Black Currant Seed Oil

Latin Binomial: Ribes nigrum
Plant Part: Seed
Extraction: Cold Pressed
Growing Practice: Ethical
Country of Origin: USA

Black Currant Seed Oil, which has mixture of both ALA and GLA (Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids) may, consequently have anti-inflammatory effects due to its GLA content. Its uses are similar to Evening Primrose Oil, especially in hormone dependent problems. It can be added to other vegetable oils in massage or body oil.

Refractive Index: 1.475 - 1.481 at 20°C
Specific Gravity: 0.920 - 0.930 at 20°C
BioChemicals: high in GLA (gamma linoleic acid)

Picuric-Jovanivic et al found that "seeds contained from 8-15% oil. Fatty acids in the oil included oleic (12.3%), linoleic (41.0%), αlinolenic (20.9%), γ-linolenic (12.6%) and stearidonic (1.6%). The seed oil also contained α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, and δ-tocopherol, plus 2.21 mg/l of carotene, 3.11 mg/l of chlorophyll, and 0.64 mg/l of chlorophyll b."

http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=14517126
Saponification Value: 180-195
CAS No: 7447-40-7

The Black Currant (Ribes nigrum) in the Grossulariaceae Family native to central and northern Europe and northern Asia. It is a small deciduous shrub that grows 4-6 feet high, with flowers 2-3 inches in diameter with five reddish-green to brownish petals.

Uses of Black Currant Seed Oil are similar to Evening Primrose Oil, especially in hormone dependent problems. It can be added to other vegetable oils in massage or body oil.

The GLA content of Black Currant Seed Oil is almost twice as high as that of Evening Primrose Oil.

Blackcurrant Seed oil can be used in the formulas for moisturizers, lip gloss, facial cleansers, eye creams or masks to provide anti-inflamatory and moisturizing.

Blackcurrants are native to Eurasia. They became popular in England as a source of Vitamin C during World War II.

Blackcurrrants were once popular in the United States, but became rare after currant farming was banned in the early 1900s when they became a threat to the logging industry because they were a vector of white pine blister rust. The federal ban was shifted to the states after 1966 and some states have lifted the ban.

Refrigerate to extend shelf life.

Black Currant Seed Oil is generally considered to be of low hazard in cosmetic products.

The information provided on these pages is not a substitute for necessary medical care, nor intended as medical advice. Always keep carriers and bases tightly closed and in a cool, dark place, out of reach of children. If redness or irritation occurs when applied to the skin, stop using immediately and contact your health provider if necessary.