Pioneer species are those that have evolved over millions of years with no or little impact by man, potentially accessing 3.8 billion years of benchmarking, the company claims.
And according to Naturally Australian Products COO, Jacqui Rathner, the evolution of efficient mechanisms to store compounds means that many of these Australian species have been made available for the very first time.
Portfolio now includes around 400 products
“Naturally Australian Products, (NAP) now offers approximately 400 products from Australia, including essential oils, carrier oils, seed oils, hydrosols and extracts,” Rathner said.
“Within our offering Native Extracts (NE) has created a portfolio of over 70 Australian species and their research over the past 5 years has created the foundation of the Australian Pharmacopeoia. All profiling has been independently verified by University Plant Sciences laboratories, and we are single handedly building the greatest understanding of water-soluble profiles of Australian species for the Cosmetic industry to access. A new reservoir of phyto-active profiles of Gondwana land [Australia].”
Rathner points out that many of these species contain powerful natural actives, with the Kakadu plum in particular being recognized as having the highest levels of Vitamin C, an attribute that comes about thanks to its harsh native environment enabling the plant to become more efficient at storing phtyo-compounds to sustain survival.
“NE has harnessed over 100 natural molecules, including the natural Vit C molecule, Ellagic and Gallic Acids, Chlorogenic Acid, natural Tryptophan, sources of Procyanadin, Anthocyanin, Rutin, Catechins and Epicatechins, Methoxy Flavone Glycosides and so much more,” Rathner said.
What are the benefits for consumers?
So what are the specific benefits to the end-users? Consumers are very interested in exotic botanicals, but qualified beautifying properties are what they are ultimately looking for.
“New sources of actives, exciting profiles of natural molecules, wide ranges of compounds creating a multifunctional extract (like multiple extracts within the one extract), the potential to use one extract to do multiple benefits in a single ingredient, new stories and imagery to create new trends, market differentiation,” Rathner said.
“With over 100 natural compounds available there are many benefits for cosmetics in Anti-aging, a new direction for powerful natural Hair Care solutions, natural teenage skin and acne, and many more.”
But the company also believes that its current product offering may only be the tip to the iceberg, with the benefits of many more botanicals yet to be discovered.
“Australia is one of a few mega-diversities and it is largely untapped and little understood. The next generation of natural solutions will be found in new mega diversities like Australia as we start this discovery into what lies within their cells,” Rathner said.