Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Shikonin-rich gromwell root extract in MCT, high-oleic sunflower, jojoba, or squalane. A multifunctional red bioactive for barrier-support, calming, antioxidant, and natural pigment stories.*
Ingredients listed in descending order of predominance for the selected carrier blend. This is an anhydrous oil blend - it has no aqueous phase and therefore no pH as shipped. See SDS/TDS for full composition and CAS disclosure.
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon · Shikonin-class naphthoquinone
Historically known as Gromwell Root, Murasaki, or Zicao, Lithospermum erythrorhizon has been used in traditional Asian medicine for centuries. In modern cosmetic chemistry it serves a dual purpose: a potent, clinically referenced active for barrier-support and scalp-soothing positioning, while naturally imparting a striking pink, red, or deep purple hue without synthetic dyes.*
Pathway 1 - NF-κB modulation: Shikonin, the primary lipophilic naphthoquinone, is positioned in literature for calming/redness-reduction cosmetic stories via pro-inflammatory cytokine pathway modulation - turning down irritation and cellular inflammation appearance in sensitive-skin formulas.*
Pathway 2 - Nrf2 & glycation defense: Published work links gromwell extract to antioxidant response element activation and glyoxalase-related glycation detoxification - relevant for anti-aging, photoaging-defense, and structural-protein stiffness appearance.*
Pathway 3 - MMP-1 & matrix support: In-vitro models report MMP-1 downregulation under oxidative and UV stress - cosmetic positioning for collagen-matrix and photoaging-defense serums.*
We ship a standard or concentrated Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract blend in MCT, high-oleic sunflower, jojoba, or squalane - each with SDS/TDS matched to the carrier deck you select.*
These attributes are assessments based on the ingredient deck and the supplier information available to us. They are not third-party certifications. If your finished product requires a specific certified status, please reach out and we’ll walk through what we can document.
Every lot is produced to order in our AI-powered robotic factory. Nothing sits on a warehouse shelf going stale - you get a date-of-manufacture-fresh batch every time.
* Structure/function statements based on published cosmetic in-vitro studies. Not evaluated for, and not intended to, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Lithospermum erythrorhizon (Gromwell / Zicao) and its shikonin bioactives appear in peer-reviewed skin, oxidative stress, glycation, and barrier-repair literature relevant to cosmetic chemists. These are independent, third-party papers we link for formulators evaluating mechanism, tolerability, and published panel data. We did not conduct this research and do not guarantee replication in your finished formula.
Pretreatment increased cell viability against H2O2 and UV-induced oxidative stress models while downregulating collagen-degrading MMP-1 - key anchor for photoaging-defense cosmetic positioning.
Mechanistic work on shikonin NF-κB inhibition and keratinocyte / fibroblast proliferation - supports calming and barrier-renewal cosmetic narratives (not wound-healing drug claims).
Dose-dependent glycation inhibition and UV-absorption-related antioxidant positioning in published models - relevant for anti-aging and stiffness-appearance stories.
These citations are provided for informational and formulation-research purposes only. Study designs, concentrations, vehicle systems, and populations vary and may not match the oil blends on this page. Published results do not constitute FDA or EU cosmetic claim substantiation for your brand. Always review the primary literature and consult your regulatory counsel before making structure/function statements on finished products.
This is the bulk composition as it ships at the selected Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract loading. Updates dynamically when you change the carrier oil above. Finished-product INCI lists carrier oil, extract, and tocopherol (where present) in descending order. Full CAS disclosure is on the SDS/TDS for the selected carrier.
SDS + TDS are issued per selected recipe. Links swap when you change selections above. A sample COA shows the oil-macerate QC panel (organoleptic only). Lot-specific COAs ship with every order.
We cook the raw botanical powder into the selected carrier oil. This is a whole-botanical oil macerate, not a solvent isolate and not a standardized marker extract. Release testing is organoleptic only. Lot identity appears on the COA and TDS.
This is a ready-to-use cosmetic extract stock, not a finished consumer product and not a standardized marker isolate. We cook the raw botanical powder into the selected hydroglycerin or oil carrier. Aqueous lots are released on pH, organoleptic, TAMC, and TYMC (total counts only). Oil macerates are released on organoleptic only. A sample COA is on this page; the lot-specific COA ships with the order.
Download sample Certificate of Analysis