Taiwanese scientists make body lotion from coral

Want China Times, CNA 2012-12-09

The body lotion made with soft coral extract. (Photo/CNA)

Taiwanese scientists have developed a body lotion made with extract from soft coral grown in aquariums.

Su Rui-hsin, an assistant researcher at the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium in Checheng township, Pingtung county and Wu Yu-ren, an associate professor at Meiho University in the southern Taiwan township, began to study ways to made body care materials from soft coral extracts two years ago.

Wu said the extract is an effective anti-inflammatory substance and can soothe the nervous system, cure small wounds, whiten the skin and slow the aging process.

Wu said he and Su have succeeded in using the coral extract to make moisturizing body lotion, anti-wrinkle cream, skin-whitening cream and makeup-removing lotion.

The extract is drawn from coral cultivated by the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium rather than wild coral, so the process does not damage the environment.

Su said the chemical component of the extract is very stable and the technology to obtain the extract is well established, adding that two local cosmetics companies are interested in buying the expertise.

The National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium began 10 years ago to cultivate soft corals — known to be difficult to grow in captivity — and few studies have been conducted on these species.

Thanks to its successful cooperation with Meiho University in developing the body lotion, the museum is going to enter into a strategic alliance with the university, Su added.