Why we use Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract

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why we use gardenia jasminoides fruit extract

The Basics

Gardenia jasminoides fruit extract is rich in bioactive compounds, including iridoids, flavonoids, and crocins, which contribute to its antioxidant and skin-soothing properties. Traditionally used in herbal medicine, this extract is valued for its ability to protect against environmental stressors while also imparting natural pigmentation to formulations.¹

Antioxidant & Skin Soothing Effects

The presence of crocins and flavonoids allows this extract to help neutralize free radicals, supporting skin resilience against oxidative stress. Additionally, its anti-inflammatory properties assist in calming the skin, making it beneficial for sensitive and reactive skin types.¹

Natural Colourant in Formulations

Beyond skincare benefits, Gardenia jasminoides fruit extract is also used as a natural pigment, primarily due to its bioactive compounds like crocin and genipin, lending a rainbow of hues to cosmetic and skincare formulations without the need for synthetic dyes.²

Blue – When genipin, a compound in Gardenia jasminoides, reacts with amino acids or proteins, it forms a stable blue pigment. This reaction is widely used in food and cosmetics for natural blue colouring.
Yellow – The presence of crocin, a carotenoid pigment, imparts a yellow hue. This is similar to the colouring effect found in saffron and is often used as a natural yellow dye in foods and skincare.
Green – By combining the yellow crocin pigment with blue pigments from genipin, Gardenia jasminoides can create varying shades of green.
Red to Purple – In some formulations, particularly under different pH conditions, gardenia fruit extracts can produce reddish to purplish hues.

references

1 Chen, J., Tchivelekete, G. M., Zhou, X., Tang, W., Liu, F., Liu, M., Zhao, C., Shu, X., & Zeng, Z. (2021). Anti-inflammatory activities of Gardenia jasminoides extracts in retinal pigment epithelial cells and zebrafish embryos. Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 22(1), 700. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10132. Anti-inflammatory activities of Gardenia jasminoides extracts in retinal pigment epithelial cells and zebrafish embryos.
2 Sakai, H., Ono, K., Tokunaga, S., Sharmin, T., Aida, T. M., & Mishima, K. (2021). Extraction of Natural Pigments from Gardenia Jasminoides J.Ellis Fruit Pulp Using CO2-Expanded Liquids and Direct Sonication. Separations, 8(1), 1. doi: 10.3390/separations8010001. Extraction of Natural Pigments from Gardenia Jasminoides J.Ellis Fruit Pulp Using CO2-Expanded Liquids and Direct Sonication.