Herbal cosmetics is defined as the beauty products, which posses desirable physiological activities, such as skin healing, smoothening, appearance, enhancing and conditioning properties with the help of herbal ingredients.

1. Dr. S. KUMARA S W AMY
A S S O C I A T E P R O F E S S O R
F a c u l t y o f P h a r m a c e u t i c a l S c i e n c e
A S S A M D O W N T O W N U N I V E R S I T Y
Role of Herbs in Cosmetics

2. DEFINATION
 Herbal cosmetics is defined as the beauty products, which posses
desirable physiological activities, such as skin healing, smoothening,
appearance, enhancing and conditioning properties with the help of
herbal ingredients.

3. Parts or organ of the body to be applied for
 Herbal cosmetics for Skin
 1. Powders
 2. Creams
 3. Lotions
 4. Deodorants
 5. Bath and cleansing products
 6. Make-up preparations
 7. Suntan preparation
 Herbal cosmetics for Nails
 1. Nail polishes
 2. Manicure preparations
 Herbal cosmetics for Hairs
 1. Shampoos
 2. Tonics
 3. Hair dressing
 4. Hair waving preparations
 5. Beard softeners
 6. Shaving media
 7. Depilatories (hair removers)
 Herbal cosmetics for Teeth and mouth
 1. Tooth powders
 2. Dentifrices
 3. Mouth washes

4. Skin care cosmetics - Turmeric
 Synonyms
 Indian Saffron; haldi (Hindi); Curcuma; Rhizoma cur-cumae.
 Biological Source
 Turmeric is the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa Linn. (syn. C.
domestica Valeton)., belonging to family Zingiberaceae.
 Geographical Source
 The plant is a native to southern Asia and is cultivated extensively in
temperate regions. It is grown on a larger scale in India, China, East Indies,
Pakistan, and Malaya.

5. Chemical Constituents
 One of the most valuable herbal medicinal plants.
 Turmeric contains brilliant yellow colouring matter called as
curcuminoids (5%) and essential oil (6%). (Indian Saffron)
 The chief constituent of the colouring matter is curcumin I (60%) in
addition with small quantities of curcumin III, curcumin II and
dihydrocurcumin.
 The volatile oil contains mono- and sesquiterpenes like zingiberene
(25%), α-phellandrene, sabinene, turmerone, arturmerone, borneol, and
cineole.

6. In 100 grams of turmeric, the nutrients found are:
 Nutrient Value
 Energy 312 Kcal
 Fat 3.25 g
 Carbohydrate 67.1 g
 Protein 9.68 g
 Total dietary fibre 22.7 g
 Glucose 0.38 g
 Sucrose 2.38 g
 Fructose 0.45 g
 Magnesium 208 mg
 Iron 55 mg
 Nutrient Value
 Potassium 2080 mg
 Phosphorous 299 mg
 Zinc 4.5 mg
 Sodium 27 mg
 Copper 1.3 mg
 Manganese 19.8 mg
 Vitamin C 0.7 mg
 Selenium 6.2 µg
 Riboflavin 0.15 mg
 Niacin 1.35 mg
 Thiamin 0.058 mg
 Vitamin B-6 0.107 mg

7. Properties of Turmeric:
 Turmeric might possess properties like:
 It might be an antioxidant
 It might help alleviate inflammation (anti-inflammatory)
 It might be effective against microorganisms (antimicrobial)
 It might act as an anticoagulant (inhibits blood clotting)
 It might help lower blood sugar levels (antidiabetic)
 It might be a hypolipidemic (cholesterol-lowering)
 It might have hepatoprotective (liver-protecting) properties
 It might have nephroprotective (kidney-protecting) properties

8. Skin care cosmetics - Turmeric
 a) Emulsion: Cold cream, vanishing cream, liquid cream
 b) Powders: Face powder, Talcum powder, Tooth powder
 c) Cakes: Rouge compacts, make-up cake
 d) Oils: Hair oils
 e) Mucilage: Hand lotion
 f) Jellies: Hand jelly, wave set jelly, brilliantine jelly
 g) Suspension: Cosmetic stockings
 h) Paste: Tooth paste, deodorant paste
 i) Soaps: Shampoo soap, shaving soap, toilet soap
 j) Solutions: After shave lotions, hair set solutions and lotions

