Cosmetics · Plant extracts
Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
ウメ果実エキス (Ume kajitsu ekisu)
Also known as: Ume Extract, Japanese Apricot Extract
At a glance
| Category | Cosmetics |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Prunus Mume Fruit Extract |
| Japanese labeling name | ウメ果実エキス |
| Common Japanese notations | ウメ果実エキス, 梅果実エキス |
| Origin | Plant-derived (Prunus mume, Japanese apricot) |
| Typical functions | Skin conditioning, Antioxidant, Astringent |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI labeling name dictionary. The fruit is also widely used in food (umeboshi, umeshu, umezu) under the Food Sanitation Act. |
Ume (Prunus mume) — often translated as Japanese plum but botanically closer to apricot — has a central place in Japanese food culture through umeboshi, umeshu, and umezu. In cosmetics, the fruit extract is used for its polyphenol content and its association with preserved traditional foods. Specific cultivars like Nanko-ume are regionally branded; cosmetic labeling uses the general species name Prunus mume.
Classification
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Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Face toners and essences
- Body washes
- Hand care products
- Food and beverage applications
What it is
Prunus mume fruit extract is produced by extraction of unripe or processed Prunus mume fruit. Extraction fluid and processing approach vary considerably across suppliers; the extract typically concentrates citric acid, malic acid, polyphenols, and pectin fragments.
The unripe fresh fruit and the processed umeboshi fruit yield extracts with different compositional profiles. Both appear in cosmetic formulations; the specification sheet is the primary source for confirming which form is in use.
Typical uses in Japanese products
In Japanese cosmetics, ume extract appears in toners, body washes, hand care, and some sheet masks. The ingredient is used across seasonal positioning — summer refreshing lines, winter hand care, and year-round skincare.
In food use, the same fruit produces umeboshi (salt-pickled ume), umeshu (ume liqueur), and umezu (pickling liquid). These are regulated under food law separately from cosmetic use.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Listed in the JSCI Japanese Cosmetic Ingredient Codex under ウメ果実エキス and permitted as a cosmetic ingredient.
Some regional ume cultivars carry geographical indication (GI) protection or trademarked variety names. Cosmetic ingredient labeling uses the general species name rather than regional cultivar names.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Listed in CosIng under the INCI name Prunus Mume Fruit Extract. Permitted for cosmetic use. |
|---|---|
| USA | INCI recognized by PCPC. |
| China | Permitted per IECIC listings. |
| Korea | Permitted as a cosmetic ingredient under the KFDA / MFDS system. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after each product's current full ingredient list has been verified. Regional cultivar brand names such as 南高梅 are handled as descriptive origin notes rather than in ingredient names.
All brand names and product names referenced anywhere on this site are the property of their respective owners. Example entries are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.
Related ingredients
References
- JSCI labeling name directory — ウメ果実エキス
- EU CosIng entry: Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Last updated: 2026-04-22. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.