Prunus Armeniaca Seed Powder is a product of natural origin derived from the apricot seeds and used in various cosmetic and skincare products.

Industrial Production Process

• Kernel Harvesting - After harvesting apricots, the kernels are separated from the flesh. The kernels are then cleaned and dried to prepare them for grinding.
• Seed Grinding - The dried kernels are ground to produce a fine powder. The granularity of the powder can be adjusted based on the intended use, with finer grades for gentle products and coarser grades for more intense exfoliants.
• Purification - The obtained powder is sifted and purified to remove any impurities and ensure a uniform consistency. This step is crucial to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the final product.
• Quality Control - Apricot seed powder undergoes strict quality control checks to verify granularity, purity, and the absence of contaminants, meeting the standards required for use in cosmetics.

What it is for and where

Cosmetics - INCI Functions

Abrasive agent. It contains abrasive particles to remove stains or biofilm that accumulate on the stratum corneum or teeth. Baking soda, kieselguhr, silica and many others have abrasive properties. Peeling or exfoliating products used in dermatology or cosmetic applications contain abrasive agents in the form of synthetic microspheres, however these microspheres or abrasive particles are not biodegradable and create pollution in aquatic ecosystems.

CAS   68650-44-2

EC number  272-046-1

Prunus Armeniaca, commonly known as apricot, is a tree from the Rosaceae family. Originating from the northern regions of China, it is used for its sweet and nutritious fruits, as well as for medicinal properties.

Chemical Composition and Properties

Apricot is rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. Parts of the plant, including the seeds, are used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, thanks to their antipyretic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, emetic, and ophthalmic properties.

Biological Activities

Studies have highlighted the anticancer potential (1) of Prunus Armeniaca, both as a primary remedy in traditional medicine and as a complementary or alternative medicine. Research has identified anticancer mechanisms such as apoptosis, antiproliferation, and cytotoxicity.

Therapeutic Potential

Beyond anticancer properties, Prunus Armeniaca exhibits neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antioxidant, immunostimulatory, antihyperlipidemic, antibacterial, and antifungal effects (2). However, the toxicity of amygdalin, found in apricot kernel seeds, limits its long-term use.

Industrial Applications

Apricot finds applications in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Its extracts are used to enrich foods, beverages, and skincare products.

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Kitic D, Miladinovic B, Randjelovic M, Szopa A, Sharifi-Rad J, Calina D, Seidel V. Anticancer Potential and Other Pharmacological Properties of Prunus armeniaca L.: An Updated Overview. Plants (Basel). 2022 Jul 20;11(14):1885. doi: 10.3390/plants11141885. PMID: 35890519; PMCID: PMC9325146.

Abstract. Prunus armeniaca L. (Rosaceae)-syn. Amygdalus armeniaca (L.) Dumort., Armeniaca armeniaca (L.) Huth, Armeniaca vulgaris Lam is commonly known as the apricot tree. The plant is thought to originate from the northern, north-western, and north-eastern provinces of China, although some data show that it may also come from Korea or Japan. The apricot fruit is used medicinally to treat a variety of ailments, including use as an antipyretic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, emetic, and ophthalmic remedy. The Chinese and Korean pharmacopeias describe the apricot seed as an herbal medicinal product. Various parts of the apricot plant are used worldwide for their anticancer properties, either as a primary remedy in traditional medicine or as a complementary or alternative medicine. The purpose of this review was to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information on ethnobotanical data, bioactive phytochemicals, anticancer potential, pharmacological applications, and toxicology of the genus Prunus armeniaca, thus providing new perspectives on future research directions. Included data were obtained from online databases such as PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, Science direct, and Wiley Online Library. Multiple anticancer mechanisms have been identified in in vitro and in vivo studies, the most important mechanisms being apoptosis, antiproliferation, and cytotoxicity. The anticancer properties are probably mediated by the contained bioactive compounds, which can activate various anticancer mechanisms and signaling pathways such as tumor suppressor proteins that reduce the proliferation of tumor cells. Other pharmacological properties resulting from the analysis of experimental studies include neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antioxidant, immunostimulatory, antihyperlipidemic, antibacterial, and antifungal effects. In addition, data were provided on the toxicity of amygdalin, a compound found in apricot kernel seeds, which limits the long-term use of complementary/alternative products derived from P. armeniaca. This updated review showed that bioactive compounds derived from P. armeniaca are promising compounds for future research due to their important pharmacological properties, especially anticancer. A detailed analysis of the chemical structure of these compounds and their cytotoxicity should be carried out in future research. In addition, translational pharmacological studies are required for the correct determination of pharmacologically active doses in humans.

(2) Alajil O, Sagar VR, Kaur C, Rudra SG, Sharma RR, Kaushik R, Verma MK, Tomar M, Kumar M, Mekhemar M. Nutritional and Phytochemical Traits of Apricots (Prunus Armeniaca L.) for Application in Nutraceutical and Health Industry. Foods. 2021 Jun 10;10(6):1344. doi: 10.3390/foods10061344. 

Abstract. Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is a nutritious fruit, rich in bioactive compounds, known for their health benefits. The present study attempts to evaluate nutritional (sugars, organic acids, minerals) and nutraceutical traits (total phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, antioxidant activity) of six commercial apricot genotypes grown in India. Antioxidant activity was determined using three in-vitro assays, namely CUPRAC (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl). Significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed in the genotypes concerning nutritional and nutraceutical traits. Sucrose accounted for more than 60% of total sugars in most genotypes, followed by glucose and fructose. Citric acid accounted for more than 50% of the total organic acids present, followed by malic and succinic acids. Apricot is a good source of potassium (1430.07 to 2202.69 mg/100 g dwb) and iron (2.69 to 6.97 mg/100 g dwb) owing to its mineral composition. Total carotenoids content ranged from 0.44 to 3.55 mg/100 g, with β-carotene accounting for 33-84% of the total content. The results strongly suggest that genotypes 'CITH-A-1' and 'CITH-A-2', which have high dry matter and carotenoids content, are well suited for drying. 'Roxana' and 'CITH-A-3' are great for fresh consumption, while 'Shakarpara' and 'Gold Cot' are excellent for juice processing.