The Secrets of Caledonia (TSOC) is
a supplier of natural cosmetic ingredients inspired
by Scottish traditional herbal medicine.
Ocimum Basilicum is a member of the large and diverse mint family.
It typically grows to between 12-51cm tall with clustered white/lilac flowers and abundant green leaves.
In Europe, Basil is a popular culinary ingredient due to its distinctive aroma and flavour.
In our experiments, Basil showed good effects for skin brightening and anti-wrinkle efficacies.
In addition to this, it showed strong antioxidant activity.
Other literature has confirmed these effects and shown Basil has been used to treat atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions.
Figure 1:
- Increase in scavenging activity correlates with increase in wild basil extract concentration
- Almost linear increase in scavenging activity from 1.5% to 13% extract concentration
- Scavenging activity doubled going from 6.3% to 13% extract concentration
- Almost 90% scavenging activity is reached at 25% extract concentration
- Antioxidant properties confirmed
Figure 2:
- Natural aging is said to be predominantly caused by changes in elasticity of the skin over time
- Elastase is an enzyme which breaks down elastin, an important protein responsible for skin elasticity
- Elastase inhibition activity of wild basil extract is a measure of the plant's anti-wrinkle and anti-aging properties
- Increase in elastase inhibition activity correlates with increase in wild basil extract concentration
- Linear increase in elastase inhibition activity from 25% to 100% extract concentration
- Anti-wrinkle and anti-aging properties confirmed