Description

Lycium Chinense Fruit Water is an aqueous solution derived from the fruits of the Lycium chinense plant, commonly known as Chinese wolfberry or goji berry. This extract is utilized for its beneficial properties in various applications, particularly in the fields of cosmetics and medicine.

Chemical Composition and Structure

The chemical composition of Lycium Chinense Fruit Water includes a diverse range of bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, vitamins (especially vitamin C and vitamin E), carotenoids (including beta-carotene and zeaxanthin), amino acids, and trace elements. The structure of these compounds varies, with polysaccharides forming complex carbohydrate chains, flavonoids possessing phenolic structures, and carotenoids being terpenoid derivatives.

Physical Properties

Lycium Chinense Fruit Water typically appears as a clear to slightly yellowish liquid. It has a mild, characteristic odor and a slightly sweet taste due to the presence of natural sugars. The pH of this extract can range from slightly acidic to neutral, usually between 4.0 and 7.0. It is soluble in water and can be mixed with other aqueous solutions easily.

Production Process

The production of Lycium Chinense Fruit Water involves several steps:

Harvesting and Selection: Ripe fruits of Lycium chinense are harvested and selected for quality.
Washing: The fruits are thoroughly washed to remove any dirt or contaminants.
Crushing and Maceration: The cleaned fruits are crushed and macerated to release their juice.
Extraction: The macerated fruit pulp is subjected to an extraction process, typically using water or a water-based solvent, to obtain the fruit water.
Filtration and Purification: The extract is filtered to remove solid residues and impurities.
Concentration (optional): In some processes, the extract may be concentrated to enhance the potency of the active ingredients.
Sterilization: The final product is sterilized to ensure microbiological safety.
Applications

Medical: Lycium Chinense Fruit Water is known for its antioxidant properties, which help in reducing oxidative stress and promoting overall health. It is also used in traditional medicine for its potential benefits in improving immune function, vision health, and anti-aging effects.

Cosmetics: In the cosmetics industry, Lycium Chinense Fruit Water is prized for its hydrating, anti-aging, and skin-soothing properties. It is commonly included in formulations of facial creams, serums, lotions, and masks.

Others: Beyond medical and cosmetic applications, Lycium Chinense Fruit Water may also be used in the food and beverage industry as a natural flavoring or nutrient-rich ingredient.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Environmental Impact: The production of Lycium Chinense Fruit Water generally has a low environmental impact, especially when sustainable farming practices are employed. The use of natural solvents like water in the extraction process also minimizes the release of harmful chemicals into the environment.

Safety: Lycium Chinense Fruit Water is considered safe for topical and oral use in the concentrations typically employed in consumer products. However, it is essential to ensure that the extract is free from contaminants and pathogens. Allergic reactions are rare but can occur, so patch testing is recommended for cosmetic applications.

INCI
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.
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