Emerging Herbal Cosmetic Production in Sri Lanka: Identifying Possible Interventions for the Development of the Herbal Cosmetic Industry

Abstract

Although the herbal cosmetic industry has exponentially increased globally, manufacturing of herbal cosmetic products in Sri Lanka is still very limited. Therefore, objectives of the study were to recognize plants used in commercialized herbal cosmetic products and major constraints faced by herbal cosmetic manufacturers and to identify possible interventions for the development of herbal cosmetic industry of Sri Lanka. Information was gathered via a semistructured questionnaire by personal interviews with 11 large-scale multiple herbal cosmetic products manufacturers. Collected data were analyzed via frequency index for usage and descriptive statistics. A total of 115 plant species belonging to 56 families were identified. Extensive usage of Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Coscinium fenestratum (Goetgh.) Colebr., and Santalum album L. (90.91%) was reported among herbal cosmetic manufacturers. The highest number of plants or plant materials was used for manufacturing skin care products (54.78%) followed by hair care (19.13%) and oral care (6.96%). The majority of plants were reported from the plant family Fabaceae (16 species). Leaves (20.87%) were the widely used plant part, whereas 10 plant species were used as whole plants. Inadequacy of 7 plants/plant materials and importation of 8 plant materials for the production were also recognized. As major constraints faced by herbal cosmetic manufacturers, inadequate availability and poor quality of raw materials were emphasized. In conclusion, establishing proper cultivation system, implementing strategies for quality control of raw materials, and conducting ethnobotany, ethnopharmacological surveys to identify cosmetic potential of medicinal plants and partnerships with universities to transfer technology for product development to industries are possible interventions for the development of herbal cosmetic industry of Sri Lanka.

Ethnopharmacological Survey on Medicinal Plants Used for Cosmetic Treatments in Traditional and Ayurveda Systems of Medicine in Sri Lanka

“…A total of 133 different plant species belonging to 64 families were utilized in cosmetic treatments. Of these, 72 plant species are currently used in commercialized herbal cosmetic products in Sri Lanka [ 22 ]. The most dominant family was reported as family Fabaceae (21 species, 16%).…”

Global Perspective of Plant-Based Cosmetic Industry and Possible Contribution of Sri Lanka to the Development of Herbal Cosmetics

“…Four Ayurveda authentic books, namely the "Compendium of medicinal plants-Sri Lankan study, volumes I, II, III, and IV," published by the Ayurveda Department of Sri Lanka and the book called "A collection of medicinal plants in Sri Lanka," published by Nature's Beauty Creations Limited, Sri Lanka, were selected to identify potential medicinal plants for cosmetic productions. e current usage of identified medicinal plants with cosmetic potential through books was compared with the survey conducted on identifying medicinal plants used in the herbal cosmetic industry of Sri Lanka [12] to recognize new plant materials for the Sri Lankan herbal cosmetic industry.…”

“…e recent survey conducted by Gamage et al [12] discloses the current usage of 115 plant species in herbal cosmetic productions in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, this study highlights the lack of proper cultivation systems of medicinal plants with cosmetic potential within the country for continuous herbal cosmetic productions.…”

Phytochemical Investigation and Antimicrobial Potential of Medicinal Plant Nepeta distans Royle ex Benth

“…13 C-NMR (CDCl 3 , 100 MHz) (δ ppm) 15.43 (q, C-25), 15.76 (q, C-24), 17.21 (q, C-26), 18.9 (t, C-6), 23.4 (t, C-16), 23.41 (t, C-11), 23.54 (q, C-30), 25.97 (q, C-27), 27.37 (t, C-2), 27.91 (t, C-15), 28.34 (q, C-23), 30 (16), 55 (49), 119 (29), 248 (100), 300 (11), 203 (44), 207 (26), 133 (60), 1 H-NMR (CDCl 3 , 400 MHz) (δ ppm) 0.80 (3H, J � 6.8 Hz, Me-29), 0.81 (3H, s, Me-24), 0.86 (3H, s, Me-26), 0.91 (3H, d, J � 6.6 Hz, Me-30), 5.11 (1H, m, H-12), 1.07 (3H, s, Me-23), 0.94 (3H, s, Me-25), 3.19 (1H, dd, J ax, ax � 10.0 Hz, J ax, eq � 4.5 Hz, H-3α), 1.20 (3H, s, Me-27). (7), 270 (22), 379 (28), 394 (20), 397 (12), 273 (30), 327 (60), 300 (67), 369 (35), 351 (70), 301 (18).…”

“…To fulfill the healthcare needs in Germany and Europe, herbal preparation got more attention, and nearly 1400 herbal preparations are presently used as per European Union [20,21]. e herbal preparation can also be utilized in various cosmetic industries (as antiwrinkling agents, skin tissue regenerators, and antiage creams) which can lead to an increase in the importance [22,23]. e genus Nepeta (Lamiaceae) is a large family which comprises about 400 species, most of which grow in the wild in the central and southern parts of Europe, North Africa, and central and southern Asia.…”