Chaenomeles is a genus of three species of deciduous spiny shrubs, usually 1–3 m tall, in the family Rosaceae. They are native to Japan, Korea, China, Bhutan, and Burma. The shape of the Quince resembles a longer apple (or a squat pear) and its colour is gold-yellow.
Chaenomeles japonica is a species of Japanese quince. It is shorter than another commonly cultivated species C. speciosa, growing to only about 1 m in height. The fruit is called Kusa-boke (草木瓜) in Japanese. It is best known for its colorful spring flowers of red, white, pink or multi colors. It produces apple-shaped fruit that are a golden-yellow color containing red-brown seeds.
Quince through time
Known since antiquity as a delicious and healthy fruit, it was cultivated 4,000 years ago by the Babylonians, it was considered sacred to Aphrodite by the Greeks and then described by the Romans in many classical texts including those of Pliny, Cato and Virgil.
While there are many certificated health benefits of the fruit, the best known are the qualities as food. However, a few people know that some extracts are particularly suitable for application on the skin.
The most interesting extracts come from the peel and the pulp of this fruit but also from seeds and leaves. To specify, all these parts have revealed a high content of phenolic compounds with numerous cosmetic features that can be summarized as follows:
- Antioxidant property, it neutralizes and eliminates free radicals. Free radicals are dangerous by-products of cellular metabolism that cause the mutation or death of the cells.
- Antiallergic effect, with reduction of dermatitis and similar reactions.
- Antimicrobial effect, derived mainly from the peel of the fruit.
- Anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
To sum up, thanks to a special extract of the Quince seeds, the look of skin greatly improves, remaining protected, soft and moisturised. While the astringent, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory features derive from the fruit .
Poster – adding value to Japanese quince (PDF)
Poster – Japanese quince seed in skin care (PDF)
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