Bamboo

The common bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) belongs to the grasses and is mainly found in southern China and Southeast Asia. It is one of the fastest growing plants in the world and can shoot up to one meter in height every day under optimal conditions. In addition, it has the property of spreading strongly and like a horst. Bamboo can be used in many different ways. In the raw state, the shoots are poisonous, but if they are peeled and cooked, they can be eaten like vegetables. Their taste is not very intense, but pleasantly fresh, their smell is reminiscent of herbs. Bamboo shoots are an integral part of Chinese dim sum dishes and are also used in Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine. They also have a firm place in traditional Chinese medicine, as they are said to be able to help with epilepsy and against nervousness.  Bamboo extract is also used in cosmetics.

 

The woody bamboo stalks, on the other hand, are a sought-after raw material for pulp production. They can also be used in a variety of ways as a building material. In Asia, charcoal is often made from the woody parts of the plant.

 

Bamboo and its ingredients

Since the plant contains vitamins A, C and E, as well as some B vitamins, you might think it is a real vitamin bomb. But this is not the case, because the amounts of vitamins are so small that they have no real benefit. On the other hand, bamboo contains hardly any carbohydrates, so it is ideal for a low carb diet. Furthermore, bamboo offers minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus, but the quantities are also manageable here. The balance is somewhat better for iron: 100 grams of bamboo shoots contain four percent of the daily requirement of iron. The potassium content is relatively high, so the shoots have a dehydrating effect and help regulate our fluid balance. But with this composition, how can bamboo be interesting for cosmetic products? This is primarily due to the high content of silicic acid. To ensure that bamboo stems remain elastic as they age, they contain a great deal of silicon (usually more than 70 percent).

 

Bamboo as an active ingredient for sophisticated cosmetics

The trace element silicon is responsible in our body for the binding capacity of moisture, the elasticity of connective tissue (by supporting the formation of collagen and elastin) and a healthy structure of hair and nails. It is a structural component of keratin, the very protein component that is instrumental in building hair and nails.

Silicon, however, cannot be formed by our body itself, so we have to supply the substance from the outside. However, silicon never occurs in nature in its purest form, but always as silicon dioxide in combination with oxygen. Another word for silicon dioxide is silicic acid. This in turn has been known for years for its strengthening effect.

The silicic acid in bamboo is a valuable building material for our cartilage mass, connective tissue as well as for skin, hair, and nails. It provides beautiful strong hair and helps with brittle nails. In addition, silicic acid increases the number of certain defense cells and has an anti-inflammatory effect. It contributes to detoxification and strengthens lung tissue. Thanks to the flavonoids it also contains, bamboo is also considered a free radical scavenger, protecting the skin from harmful external influences.

 

Fact Sheet Bamboo (Extract)

INCI: Bambusa vulgaris shoot extract

CAS number: 91771-33-4

EINCS / ELINCS: 294-923-8

Main ingredients: silicic acid, flavonoids, potassium, iron, in small amounts vitamins A, B, C and E

Effect: keeps the skin elastic, strengthens hair and nails, antioxidant

Possible uses: Hair care products of all kinds (shampoo, strengthener, conditioner, cure), nail cream, skin care creams.

 

We like to work with these bamboo extracts:

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Are you interested in high quality formulations with bamboo extract?

The high content of silicic acid supports hair growth and strengthens nails. In skin care, the extract provides better moisture retention capacity. In addition, the fresh, grassy scent is also suitable for sauna fragrances and pampering body lotions. Contact us if you would like to add high-quality products with bamboo to your cosmetics line.

 

 

Sources:

Antioxidative and Anti-Melanogenic Activities of Bamboo Stems (Phyllostachys nigra variety henosis) via PKA/CREB-Mediated MITF Downregulation in B16F10 Melanoma Cells.; Choi MH, Jo HG, Yang JH, Ki SH, Shin HJ.Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jan 30;19(2):409.

Biological Activities and Phytochemical Profiles of Extracts from Different Parts of Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens).; Tanaka A, Zhu Q, Tan H, Horiba H, Ohnuki K, Mori Y, Yamauchi R, Ishikawa H, Iwamoto A, Kawahara H, Shimizu K. Molecules. 2014; 19(6):8238-8260

Bamboo Stems (Phyllostachys nigra variety henosis) Containing Polyphenol Mixtures Activate Nrf2 and Attenuate Phenylhydrazine-Induced Oxidative Stress and Liver Injury.; Yang JH, Choi MH, Na CS, Cho SS, Kim JH, Ku SK, Cho IJ, Shin HJ, Ki SH. Nutrients. 2019 Jan 8;11(1):114.

Identification of the Active Principle Conferring Anti-Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Properties in Bamboo Plant.; Araujo Sousa B, Nascimento Silva O, Farias Porto W, Lima Rocha T, Paulino Silva L, Ferreira Leal AP, Buccini DF, Oluwagbamigbe Fajemiroye J, de Araujo Caldas R, Franco OL, Grossi-de-Sá MF, de la Fuente Nunez C, Moreno SE.Molecules. 2021 May 20;26(10):3054.