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Is Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract Antimicrobial?
I reached out to two online suppliers who work with small businesses, and both supplies told me about a product called “PhytoCide Elderberry OS” by Active Micro Technologies. When I pushed back with one of the suppliers and said its an extract, not a preservative, she said I was wrong because its considered antimicrobial. I’m curious what actual chemists think - is elderberry antimicrobial?Here’s a little bit info on why I’m looking for a preservative. I’m launching a new line of lip products with open jar packaging. My concern is from the consumers’ side. Since I have no control how clean the consumers fingers will be before applying product, I wanted to be on the safe side.Any thoughts? -
7 Replies
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The supplier claims it is a preservative. I don’t believe it and wouldn’t rely on it for any product I formulated.
https://www.in-cosmetics.com/__novadocuments/545446?v=636826498650330000 -
No. I have the PET results to empirically say that. -
Thank you @Perry and @Microformulation.
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Years ago it was presented to me (Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract) at a Natural Products Seminar. I did give it a chance, but even with good hurdle technique it still failed. I have since seen it used in some products but in many cases “augmented” by another preservative.
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This is a good illustration of the fact that just because a supplier says an ingredient will do something, doesn’t mean that it will do that thing in your formulation. - stay skeptical
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Microformulation said:No. I have the PET results to empirically say that.Good to know! Got any other results for antimicrobial extracts by ActiveMicroTechnologies?I’m sceptical regarding their products. It is entirely possible to get an extract or a fractionated extract from plants which can be used as preservative. However, it’s not simple and the plants commonly used are not amongst the ones where you’d expect a useful activity. Doesn’t mean you couldn’t use them but the yield is so low that I doubt that such an extract could be considered eco-friendly.I did work with different extracts of plants which were expected to show some activity. It is possible but not a simple task mostly because of selective toxicity instead of broad spectrum. BTW magnolia were amongst the more active species and, look at that, 15 years later magnolia bark extract is now commercialised as antimicrobial/multifunctional ingredient (we should have patented our findings). -
AMT is actually pretty helpful in regards to their products from a Technical Basis. Don’t hesitate to call them for advice.That said, I agree with you regarding their products. We have had issues getting a successful PET. It does require a good Hurdle Technique and even then you can see issues in production.I am conservative in respect to Preservation and pragmatically I see most of these extracts as preservative boosters.
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