The content of active ingredients Carnosic acid and Rosmarinic acid can be as high as 12%-15% (HPLC detection). By reducing oxidative stress by means of the scavenging activity on free radicals (ORAC ≥3,500 μmol TE/g), clinical trials have shown that every-day intake of 250mg of extract was able to enhance SOD activity in healthy people by 28% (only control group 5%). The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced by 34% (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry data). A double-blind trial (n=80) showed that after 8 weeks of treatment with a supplement containing 2% rosemary extract, CRP levels in patients with chronic inflammation decreased from 5.2mg/L to 2.8mg/L (46% reduction) and IL-6 decreased by 52% (ELISA detection).
Cognitive function was improved significantly: 1, 8-cineole from rosemary entered the brain via the blood-brain barrier (up to 0.8μg/mL), blocked acetylcholinesterase (IC50=0.3μM), and improved performance in memory tests in Alzheimer’s disease model mice by 65% (Morris Water Maze). In young adults, breathing air with 5% rosemary essential oil improved short-term memory accuracy by 23% (controlled trial) and electrical theta power density by 18% (EEG). A clinical trial (NCT03452111) showed that daily intake of 400mg of standardized extract for 6 weeks reduced response time to attention tests by 17% (from 450ms to 375ms).
Antibacterial and digestive support: Rosemary Leaf Extract at a concentration of 0.5% showed 99% and 92% inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC=62.5μg/mL) and Escherichia coli (MIC=125μg/mL), respectively (AGAR diffusion method). In a study of gastrointestinal disease, 200mg of extract given with meals reduced gastric emptying time by 22% (from 120 minutes to 94 minutes) and reduced bloating frequency by 41% (ultrasound). Its biliogenic effect (+35% secretion) allows for an increase in the efficiency of fat digestion by 18% (fecal lipid test).
Hair management and skin well-being: After 12 weeks of therapy with a shampoo containing 3% rosemary extract, the density of hairs in patients with androgenic alopecia was enhanced from 85 to 112 hair strands/cm² (32% increase) and the diameter of follicles was enhanced by 18% (TrichoScan analysis). Under the conditions of dermatology, 1% rosemary extract cream inhibited UV-induced erythema of the skin by 57% (VISIA test) and induced collagen production by 24% (fibroblast culture test).
Commercialization and safety: Production cost of a standardized extract (≥6% carnosic acid) is 150/kg, and premium of final product is 400,600 /kg. Market size in 2023 will be $890M (Grand View Research figures) and functional foods will capture 41% (e.g., the liver tablet repurchase rate is 78%). Safety evaluations have resulted in an adverse reaction rate of just 2.3% (primarily mild headache) at less than daily consumption of 1,000mg, and the European Union EFSA has established a daily upper tolerance level of 800mg. A nanoliposome encapsulation method improved its bioavailability from 12% to 45% (AUC₀₋₂₄ was increased from 35μg·h/mL to 132μg·h/mL) and prolonged its half-life to 7.2 hours (initially 3.1 hours).