“A thing of beauty is a joy forever”. Plants and plant-based preparations for facial care in Suriname

Abstract

People have probably used plant-based substances to improve their appearance since the existence of mankind. The first documented use of cosmetics dates back to 3,000 BC from ancient Egypt, but it is safe to say that this custom has been (and still is) an integral part of daily life in all civilizations. The initial use of plantderived makeup -sometimes supplemented with paints and dyes -has come full circle and is back with the contemporary trend of using beauty products that are mainly derived from plant sources. The Republic of Suriname (South America) is renowned for its extensive ethnopharmacological knowledge and unique plant biodiversity that provides ample raw material that can be processed into cosmetics and cosmeceuticals. This paper gives some historical highlights on the use of makeup throughout the world with the emphasis on naturally-derived products; focuses on the herbal cosmetics industry in Suriname; extensively addresses the scientific rationale for incorporating extracts from plants in cosmetics and cosmeceuticals in the country; and concludes with the conditions to establish a beauty products industry in Suriname.

Antioxidant Activity of Surinamese Medicinal Plants with Adaptogenic Properties and Correlation with Total Phenolic Contents

“…The plants evaluated in the current study are mentioned in Table 1. They have been selected on the basis of the number of times they have been dealt with in well-known publications on the use of medicinal plants in Suriname [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. The plants have been collected in the period between September and November 2019 in rural areas around Suriname's capital city Paramaribo that had been free from herbicidal or pesticidal use for at least the preceding six months.…”

“…The plant parts of interest (Table 1) were washed with distilled water, air-dried, washed again, macerated, and extracted with distilled water. This was based on the traditional custom to prepare herbal medicinal teas, infusions, and decoctions by extracting, brewing, or boiling leaves, fruits, stembark, roots, or other plant parts with water [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. The extracts were filtered, concentrated by freeze-drying, and the material obtained was divided in aliquots of 0.2 g which were stored at -20 o C and tested shortly thereafter.…”

“…The traditional use of plants and plant-based preparations is deeply rooted in the Republic of Suriname (South America), despite the nationwide availability of affordable and accessible allopathic forms of medicine [20]. Many traditional preparations are also used for promoting general health, to fight stress, and to obtain extra health benefits [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30], and can therefore be regarded as adaptogens. Thus, these substances may display unusually high antioxidant activity and contain unusually high amounts of phenolic compounds.…”

Plant-Based Ethnopharmacological Remedies for Hypertension in Suriname

“…It has probably spread to many other parts of the world by sea-faring traders and through marine currents, and is now cultivated in many subtropical and tropical countries. Refrigerated coconut water or coconut juice is a much appreciated refreshing drink all over the world; the fleshy coconut 'meat' is used fresh or dried in confections and desserts; coconut milk is frequently added to curries and other spicy dishes; and coconut oil is used for frying and preparing margarine and in various cosmetics [93].…”

“…The mature fruit contains about 90% water and is relatively low in nutrients, and many enjoy its appetizing flavor and texture, making it a popular ingredient of fresh salads as well as pickles and relishes. Cucumber extracts are also widely used in facial tonics and moisturizers, presumably because their high water and antioxidant content would protect the skin from aging [93].…”