How are native papyrus cells obtained?

Papyrus is a semi-aquatic herbaceous plant native to the Nile Delta. However, it is now cultivated in most of Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, the Congo Basin, and Madagascar. It can also be found along the Mediterranean Basin, in Sicily, Australia, and the southern United States.

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

The papyrus is an iconic plant whose history dates back to 2500 BC. It served as the writing medium for the civilisation of ancient Egypt. A royal symbol of Lower Egypt and of life emerging from the primordial waters, as evidenced by various architectural and decorative elements, this plant was also the Hathoric symbol of power (Hathor being the mother of all gods in the Egyptian pantheon).

The papyrus native cells are whole cells that are locally harvested from the plant. They are the result of an environmentally friendly and biodiversity-respecting biotechnological process that involves several stages:

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

2. Culture In vitro of the harvested plant piece: Successive transfers onto a fresh nutritive medium composed of water, minerals, sugar, and vitamins;

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

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

5. Cell Filtration ;

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

This extraction method allows for the preservation of all active molecules present in the plant cells, which gives this compound a complementary action against other plant extracts (vegetable oils, essential oils and hydrosols).