How is Ashitaba extract obtained?

The Ashitaba, known by the botanical name Angelica keiskei or also referred to as the 'tomorrow leaf', is a perennial plant native to Asia. Initially cultivated in Japan and China, it is now found in America and Europe. The plant, which grows to a height of 50 to 100 cm, has been known to the Japanese for over two millennia and is a cornerstone of medicinal plants.

Often regarded as a superfood, theAshitaba is gradually making its way into the cosmetic universe. Little known in the West, this plant with numerous virtues has long been synonymous with longevity in Japan, which recognises its many benefits for both health and skin.

It is renowned for its action against signs of ageing, contributing to the process of autophagy. This is a phenomenon that promotes the elimination of waste in the body. These benefits make Ashitaba an anti-ageing ally: let's discover below how to obtain it.

Thesolvent extraction or solid/liquid extraction is a common method for obtaining a plant extract. The principle involves macerating a part of it (leaves, roots, stems...) in a liquid solvent such as ethyl alcohol, water, propylene glycol and ether, or semi-gaseous, like CO2 in its supercritical state.

The leaves and stems are the parts used for the Ashitaba extract. The process is carried out in several stages.

1. Following harvest, the plant material is washed, then dried at room temperature before being ground to facilitate the release of active ingredients;

2. The raw material is then macerated in 70% ethanol for three days to transfer the active molecules into the solvent;

3. The macerate obtained is then filtered in order to separate the liquid from the ground raw material;

4. The extract is concentrated using a rotary evaporator at 40°C. This involves evaporating the solvent under reduced pressure;

5. The Ashitaba extract is then dried to ensure its preservation. This is done according to the principle of atomisation, that is, in the presence of hot air.

Depending on the circumstances, the plant extract may undergo a purification stage to remove contaminants and select active molecules. This is done using a filtration membrane with pores of varying sizes.