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Table 3 Examples of herbal natural substances in the INCI list [8]

From: Naturally toxic: natural substances used in personal care products

Aromatic herbs

Borago officinalis (borage), Laurus nobilis (laurel), Myristica fragrans (nutmeg), Piper nigrum (pepper), Prunus amygdalus amara (bitter almond), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Zingiber officinale (ginger)

Food

Ananas sativum (pineapple), Allium cepa (onion), Arachis hypogaea (peanut), Asparagus officinalis (asparagus), Beta vulgaris (beetroot), Citrus aurantium (bitter orange), Cocos nucifera (coconut), Coffea arabica (coffee), Daucus carota (carrot), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), Fragaria vesca (strawberry), Glycine soja (Soybean), Juglans regia (walnut), Lactuca sativa (lettuce), Musa sapientium (banana), Oryza sativa (rize), Secale cereale (rye), Spinacia oleracea (spinach), Theobroma cacao (cacao), Triticum vulgare (wheat), Vitis vinifera (grape), Zea mays (corn)

Officinal plants

Achillea millefolium (yarrow), Aloe barbadensis (aloe), Arnica montana (arnica), Calendula officinalis (calendula), Chamomilla recutita (matricaria, chamomile), Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus), Echinacea spec. (coneflower), Mentha piperita (peppermint), Salvia officinalis (sage), Valeriana officinalis (valerian), Viscum album (mistletoe)

Other agricultural crop plants

Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco)

Wild or garden plants

Acer pseudoplatanus (harewood, great maple), Bellis perennis (daisy), Berberis vulgaris (barberry), Betula alba (birch), Buxus sempervirens (boxwood), Castanea sativa (chestnut), Crocus sativus (saffron crocus), Equisetum arvense (horsetail), Ginkgo biloba (maidenhair tree), Hedera helix (ivy), Helianthus annuus (sunflower), Lupinus albus (lupin), Nasturtium officinale (watercress), Nerium oleander (oleander), Papaver rhoeas (corn poppy), Petasites hybridus (butterbur), Ranunculus ficaria (pilewort), Sambucus nigra (elder), Syringa vulgaris (lilac), Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), Trifolium pratense (clower), Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot), Urtica dioica (stinging nettle)

  1. Many natural substances in the INCI list derived from plants are known from other usages than cosmetic applications. Some popular plants are specified here with their respective common English names in brackets as examples.