Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Extract

What Is It?

Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Water, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Juice, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract and Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Extract are ingredients made from the cucumber, Cucumis sativus. These ingredients are used in a wide variety of products including bath products, soaps and detergents, lotions, cleansing products, nail care products, makeup and eye makeup, as well as hair care products.

Why Is It Used?

Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Water, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Juice, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract and Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Extract function as skin conditioning agents — emollients and skin conditioning agents — miscellaneous.

Scientific Facts

The cucumber is believed to be native to India, and evidence indicates that it has been cultivated in Western Asia for 3,000 years. Records of cucumber cultivation appear in France in the 9th century, England in the 14th century, and in North America by the mid-16th century.

Safety Information

The safety of the Cucumber-derived ingredients has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that these ingredients were safe as cosmetic ingredients. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes cucumber among the 20 most frequently consumed raw vegetables. Botanical and botanically derived ingredients used in the formulation of cosmetics are generally mild and safe. Prior to marketing the finished cosmetic product, the safety of each ingredient must be substantiated in accordance with 21 CFR 740.10. Safety substantiation of cosmetic ingredients may include tests for ocular and skin irritation as well as allergenicity, phototoxicity, photoallergenicity and mutagenicity, depending on the application or intended use. There is a considerable body of information about the safety of botanical ingredients and a well established history of use. These resources are consulted to ensure the safety of these materials as they are used in cosmetics.

CIR Safety Review:

The CIR Expert Panel recognized that cucumber is a commonly consumed food. Based on this food use the CIR Expert Panel was not concerned with the potential of cucumber-derived ingredients to cause systemic toxicity when used in cosmetic products. Dermal irritation and sensitization data on cucumber-derived ingredients did not show any effects. Therefore, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Water, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Juice, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract and Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Extract are safe for use as cosmetic ingredients.

In selecting plant-derived ingredients for preparation of cosmetic products, formulators rely on the extensive history of their preparation and use. Such materials have been used for a long time and, based upon this experience; extensive knowledge of their safety has been gained. In the situation of newly identified botanicals in the cosmetic industry, appropriate ocular and skin safety studies are conducted prior to release into general commerce. There are many different references that describe the isolation, use and safety of botanical preparations.

More information about botanical ingredients.

FDA:

Link to Code of Federal Regulations for cucumber http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr…

Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Water, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Juice, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract and Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Extract may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_packaging/co0013_en.htm

More Scientific Information

Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Water, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Juice, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract and Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Extract belong to a large and diverse class of materials that are not defined chemically. The majority of the materials in this class are mixtures derived from plants (herbs, roots, flowers, fruits, or seeds). In naming plants, botanists use a Latin name made up of the genus and species of the plant. For example, under this system the plant, cucumber is known as Cucumis sativus L., where “L” stands for Linneaus, who first described the type of plant specimen. Plants are also known by a common name that has been handed down through generations. These common names may vary from country to country. Therefore, Latin names, which are more likely to be recognized in many countries, are frequently used on the label of a product to identify an ingredient made from plants.

Resources

Cross Reference for Common Names and Latin names for Botanical ingredient: http://www.personalcarecouncil.org/botanicals-cross-reference-latin-bino…

Find out more about the history of using plants to obtain beneficial materials:

Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm

EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/