Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Rosemary): An Ancient Plant with Uses in Personal Healthcare and Cosmetics

Abstract

This work is a bibliographical review of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) that focuses on the application of derivatives of this plant for cosmetic products, an application which has been recognized and valued since Ancient Egyptian times. Rosemary is a plant of Mediterranean origin that has been distributed throughout different areas of the world. It has many medicinal properties, and its extracts have been used (mainly orally) in folk medicine. It belongs to the Labiatae family, which contains several genera—such as Salvia, Lavandula, and Thymus—that are commonly used in cosmetics, due to their high prevalence of antioxidant molecules. Rosemary is a perennial shrub that grows in the wild or is cultivated. It has glandular hairs that emit fragrant volatile essential oils (mainly monoterpenes) in response to drought conditions in the Mediterranean climate. It also contains diterpenes such as carnosic acid and other polyphenolic molecules. Herein, the botanical and ecological characteristics of the plant are discussed, as well as the main bioactive compounds found in its volatile essential oil and in leaf extracts. Afterward, we review the applications of rosemary in cosmetics, considering its preservative power, the kinds of products in which it is used, and its toxicological safety, as well as its current uses or future applications in topical preparations, according to recent and ongoing studies.

The Stimulating Effect of Rosmarinic Acid and Extracts from Rosemary and Lemon Balm on Collagen Type I Biosynthesis in Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type I Skin Fibroblasts

“…Rosemary leaf extract is used as skin conditioner and is present up to 10% in hand and body products and 3% in preparations for eye shadows, soaps and detergents [15]. It also prevents herpes infections, dermatomycosis, cellulitis, and pain [15]. LBE also showed many beneficial effects on the skin, including the protective effect against skin damage caused by UVB radiation [17], improving skin elasticity in healthy adults [18] or treatment of acne, and infectious diseases of the skin [19].…”

“…There are also reports of a beneficial effect of the RA and extracts (RE and LBE) on the skin with particular interest in the field of cosmetology and medicine in supporting the treatment of skin diseases [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. RA has shown its efficacy in treating allergic disorders in clinical trials [ 11 ].…”

The Effect of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and Blackcurrant Extracts (Ribes nigrum) Supplementation on Performance Indices and Oxidative Stability of Chicken Broiler Meat

“…extracts, essential oils, leaves) in chicken nutrition. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, native to the Caucasus and to the Eastern Mediterranean, and introduced into many areas of the world [7]. Rosemary herb is commonly used as a food flavoring but is also known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal activity [8,9].…”

Role of botanical essential oils as a therapy for controlling coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease (Covid-19)

“…(González-Minero et al, 2020). It also contains diterpenes and other polyphenolic molecules(González-Minero et al, 2020).…”

“…(González-Minero et al, 2020). It also contains diterpenes and other polyphenolic molecules(González-Minero et al, 2020). The derivatives of rosemary were formulated in essential oils for massages and aromatherapy, rosemary alcohol, gels, shampoos, soaps, rosemary water, cleansing milk, deodorant, anti-wrinkle cream, aftershave lotion, hydrating facial cream, cream for the eye contour area, etc (González-Minero et al, 2020).At least 150 molecules are known to be present in the volatile essential oil and fewer in the non-volatile fraction, such as carnosic acid, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, flavonoids, and phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid) (González-Minero et al, 2020).…”