In the field of producing plant-based skincare for the skin, hair, or other body parts, many plants and plant extracts are adopted. Such is the case with the Saponaria officinalis. It is used for the active ingredients contained within its leaves and root.
What is "Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract" and what is its utility?
Summary
Published on February 3, 2024, by Maylis, Chemical Engineer — 3 min of reading
What is Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract?
The extract of leaves or root of soapwort is indicated on the labels of skincare products in cosmetology by its INCI name (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract. The soapwort is also known as bouncing-bet, latherwort, fuller's herb, soapweed, hedge pink, or ditch soap.
The soapwort is a perennial plant found in almost all regions of France. Indeed, it can be found on the banks of rivers, streams, fields or ditches, but also in woods, hedges or bushes. It is characterised by its white roots that turn yellowish, creeping, elongated and hard. Its stem measures about 60 cm high and its leaves are smooth, opposite and traversed by three veins. This plant produces white or pinkish flowers similar to an umbel.
Saponaria Officinalis Leaf/Root Extract: its usage.
Sharing some similarities with Panama wood, soapwort contains saponin, a substance with a property that enables it to foam like soap. To obtain an extract from soapwort root or leaf, simply immerse the roots or leaves in boiling water and let them boil for a few minutes before removing them. The juice will be used to make shampoo or washing solutions.
These parts of the soapwort can also be ground into a powder for hand cleansing. As a result, the leaf or root extract of Saponaria officinalis is incorporated into cleansing care products for all skin types. Used as a tonic application, it is utilised in the treatment of skin eruptions such as acne spots, eczema, shingles, psoriasis, hives, itching or the swelling of the lymph nodes known as lymphatic congestion.
Saponaria officinalis: its benefits.
The soapwort is a plant that contains numerous essential properties in both the field of phytotherapy and that of cosmetology. Indeed, its leaves contain proteins including amino acids known as glutamine, organic acids such as ascorbic acid or vitamin C, flavonoids like saponarin and triterpenes or saponin.
The properties of leaves and roots act on various pathologies depending on the organism. They serve as remedies for fatigue (asthenia) and fever. The extract of soapwort leaves and roots also exhibits choleretic properties that combat bile insufficiency and sudorific properties that stimulate sebum production to prevent skin dryness. Medically, soapwort extract is renowned for its depurative virtues that enhance the drainage of toxins, diuretic properties that stimulate urinary secretion, and purgative qualities that simplify the evacuation of intestinal content. It also serves as an expectorant and an interesting vein-protective ingredient.
