botanical
Peony Root Extract
Anti-inflammatory botanical used in brightening and soothing eye creams. Paeoniflorin content provides the mechanism for anti-redness and mild brightening claims. Established in Traditional Chinese Medicine skincare.
Benefits
- Anti-inflammatory via paeoniflorin
- Mild skin brightening via tyrosinase inhibition
- Antioxidant phenolic content
- Traditional TCM ingredient for skin care
- Soothing and calming properties
Example uses
- Brightening eye creams
- Anti-redness serums
- Calming facial creams
- TCM-positioned skincare
- Sensitive skin botanical formulas
Mechanism of action
Paeoniflorin (a monoterpene glucoside) inhibits tyrosinase via competitive inhibition at the copper-containing active site, reducing melanin synthesis. Also inhibits NF-κB activation and TNF-α production, providing anti-inflammatory activity. The dual brightening + soothing mechanism makes it useful in combination eye cream formulations.
Clinical evidence · Emerging
In vitro tyrosinase inhibition studies and anti-inflammatory mechanism characterisation. Limited clinical data for cosmetic application.
Effective concentration range
0.5–2%
Formulation notes
Aqueous or hydroalcoholic extract; paeoniflorin content varies. pH stable in cosmetic range.
Watchouts
Clinical evidence for cosmetic use is limited. Paeoniflorin concentration in finished products is difficult to verify without standardisation data.
Stacks with
Market positioning
Marketed as TCM botanical brightener and soother. Tyrosinase inhibition mechanism is credible; clinical translation to visible brightening at cosmetic concentrations requires independent validation.
Comedogenicity
0 / 5
Sensitisation risk
Low
INCI & aliases
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
paeonia lactiflora root extract · white peony root extract · paeoniflorin source
Clean beauty perception
Accepted in clean beauty. TCM ingredient with modern mechanism validation. Growing popularity in K-beauty and clean prestige.
Related ingredients
Graph relationships
Timeline