BOTANICAL EXTRACT
Rose Myrtle Fruit Extract
Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa (Rose Myrtle) Fruit Extract
An extract of the rose myrtle berry, an exceptionally rich natural source of the antioxidant piceatannol, used to help skin look smooth and radiant.
Source
Rose myrtle berries
Used for
Antioxidant-rich botanical
How it works
A berry far richer in piceatannol than grapes.
Rose myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) is a flowering shrub from South-East Asia, named for its soft pink blossoms and also known as downy rose myrtle or sim. Its small, dark purple berries are eaten fresh and used in food and drink across the region.
Analysis of the fruit has found that its main polyphenol is piceatannol, a close relative of resveratrol, at levels 1,000 to 2,000 times higher than in red grapes. In laboratory research on skin cells exposed to UVB light, rose myrtle fruit extract stood out among more than 50 plant extracts, and piceatannol itself showed similar activity.
It suits daily use in serums and moisturisers, morning or night, and pairs well with other antioxidant-rich botanicals.
Analysis of the fruit has found that its main polyphenol is piceatannol, a close relative of resveratrol, at levels 1,000 to 2,000 times higher than in red grapes. In laboratory research on skin cells exposed to UVB light, rose myrtle fruit extract stood out among more than 50 plant extracts, and piceatannol itself showed similar activity.
It suits daily use in serums and moisturisers, morning or night, and pairs well with other antioxidant-rich botanicals.
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Extracted from the dark purple berries of the rose myrtle shrub
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An exceptionally rich natural source of the antioxidant piceatannol
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Stood out in a laboratory screen of more than 50 plant extracts on human skin cells
Questions
What is rose myrtle?
Rose myrtle, or downy rose myrtle, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, is an evergreen shrub of the myrtle family that grows up to about two metres tall. It has rose-pink flowers with five petals and a tuft of stamens, followed by round, dark purple berries that can each hold up to 200 small seeds. The extract is made from these berries. (UF/IFAS Plant Directory)
What is piceatannol?
Piceatannol is a stilbene, one of the phenolic compounds made by plants. Analysis of rose myrtle fruit, also known as sim fruit, found piceatannol was its main phenolic compound, reaching its highest level when the fruit was fully ripe. That level was 1,000 to 2,000 times higher than in red grapes, making rose myrtle an unusually rich natural source. (Lai et al., 2013)
Is there research on rose myrtle in skincare?
Yes. In laboratory research on skin cells exposed to UVB light, rose myrtle fruit extract stood out as the most effective of the plant extracts screened at protecting the cells, and piceatannol alone showed similar activity. (Shiratake et al., 2015)
About the plant
Rose myrtle is native to tropical East and South-East Asia. In appearance it resembles an azalea or camellia, with leaves that are glossy above and softly hairy beneath, and its dark purple berries have sweet, aromatic flesh. (UF/IFAS Plant Directory; USF Atlas of Florida Plants)
The research
- Lai TN, Herent MF, Quetin-Leclercq J, Nguyen TB, Rogez H, Larondelle Y, André CM. Piceatannol, a potent bioactive stilbene, as major phenolic component in Rhodomyrtus tomentosa. Food Chemistry. 2013;138(2-3):1421-1430. PMID: 23411263. (opens in a new tab)
- Shiratake S, Nakahara T, Iwahashi H, Onodera T, Mizushina Y. Rose myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) extract and its component, piceatannol, enhance the activity of DNA polymerase and suppress the inflammatory response elicited by UVB-induced DNA damage in skin cells. Molecular Medicine Reports. 2015;12(4):5857-5864. PMID: 26239705. (opens in a new tab)
- University of Florida IFAS. Plant Directory: Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (downy rose myrtle) (opens in a new tab)
- University of South Florida. Atlas of Florida Plants, Florida Invasive Plant profile: Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (rose myrtle) (opens in a new tab)
Found In
Type: Face Care
Phyto-Retinol Refining Facial Serum
30mlRegular price £42.00Sale price Regular price
Type: Face Care
Phyto-Retinol Refining Moisturiser
50mlRegular price £38.00Sale price Regular price
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