applications of O. fragrans are summarized, and future perspectives are proposed and discussed. According to the current research, O. fragrans extracts and components have great potential to be developed into value-added functional ingredients with preventive effects on certain chronic diseases. However, it is crucial to develop efficient, large-scale, and commercially viable extraction methods to obtain the bioactive components from O. fragrans. Furthermore, more clinical studies are highly needed to explore the beneficial functions of O. fragrans and guide its development into functional food products.
Le DD, Lee YE, Lee M. Triterpenoids from the leaves of Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus with their anti-melanogenesis and anti-tyrosinase activities. Nat Prod Res. 2022 Dec;36(24):6414-6420. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2022.2035384.
Abstract. Excessive production of melanin causes various dermatological disorders including hyperpigmentation. To search for anti-melanogenesis candidates from natural products, we discovered that leaves of Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus (OFA) suppressed melanin production. The extract of OFA leaves and its fractions were subjected to bioactivity-guided separation by targeting active constituents and a total of four triterpenoids were obtained: 3α,24-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28 oic acid (1), pomolic acid (2), maslinic acid (3), and corosolic acid (4). Compounds 1 and 2 were isolated from this plant for the first time. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against melanin production and tyrosinase activity. Active compounds were further investigated to understand their mechanisms of action. Results revealed that they significantly down-regulated TYRP-1 and TYRP-2 expression levels. Our results clarified the whitening property of this plant and provided evidence that active constituents of this plant possessed anti-melanogenesis effect and anti-tyrosinase activity for the first time.
Song HY, Jeong DE, Lee M. Bioactivity-Guided Extract Optimization of Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus Leaves and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Phillyrin. Plants (Basel). 2021 Jul 28;10(8):1545. doi: 10.3390/plants10081545.
Abstract. The aim of this study was to identify the optimal extraction conditions for leaves of Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus. Inhibitory effects of various extracts on NO production were compared. Antioxidant evaluations for total phenol and flavonoid contents were carried out using various extracts of O. fragrans var. aurantiacus leaves obtained under optimal extraction conditions that showed the greatest effect on NO production. The optimal method for extracting O. fragrans var. aurantiacus leaves resulted in an extract named OP OFLE. OP OFLE showed DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities in a concentration-dependent manner. Phillyrin (PH) was isolated as a major compound from OP OFLE by HPLC/DAD analysis. OP OFLE and PH reduced inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein expression and downregulated proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 and HT-29 cells. To determine the signal pathway involved in the inhibition of NO production, a Western blot analysis was performed. Results showed that OP OFLE decreased phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinase (pERK) 1/2 and the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Our results suggest that extracts of O. fragrans var. aurantiacus leaves and its major components have biological activities such as antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.
