Pollution protection from Rosmarinus officinalis

Air pollution consists of a broad range of environmental aggressors such as UV , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, oxides, particulate matter, and ozone.1 The skin barrier is the first line of protection against these environmental aggressors as the stratum corneum contains a network of enzymatic (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) and non-enzymatic (vitamin E, vitamin C, and glutathione) antioxidants.1,2 However, abnormal exposure to pollutants disturbs the skin barrier function and is involved in an increase in oxidative stress that depletes the skin’s antioxidant capacity. In turn, free radicals and reactive oxygen species are created that can alter lipids, DNA, and proteins causing skin damage such as extrinsic skin ageing, ‘sunburn cell’ & 8-hydroxy-2’deoxyguanosine formation, inflammatory or allergic conditions, and skin cancer.1,2 As such, antioxidants are an effective method of preventing the damaging effects of pollution, and novel phytoextracts with improved antioxidant activity are a growing area of interest.3 The synergistic combination of rosmarinic acid and other phytochemicals in a Rosmarinus Officinalis(Rosemary) Leaf Extract,a obtained by a patented Subcritical Water Extraction (SWE), helps to provide a powerful antioxidant shield that supports skin barrier function and helps prevent the deleterious effects of pollution. 

While there are many ways to extract phytochemicals from biomasses, we have found that using SWE yields an extract with a richer bioactive composition than other extraction methods such hot water, water/ethanol blends, or organic solvents such as acetone.b The temperature of subcritical water is a key parameter in this extraction process.4 As temperature of the water increases above its atmospheric boiling point (achieved by increasing pressure in the extraction equipment), the dielectric constant decreases significantly, resulting in water that has the polarity similar to ethanol or acetone, depending on temperature.  This is due to the disruption of water’s inherit hydrogen bonding.  In addition, viscosity and surface tension decreases while molecular diffusion rates increase.4 Therefore, SWE is an attractive extraction technique with the advantages of short extraction times, high efficiency, and low energy consumption, making it an environmentally friendly and sustainable extraction method.

In addition to being ethically sourced and extracted via a 100% water extraction process with no undesirable solvents, this unique rosemary biomass has high biological efficacy. HPLC studies prove its broad phytochemical composition and in vitro studies on reconstructed human epidermis highlight its effect on reversing skin barrier disruption and providing anti-pollution protection. Rosemary is an effective skin care ingredient that provides an antioxidant shield against the harmful effects of pollution