Kolon Industries Achieves Mass Production of 'Luteolin'... First Application as Natural Preservative for Cosmetics

Expected to be widely applicable in household goods, food additives, and more

A Kolon Industries researcher is examining the luteolin culture solution, the main ingredient of 'Preserveil'. Photo by Kolon Industries

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyoon] Kolon Industries announced on the 29th that it has developed a bio-technology capable of mass-producing ‘Reuterin,’ an antimicrobial substance derived from beneficial human bacteria, and is applying it for the first time as a natural preservative for cosmetics.

Kolon Industries, in collaboration with the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, secured a new strain most suitable for high-concentration Reuterin production through about four years of joint research and developed a bio mass production technology based on a 100% fermentation process. Recently, they also introduced ‘PreserVeil,’ a liquid-form natural preservative utilizing this technology.

The main ingredient of ‘PreserVeil,’ Reuterin, is an antimicrobial substance produced by Lactobacillus reuteri, a lactic acid bacterium first discovered in breast milk. It is well known for ▲inhibiting the growth of bacteria and fungi, ▲enhancing immunity and gut health, and ▲being non-toxic and safe. However, despite these advantages, Reuterin has been difficult to use as a preservative due to low production volume and lengthy production processes.

Kolon Industries overcame these challenges with proprietary technology to successfully mass-produce Reuterin and applied it as a natural preservative for cosmetics. Since preservatives are essential ingredients in cosmetics to prevent external contamination, and concerns over synthetic preservatives causing skin irritation and carcinogenic effects have been continuously raised, ‘PreserVeil,’ which offers both safety and antimicrobial efficacy, is expected to become a viable alternative.

Kyungmin Lee, Senior Researcher at Kolon Industries H&B Lab, said, “After years of trial and error, we discovered a new strain that can yield the maximum amount of Reuterin and succeeded in mass production by adding differentiated bio-technology. We are continuing research to apply it not only as a natural preservative for cosmetics but also in various fields such as household products, food additives, and crop protection agents.”

Meanwhile, ‘PreserVeil’ has also received COSMOS (COSMetic Organic Standard) certification, a leading international standard for organic and natural cosmetics established by European cosmetic certification bodies, recognizing its eco-friendliness. Notably, it obtained the ‘APPROVED’ grade, which certifies 100% natural cosmetic raw materials. Kolon Industries is actively seeking to expand its lineup by conducting related tests with domestic cosmetic manufacturers alongside the product launch.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.