Officinal Plants as New Frontiers of Cosmetic Ingredients

July 2025 in “ Cosmetics ”

Annabella Vitalone, Lucia D’Andrea, Antonella Di Sotto, Alessandra Caruso, Rosana Cristina Pereira Parente

Camellia sinensis Panax ginseng Mentha piperita Drosera ramentacea Kigelia africana flavonoids polyphenols COX-2 Nrf2 pathway green tea ginseng peppermint

From the encyclopedia

Camellia Sinensis →

Mentha Piperita →

Green tea →

Studysummary This review highlights the multifunctional benefits of plant-derived ingredients in skincare, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, supported by biological evidence from medicinal plants like Camellia sinensis and Panax ginseng, suggesting their potential as natural dermocosmetic agents. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The review explores the potential of officinal plants as cosmetic ingredients, highlighting their multifunctional bioactivities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-aging effects. Key plants like Camellia sinensis, Panax ginseng, and Mentha piperita are noted for their benefits in skincare, including UV protection and potential in managing conditions like acne and androgenetic alopecia. The document emphasizes the need for systematic validation and standardization of these plant extracts to ensure safety and efficacy in skincare products. Despite promising results, further research is needed to improve chemical stability, skin penetration, and functional performance of these botanical compounds in cosmetics.

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