Using cornflower floral water to eliminate a spot?

The emergence of a spot is a process involving three major factors: an increase in sebum production, an accumulation of dead cells on the skin's surface, both of which can clog pores, and a bacterial colonisation by Cutibacterium acnes, causing skin inflammation. To combat spots, many seek natural solutions, such as cornflower hydrosol. Known for its soothing and decongesting virtues, this ingredient could act on two triggering factors of spot formation, namely bacterial proliferation and skin inflammation. These potential actions of the cornflower floral water would be enabled by its rich biochemical composition.

• Can cornflower hydrosol limit bacterial colonisation?

  Cornflower hydrosol is believed to possess intriguing antibacterial properties in the event of a skin eruption. This is demonstrated by a study conducted on organic extracts of cornflower at various concentrations: 1; 3 and 5 mg/mL. The antibacterial action of these extracts was tested on bacterial cultures ofEscherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by measuring the circular inhibition zone, which corresponds to an absence of bacterial growth around the antimicrobial agent placed at the centre of the Petri dish. The more sensitive the bacteria is to the extract, the larger the inhibition zone.

  Following cultivation, it was demonstrated that cornflower hydrosol, at a concentration of 5 mg/mL, exhibits significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli, with respective inhibition zones of 10 mm and 12 mm, comparable to those measured with penicillin, a potent antibacterial used here as a control. This antibacterial property of cornflower hydrosol is thought to be due to its flavonoid content, compounds capable of halting bacterial growth by inhibiting the bacterial efflux pump, a membrane transporter that helps bacteria resist antibiotic treatments by allowing their expulsion from the bacteria. A similar mode of action can be assumed in C. acnes, the bacteria responsible for spots.

Despite the promising effects of blueberry on bacterial growth, no studies have been conducted in humans so far. Therefore, further investigations are still necessary.

• Can cornflower hydrosol counter inflammation?

  Besides, its antibacterial properties, the cornflower hydrosol is also believed to have anti-inflammatory effects, which allow it to soothe redness and irritations associated with a spot. Several studies have shown that the topical application of a cornflower aqueous extract on induced oedemas in rodents resulted in a reduction of the inflammatory state of the skin. This anti-inflammatory activity would come from its flavonoid content, particularly luteolin, which is believed to have the ability to inhibit certain mediators of inflammation, such as interleukin-6, thus modulating the inflammatory response. The cornflower aqueous extract would thus help to reduce the appearance of blemishes and prevent their worsening.

Once again, it is challenging to assert that cornflower hydrosol could alleviate inflammation caused by a spot, as the studies have been conducted on mice, not humans.

• ANGENOT L. & al. Anti-inflammatory and immunological effects of Centaurea cyanus flower-heads. Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1999).

• MOTORI D. & al. Antibacterial activity of different extracts of Centaurea cyanus (L.) growing wild in Kosovo. Oriental Journal of Chemistry (2017). 

• IRANSHAHY M. & al. Antibacterial activity of flavonoids and their structure-activity relationship : An uptade review. Phytotherapy Research (2018). 

• GRANATO D. & al. Chemical study, antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, and cytotoxic/cytoprotective activities of Centaurea cyanus L. petals aqueous extract. Food and Chemical Toxicology (2018).