Papyrus Care: How Is the Plant Cell Extract from Papyrus Obtained?

Papyrus is a semiaquatic herbaceous plant native to the Nile Delta. However, it is now cultivated in most of sub-Saharan Africa, in South Africa, in the Congolese basin and in Madagascar. It is also found on the shores of the Mediterranean basin, in Sicily, Australia and in the southern United States. 

There are several varieties and subspecies of papyrus, Cyperus papyrus L. being the most common and the one used in skin care.

Papyrus is an iconic plant with a history dating back to 2500 B.C. It was the writing medium of the ancient Egyptian civilization. Being the royal symbol of Lower Egypt and of the life resulting from the primordial waters, as testified by several elements of architecture and decoration, this plant was also the symbol of goddess Hathor’s power (Hathor being regarded as mother goddess in ancient Egyptian religion).

The cell extract of papyrus is obtained from whole papyrus leaf cells. These are the result of a biotechnological process that respects the environment and biodiversity. It includes several steps:

1. Selection of the plant and sampling: Removal of a piece of the plant (leaves);

2. In vitro culture of the sampled plant: Successive replications on a new nutritive medium made of water, minerals, sugar and vitamins;

3. Elicitation: Stimulation by UV and visible light of the cell culture to produce metabolites (active molecules);

4. Rinsing: Removal of all traces of the nutritive medium;

5. Cell filtration;

6. Sonication of the cells and dispersion of the extract in sunflower oil.

This method of extraction allows keeping all the active molecules present in the plant cells, which gives the papyrus care a complementary action compared to other vegetable extracts (vegetable oils, essential oils and hydrolats).