9. Turmeric used in cosmetics
 Turmeric be used as first aid:
 Turmeric might have haemostatic property (ability to arrest bleeding)
and a great healing property due to its anti-inflammatory and
antimicrobial effects.
 According to animal studies, turmeric exhibited a potential healing
effect on septic and aseptic wounds in animal models

10. Turmeric used in cosmetics …
 Cosmetology:
 Turmeric may be the first known cosmetic as it has been traditionally smeared on
the skin by women.
 It is believed to reduce facial hair growth, reduce acne and improve complexion
 Many women still apply turmeric on their face daily before taking bath (South
India).
 The yellow colour has been utilized in skin care products.
 Tetrahydro curcumin is an off-white hydrogenated form of curcumin that is used
topically as a cutaneous antioxidant.
 It may prevent rancidity of lipids when added to moisturizers.
 Curcuminoids have potential in cosmeceuticals as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
and skin lightening agents.
 In-vitro curcuminoids inhibit collagenase, elastase and hyaluronidase.

11. Turmeric used in cosmetics….
 Curcumin gel has been reported to improve the appearance of photo
damaged skin conditions such as pigmentary changes, solar elastoses, actinic
poikiloderma, solar lentigines and actinic keratosis when applied for
prolonged period such as six months.
 It may promote apoptosis of cells with DNA damage.
 It is being evaluated as an environmental friendly hair colouring agent.
 The essential oils may have potential in the perfume, cosmetic and soap
industry.

12. Turmeric used in cosmetics….
 Turmeric for the skin:
 Turmeric might help purify and nourish the blood which may lead to
healthy and glowing skin.
 It might be effective for skin diseases like acne, eczema, etc. due to its
antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
 It may also help against premature ageing.
 Turmeric is also a constituent of sunscreens and cosmetics.

13. Turmeric used in cosmetics (Cosmetology)….
 Colouring agent:
 The yellow colour of curcumin has been utilized in the food, textile and
cosmetic industry.
 It is used as a food additive.
 As it is similar in colour to the synthetic tartrazine, it is a natural
alternative.
 Dermatological uses:
 Curcumin has potential in inflammatory and neoplastic disorders of the
skin.
 Curcumin accelerated wound healing in animals is attributed to its
antioxidant properties.

14. Turmeric used in cosmetics….
 Uses of turmeric for the eyes:
 A cataract is an eye disease caused by the oxidation of the lens in your eyes.
 The internal consumption of turmeric might help reduce the oxidation of the lens.
 Hence, it may be helpful in cataracts. It may also be helpful in relieving eye pain.
 Uses of turmeric for infections:
 A variety of bacteria, disease-causing fungi, and parasites might be inhibited by turmeric
extract and the essential oil of Curcuma longa.
 The aqueous extract of turmeric might exhibit antibacterial effects.
 The growth of several bacteria like staphylococcus, lactobacillus, and streptococcus
might be suppressed by curcumin.
 Ether and chloroform extracts of turmeric exhibit antifungal potential. Turmeric might
also possess antiviral properties.
 All these properties of turmeric may help fight against infection-causing microbes.

15. Turmeric used in cosmetics….
 Uses of turmeric for detoxification:
 Detoxification is the process of elimination of toxic substances from the
body.
 The active constituent of turmeric, curcumin, might bind with heavy
metals like lead and cadmium and decrease the toxicity of these metals.
 Turmeric may also be effective in dealing with poisoning and the
purification of blood.
 Turmeric be used to boost memory?
 Turmeric might help enhance memory in adults without dementia (loss of
memory and other thinking abilities).
 Curcumin might also help against Alzheimer’s disease.
 However, such effects need to be proved by more research.

16. Vicco Turmeric
 Here's the incredible story of Keshav Vishnu Pendharkar, who gave India the
Swadeshi company VICCO to compete with allopathic medicines and cosmetic
products with ayurvedic products.
 It was founded by Keshav Vishnu Pendharkar in 1952, in a small godown in the
industrial belt of Parel, in Mumbai.
 Its first product was a tooth cleaning powder which was developed after
studying ancient Ayurvedic texts. (Dhanvantari)
 Initially, Keshav Pendharkar and his sons would go door-to door to sell the
product.