Why do extracts from the same plants have different effects?

The active ingredients of plant extracts are quite complex, including various forms such as flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, volatile oils, amino acids, etc. Due to the varying composition and structure of active ingredients in different plant extracts, they can exert different effects. For example, licorice and bearberry extracts can be used for whitening, while extracts from cacti, pomegranate, aloe vera, and others can be used for moisturizing, while extracts from centella asiatica and giant algae can be used for soothing.

Firstly, the content of active ingredients in plant extracts may vary. Some professional companies will conduct in-depth research on extraction processes to increase the content of active ingredients. This requires high research investment, therefore the product price is correspondingly high. However, not all companies have the ability to conduct independent research, and many companies may only purchase raw materials and process them in contract factories. In order to reduce costs, they may have reduced the input of raw materials, so the efficacy of the product may vary.

Secondly, the filing time for the components of plant extracts may be very long. According to the Regulations on the Registration and Filing Management of New Cosmetic Ingredients, in order to successfully register a new cosmetic ingredient, a large amount of materials need to be submitted, and the entire filing process may take a long time. This means that some new and efficient ingredients may take a long time to be applied in the product.

In addition, as mentioned earlier, different parts of plants (such as flowers, leaves, and fruits) contain different components, so their effects may also vary. To address this issue, the new regulations on the management of registration and filing materials for cosmetics require that for plant-based raw materials, information such as plant species, Latin names, and extraction sites must be clearly provided, so as to make the composition of the product more clear.