Viburnum vulgaris is a well-known plant with edible fruits. In folk medicine, not only fruits are widely used, but also the bark, leaves and roots of viburnum in the form of decoctions of water. Despite the fact that the fruits of viburnum contain a lot of oil, its use is very limited, although the medicinal properties of viburnum oil have been studied and proven.
The CO2 extract of the viburnum fruits has a broader and richer composition than ordinary cold-pressed oil and also has high biological activity. Like cold-pressed oil from viburnum seeds, CO2 extracts from its fruits do not show any hypoallergenic activity and are completely safe for both external and internal use.
CO2 extract from viburnum fruits is a red-brown oily liquid with a characteristic odor. CO2 extract can be recommended as a biologically active food and cosmetic supplement. The high content of vitamin E and provitamin A (beta-carotene), in an ideal combination, ensures an extremely high antioxidant effect of the product. Viburnum CO2 extract accelerates wound healing, has anti-inflammatory effects, normalizes metabolic processes, helps lower the level of cholesterol in the blood, restores reproductive function, removes toxins and radionuclides from the body.
In the course of chromomass spectrometric examinations, several hundred compounds were analyzed in the composition, of which more than 50 were identified.
Chart 1. The main ingredients of the Viburnum CO2 extract
| NAME | CONTENT IN% OF THE AMOUNT OF VOLATILE COMPONENTS | EFFECT |
|---|---|---|
| Escin Vitamin E (tocopherols) | 2,4 | Anti-sclerotic effect – lowers the cholesterol level in the blood. Participates in the formation of elastin and collagen. Antioxidant combined with carotene. |
| Provitamin A (beta-carotene) | 4,5 | Strong antioxidant, especially in combination with unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. |
| Vitamin complex F | 3,1 | Has an antioxidant, spasmolytic, antidiuretic, antitumoral, antiallergic effect. |
| Vitamin K | 1,7 | Normalizes blood clotting and promotes accelerated healing of ulcers, cuts and burns. |
| Menthol | 9,1 | Cools, relieves pain, relieves itching, hypoallergenic. |
| Pipertone Epoxy | 10,7 | It is used as an ingredient in perfume compositions and food flavors. |
| Squalene | 0,9 | Anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial and fungicidal effects. Saturates tissues with oxygen, which helps to rejuvenate them. |
| Palmitic acid | 1,3 | Unsaturated fatty acid for water repellency in cosmetics. |
| α- and β-linolenic acid | 2,8 | Unsaturated. An essential fatty acid from the class of omega-3 fatty acids. It has a membrane protecting, angioprotective effect. Immunomodulatory, improves brain metabolism. |
| Linoleic acid | 3,2 | 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, competitive processes can arise that influence the metabolism. |
| Carvone | 1,2 | Widely used for flavoring essences, liqueurs, toothpastes, chewing gum. Central nervous system stimulant. Anthelmintic effect. |
Viburnum CO2 extract is used in cosmetics as an ingredient that offers the following:
- general normalization of the functions of the skin and mucous membranes
- Nutrition, softening and elasticity of the skin
- normalization of metabolic processes in the dermis
- As a transdermal transporter for the delivery of beneficial ingredients into the deep layers of the dermis
- Active anti-aging agent
- Cleaning supplies
- it is used against eczema, dermatitis
Chart 2. Application rates, recommendations for use and storage of the Viburnum CO2 extract
| Food usage rates | Item А100: 0.005% (50g per ton) Water-soluble microemulsions EMA1: 0.5% (5l per 1000l or 5ml per liter) |
| Application rates in cosmetics | Item А10: 1-3% Item А100: 0.1-0.3% |
| 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 |
Viburnum vulgaris grows wild in almost the entire area of Eurasia. It is used as an ornamental plant for landscaping parks and gardens.
Historical reference
In folk medicine, the name “berry from seven ailments” is firmly anchored in the viburnum – paradoxically, however, a specific list of these seven ailments cannot be found in any reference work. As well as explaining why there are only seven of them – after all, it is difficult to find such a disease that viburnum would not help against. In every age-appropriate herbalism, viburnum is literally found in every other recipe, and for this reason the name “Berry of All Diseases” would sound much more appropriate – apparently an old “marketer” who is unknown some time ago thought this was too much and limited themselves to “seven ailments”.
Modern science fully confirms the place of honor that traditional medicine has given this wonderful berry since ancient times. Due to its rich composition, viburnum is really a drug, if not for all, then for many diseases. And most importantly, it is an excellent prophylactic agent that, with regular use, will save you from getting acquainted with a medical reference book.
Viburnum is closely related not only to folk medicine, but also to folk tales in which its bitter taste acts as an unchanging symbol of unrequited love – unexpectedly romantic, for such a familiar and humble berry.