Plum

The plum originally comes from China and belongs to the Rosaceae family. The plant grows as a shrub or tree, is deciduous and reaches growth heights of 6 to 10m, its bark is grey-brown and almost smooth. The plum is now cultivated worldwide in over 2000 species. It blooms with white flowers from April to May. The fruits vary in size, shape and colour. They are red to blue-black in colour, between 1 and 8 centimetres long and spherical to oblong. The fruits contain an approximately 1.0 to 1.3 cm large, elongated, somewhat bumpy stone core.

Use as cosmetic ingredient:

• Prunus domestica extract (INCI). Function: smoothing, moisturizing
• Hydrolyzed prunus domestica (INCI). Hydrolysate of plums. Function: Skin caring
  

Various extracts of the peach plant are used in cosmetic formulations.

• Prunus persica kernel oil (INCI): peach kernel oil, effective as emollient and skin caring
• Prunus persica extract (INCI): peach extract; acts as an abrasive, swelling agent and skin care product
• Prunus persica flower extract (INCI): flower extract; has a skin-caring and moisturising effect
• Prunus persica juice (INCI): peach juice; acts as a skin care product and moisturizer
• Prunus persica leaf extract (INCI): leaf extract; acts as a skin care product and moisturizer
• Prunus persica seed powder (INCI): powder from the ground peach kernels; acts as an abrasive

Allergological relevance: In very rare cases a systemic food allergy after plum consumption is observed. Not quite rare is an oral allergy syndrome. This is usually based on an allergy to birch pollen. This allergic reaction can be avoided by boiling the plums (allergen is heat-labile).

Allergological diagnosis: scratch with skin and pulp, RAST (Ph.)