FSS Cornflower Extract BG
Preserved with Leucidal Liquid

The cornflower, or Centaurea cyanus of the family Asteraceae, is a plant species native to Europe that has been natural­ized throughout North America. The plant is referred to as Bluebottle or Bluebonnet. These names were inspired by the blue petals of the original cultivar, although the flowers are available in other hues such as red, white and pink. The long-stemmed blue heads of the flower yield a juice that, when mixed with alum, can be used as a dye. The upper parts of the plant consist of multiple stems of flowers, and the leaves are covered in small white hairs that cause the plant to appear a bluish-gray hue.

Historically, cornflowers have been used medicinally to fight the plague and other infectious diseases, as the juice is reputed for its wound-healing abilities. A decoction of cornflower has been shown to be a successful treatment of conjunctivitis and is still used as a remedy for eye ailments. Cornflowers contain many useful phytochemicals, such as protocyanin, tannins and flavonoids, all found in the flower of the plant. Protocyanin is the pigment responsible for giv­ing this herb its intense blue color. Tannins are naturally occurring herbaceous polyphenols whose main characteristic is that they bind and precipitate proteins. Tannins can be particularly functional in cosmetics as well. When topically ap­plied, they have astringent properties, making them excellent for minimizing the appearance of pores. Another valuable phytochemical of the cornflower is one of the flavonoids, apigenin, an anti-oxidant, found in the flower heads. The anti­oxidant characteristics of flavonoids are due, in part, to the position of hydroxyl groups on the ring structures. Apigenin, along with the other phytochemicals, impart a gentle astringent effect that also soothes inflamed and irritated skin. Because of its anti-irritant, antioxidative, and astringent properties, cornflower may help increase tone while minimizing oxidative stress and delivering a soothing aesthetic.

FSS Cornflower Extract BG is useful in skin and hair care applications where formulators are interested in capitalizing on the trend for natural botanicals that deliver functional benefits.

Storage: Protected from direct light and humidity at a temperature of 50°-77°F (10°-25°C)
Shelf life: 12 months, properly stored, in sealed container. This product should be added to a formulation at the recommended usage rate