Bayer’s Serdex division has introduced a new vegetal extract, cultivated from a plant in China.
San Qi extract [INCI: Ginsenosides] is a highly purified extract of Panax notoginseng roots extracted from cultivated roots and said to be superior to 90% with a titration in five major gensenosides. In terms of biological activity, San Qi extract matches the more usual Panax ginseng, but it also shows additional specific activities such as heme-oxygenase activation (enzyme important in cellular protection in skin), protection against induced senescence (beta-galactosidase release reduction) and immune system protection (protection against UV-induced Langerhans’ cell apoptosis).
Supplied in powder form, the extract is said to be easy to formulate and fully soluble in water. It is recommended for use at 0.1 - 0.5% in general skin protection and in skin tonic formulations for mature and stressed skin.