Actinidia Chinensis Seed Extract, obtained from the seeds of the kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis), contains essential fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidants. It is widely used in cosmetic products for its moisturizing, regenerative, and protective properties. This extract is particularly valued for its ability to nourish the skin and improve its texture, leaving it softer and more radiant.
Chemical Composition and Structure
Kiwi seed extract contains a combination of essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3), as well as vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from free radical damage. These essential fatty acids help maintain the skin’s lipid barrier, improving hydration and softness.
Physical Properties
This extract is a lightweight and easily absorbable oil, typically light yellow in color. It is often used in facial serums, oils, moisturizers, and hair products. Due to its light texture, it absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving a greasy residue, providing deep hydration.
Production Process
Kiwi seed extract is produced through a cold-press or solvent extraction process, which preserves the essential nutrients and antioxidants present in the seeds. This extraction method ensures a high-quality product rich in beneficial compounds for the skin.
Harvesting the Seeds: Seeds of Actinidia chinensis are extracted from ripe fruits. It is essential to follow sustainable harvesting practices to ensure the quality of the plant material.
Cleaning: After harvesting, the seeds are cleaned to remove pulp residues, dirt, and impurities. This step is crucial to ensure that the final extract is of high quality.
Drying: The cleaned seeds may undergo a drying process to remove moisture. This helps preserve the active properties and facilitates subsequent extraction.
Extraction: The extraction of active principles occurs using appropriate solvents, such as water, ethanol, or methanol. The dried seeds are immersed in the solvent, and the mixture is agitated or heated to promote the release of bioactive compounds.
Filtration: Once the extraction process is complete, the obtained solution is filtered to remove undissolved solids, resulting in a liquid extract containing the active principles of the seeds.
Concentration: The extract may be further concentrated by evaporating the solvent to obtain a product richer in nutrients and with greater stability.
Quality Control and Packaging: Finally, the seed extract undergoes quality control checks to verify its purity, efficacy, and compliance with standards. After analysis, it is packaged for distribution and use in dietary supplements and cosmetic products.
Applications
Skincare Products: Kiwi seed extract is widely used in moisturizing and regenerative products to improve skin elasticity and texture, keeping it soft and nourished.
Anti-aging Products: With its high content of vitamin E and essential fatty acids, the extract helps reduce visible signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines, while improving skin elasticity.
Hair Care: Kiwi seed oil is also used in hair care products to nourish the scalp and enhance hair shine and strength.
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: 92456-63-8 296-241-6
Health and Safety Considerations
Safety in Use
Kiwi seed extract is considered safe for use in cosmetics. No significant side effects have been reported, but as with any plant-based ingredient, a patch test is recommended before use, especially for those with sensitive or allergy-prone skin.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions to kiwi seed extract are rare, but individuals with kiwi allergies or sensitivities should exercise caution and perform a patch test before use.
Toxicity and Carcinogenicity
It is considered safe and beneficial for the skin due to its nourishing and protective properties.
Environmental Considerations
Kiwi seed extract is a renewable and sustainable resource. The extraction process has minimal environmental impact and utilizes a part of the fruit that might otherwise be discarded, contributing to waste reduction.
Regulatory Status
Kiwi seed extract is approved for use in cosmetics by major regulatory authorities, including the European Union and the FDA in the United States.
Studies
Kiwis contain on average:
- Vitamin C Ascorbic acid in the following measures (Cultivar Actinidia chinenssis Plach, Gaivard): mg/g 5,44 in the juice, 1,14 in the skin, 4,20 in the pulp (1).
- Vitamin E
- Potassium
It has good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of ascorbic acid.
Flavonoids, vitamin C and carotenoids have a preventive effect against cardiovascular diseases (2).
Kiwi has proven effective in relieving chronic constipation (3) with these benefits:
- decreased in days of laxative used
- satisfaction of bowel habit
- improvement in transit time
- improvement in rectal sensation
