Psoralea Corylifolia (Babchi) is an Ayurvedic skin healing herb widely acclaimed for its ability to fade vitiligo scarring. This powerful medicine can be found referenced throughout Somvalli, Chandrika, Suprabha, Tvaddons Ghani and Chandrashalaka texts as an Ayurvedic remedy.
Although all parts of a plant can be beneficial to health, its seeds and oil offer specific advantages for skin health. Their powder and oil combine into an effective skin treatment known as bakuchiol.
Antioxidant
Bakuchiol (Psoralea corylifolia seed oil) is an extremely potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-diabetic and anti-aging properties. Additionally, it may act as an alternative natural solution to retinol by improving skin texture and tone (1)
As part of Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric can be used for dermatological conditions like leucoderma and vitiligo via oral or topical treatments to depigment these conditions. Containing coumarins, furocoumarins and flavones with rich levels of linoleic acid along with palmitic, stearic, linolenic acids for its depigmenting benefits, turmeric is packed full of coumarins furocoumarins flavones as well as having high concentrations of depigmenting agents such as furocoumarins to depigment these conditions effectively.
Studies have demonstrated its ability to help alleviate vitiligo by decreasing white patches and improving overall skin tone, encouraging normal pigmentation formation, thereby helping to diminish differences between affected and unaffected areas of the skin. It can also balance all three doshas for overall wellness and healthy, vibrant skin (1, 2). (1, 2)
Anti-inflammatory
Bakuchiol is an all-natural retinol alternative without the same level of irritation and photosensitivity associated with traditional retinol products, while offering additional skin healing properties, including decreasing UV damage while improving elasticity, smoothness and wrinkles.
Babchi seeds (Psoralea corylifolia) have long been recognized in Ayurveda medicine as having numerous health benefits. Both seeds and oil contain significant quantities of bakuchiol, an active meroterpene with anti-aging and cosmetic benefits.
Bioline’s Babchi Seed Serum contains meroterpene to hydrate, reduce pigmentation and reverse aging; support healthy hair growth while improving skin tone and texture; it also features other natural active ingredients, such as Niacinamide, Plankton and Microalgae Extracts, Bamboo Stem Cells Snow Mushroom Extracts and Fruit Extracts to resurface and regenerate cells for an aged-looking complexion. Babchi seed oil is extracted using an Ayurvedic process known as Snehapaak in which 1 part of Babchi seeds are soaked overnight in 16 parts of water for an intense solution that provides lasting benefits.
Antimicrobial
Babchi seeds from Psoralea corylifolia plant contain antifungal and antibacterial properties as well as essential oils known to benefit skin conditions, such as lightening it or reducing pigmentation. As such, it has long been included in ayurvedic face packs, commonly being utilized for treating vitiligo.
Seed extract has been found to be effective against various pathogenic bacteria strains, including multi-drug resistant strains. Furthermore, its disrupting cell membranes is capable of killing microorganisms and stopping their further spread.
Babchi seed oil boasts numerous other phytochemicals that contribute to its antimicrobial properties, such as terpenoids, flavonoids and steroids, that make it an effective weapon in fighting infections and maintaining skin health. This makes babchi a potency weapon against infections while supporting your complexion’s wellbeing.
Anti-aging
Psoralea corylifolia seeds and oil have long been used to combat fine lines, wrinkles, skin pigmentation and treat conditions such as vitiligo.
Babchi seed extract’s anti-ageing benefits can be attributed to its abundance of bioactive compounds such as psoralen, bakuchiol and flavonoids; Psoralen is part of a group called furocoumarins that are responsible for depigmenting effects; flavonoids also contribute.
Bakuchiol is a meroterpene phenol with antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It has been likened to retinol for its anti-ageing benefits while lacking photosensitive side effects associated with retinoids.
However, this oil also contains essential fatty acids to nourish and hydrate skin, making it an excellent ingredient in skincare products designed to address ageing or dry and sensitive skin concerns. However, caution must be exercised when using babchi seed oil topically as some phototoxic components such as psoralens may increase sunburn risks when applied directly onto skin.
