Rose hip seed oil and its Uses

Rosehip Seed Oil is a pressed seed oil extracted from the seeds of Rosa rubiginosa (Spanish: rosa mosqueta), a wild rose bush in the southern Andes.Rosehip seed oil can also be extracted from Rosa canina, a wild rose variety native to Europe, Northwest Africa, and Western Asia.The fruit of rose hips has long been used in folk medicine. Rose hips have preventive and therapeutic effects on the common cold, infectious diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, urinary tract disorders and inflammatory diseases.

Nutrition 

The oil contains provitamin A (mainly beta-carotene).It is incorrectly claimed to contain retinol (vitamin A), a vitamin derived only from provitamin A by animals.However, it does contain levels (up to 0.357 mg/L) of retinoic acid, or all-trans retinoic acid, an acid into which vitamin A retinol is converted.Likewise, while fruit is rich in vitamin C, the oil does not contain any vitamin C because it is a water-soluble vitamin.Rosehip Seed Oil is rich in essential fatty acids: linoleic acid, or omega-6, and alpha-linolenic acid, or omega-3.Rose hips are a remarkable fruit for their traditional medicinal uses, which may be due in part to their abundance of bioactive components, especially antioxidant phenolics.The seed lipids of rose hips contain high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (Szentmihalyi et al., 2002). Rose hips are popular for their food, botanical, and cosmic nutritional uses.The fruit of Rosa canisatus (Rosa rosea) in particular contains high levels of vitamin C and proanthocyanidins and is used in various food and pharmaceutical applications.This chapter focuses on the traditional medicinal and food science applications of rose hips and the essential oils of the widely distributed species of rose hips

Uses

Researchers have tested the efficacy of topical rosehip seed oil and oral fat-soluble vitamins on different inflammatory dermatitis such as eczema, neurodermatitis and cheilitis, and the results show that topical rosehip seed oil is promising for the treatment of these inflammatory skin conditions .Due to its high content of UFAs and antioxidants, rosehip oil has a relatively high level of protection against inflammation and oxidative stress.Research on rosehip oil shows that it reduces skin hyperpigmentation, reduces discoloration, acne lesions, scars and stretch marks, as well as keeps skin hydrated and delays the appearance of wrinkles. Beauticians recommend wild rose seed oil as a natural skin revitalizer.A 2014 study on the nutritional and phytochemical composition of rosehip seeds and the fatty acid and sterol composition of the seed oil showed that rosehip seeds and seed oil are good sources of phytonutrients.Consumption of foods rich in phytonutrients is recommended to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.The presence of nutrients and bioactive compounds make rosehip seeds a valuable source of phytonutrients.Rosehip seeds are rich in carbohydrates and ascorbic acid, and rosehip seed oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols.Rosehip seeds and seed oil have been shown to have antioxidant activity.The findings suggest that rosehip seeds and seed oil may be used as ingredients in functional food formulations and dietary supplements.