Rosemary Extract

Rosemary Extract is obtained from the leaves of the rosemary plant, botanically recognized today as Salvia rosmarinus Spenn., with Rosmarinus officinalis L. remaining a widely used botanical synonym. The plant belongs to the Lamiaceae family.

The leaves contain a characteristic mixture of phenolic diterpenes, phenolic acids and flavonoids. The most important antioxidant-associated constituents include carnosic acid, carnosol and rosmarinic acid, together with caffeic acid, ursolic acid, rosmarinic derivatives and other phenolic compounds.

For standardized extracts, the appropriate marker depends on the intended grade. Rosmarinic Acid is widely used as an analytical marker for hydroalcoholic/water-soluble rosemary extracts, whereas Carnosic Acid and Carnosol are particularly important for concentrated antioxidant-rich lipophilic extracts.

The extraction solvent has a major influence on the final chemical profile. Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts generally retain higher levels of rosmarinic acid and related polar phenolics, while ethanol, acetone or lipid-compatible extraction systems can provide higher concentrations of carnosic acid and carnosol.

In cosmetic formulations, Rosemary Extract is valued primarily for antioxidant, skin-conditioning and hair/scalp-conditioning applications. It can be incorporated into creams, lotions, serums, shampoos, conditioners, scalp products, masks and botanical formulations.