The Siberian fir is one of the most widespread species of fir in Russia. Some peoples of Eastern Siberia call the fir “fog tree”, which is due to the very high moisture content of the plant. The Karelians call this tree “Pikhka”, which means “resin”.
To obtain a CO2 extract from the fir, needles, green cones and young branches of the Siberian fir are used. In some cases, wood from the stump of the tree is used.
The CO2 extract from the Siberian fir has a whole range of useful properties and practically no contraindications. The extract can be used externally to treat various infectious and inflammatory diseases of the skin, as a warming agent to improve capillary and venous blood flow. Oral ingestion of the extract is recommended for the treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems. According to official medicine recommendations for fir oil, which is essentially a diluted form of CO2 extract, this extract has a pronounced immune stimulant and antioxidant. Hence the extract is an anti-cancer, histamine and anti-aging substance. In addition, the CO2 extract from the Siberian fir has the following properties: anti-inflammatory, locally irritating, antiseptic, anti-asthmatic, analgesic, expectorant, bactericidal, antifungal, cardiotonic, tonic. It can be used in aroma lamps to enliven the air and lift the mood.
Although the fir oil infusions and the essential oil extracted from its needles are recommended as pharmaceutical raw materials by the State Pharmaceutical Fund of the Russian Federation, the CO2 extract can also be classified as a pharmaceutical product.
In food production, the CO2 fir extract can be used as a natural flavoring substance together with the aroma of pine needles in the manufacture of certain beverages, fish, poultry and meat products.
The CO2 extract of the fir “Biocevtika” is an oily liquid of greenish-yellow color with a pleasant, distinctive needle odor.
Chart 1. The main components of the CO2 extract of the Siberian fir
| NAME | CONTENT IN% OF THE AMOUNT OF VOLATILE COMPONENTS | EFFECT |
|---|---|---|
| Bornyl acetate | 26 | Component of essences and perfumes. Raw materials for the extraction of camphor. |
| Borneol | 20 | It is used to make products for the care and regeneration of problem skin – oily, acne-prone, uneven. It has an intense anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect and helps regulate the sebum glands. |
| Camphene | 20 | Used to synthesize camphor. Insecticide. It is used for the synthesis of flavorings. |
| Alpha-Pinene | 3 | or the treatment of microbial infections and inflammation. Stomach protection. Used in perfumery as a needle fragrance. |
| Beta-carotene (provitamin A) | 1,2 | Immunostimulant, antioxidant, helps to improve the function of the eyes. |
| Tocopherol (Vitamin E) | 0,9 | Antioxidant, natural preservative for fats. It has a regulating ability to uptake oxygen by cells in diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases and oncological diseases. |
| Palmitic acid | 0,9 | Unsaturated fatty acid for water repellency in cosmetics. |
| α- and β-linolenic acid | 0,4 | Unsaturated. an essential fatty acid from the class of omega-3 fatty acids. It has a membrane protecting, angioprotective effect. Immune modulator, improves brain metabolism. |
| Linoleic acid | 0,3 | An essential unsaturated fatty acid of the omega-6 class. It has anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictor, and aggregating effects. If there is no balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, competing processes can arise that influence the metabolism. |
| Hamazulen | 0,7 | Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, calming. |
The CO2 extract from the Siberian fir can be very common in the manufacture of cosmetic products, as it has a number of extremely valuable properties:
- Creams for the care of the face and body skin, which normalize and nourish the water-lipid balance of the epithelium and the vitamin E contained in the extract, which stops the loss of moisture;
- Toners, cleansing creams and milk – cleanses the pores and skin surface of dead skin cells;
- Anti-aging creams – prevent the appearance of age-related skin pigmentation, improve the color, have a slightly whitening effect, help strengthen subcutaneous capillaries, prevent the appearance of spider veins;
- Anti-aging creams – eliminates fine lines, is a natural antioxidant, slows down the process of cell fading and eliminates inflammatory processes;
The Siberian fir grows wild in the forests of Eastern and Western Siberia. The balsam fir grows in the US, but there is no data on the use of extracts and oils from it.
Chart 2. Application rates, recommendations for the use and storage of Siberian fir CO2 extract
| Food usage rates | Item А100: 0.001-0.005% (10-50g per ton) Water-soluble microemulsions EMA1: 0.1-0.5% (1-5l per 1000l or 1-5ml per liter) Water-soluble microemulsions EMA5: 0.02-0.1% (0.2-1l per 1000l or 0.2-1ml per liter) |
| Application rates in cosmetics | Item А10: 1-3% Item А100: 0.1-0.3% Item EMA1: 10-30% Item EMA5: 2-6% |
| Recommendations for use | It is recommended to add CO2 extracts in the final stages of preparation, in the cooling phase of the end product. |
| Storage Instructions | Storage advice |