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
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| 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 (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) 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.
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Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Regulatory tags
Origin
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Face toners and essences
- Body washes
- Hand care products
- Food and beverage applications
Ingredient profile
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.
OEM applications
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. |
Market reference formulations
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.
Seasonality & supply calendar
- Harvest months
- Mid-May – late June
- Peak supply
- June (梅雨入り前後)
- Off-season
- Off-season supply via salted / pickled stocks (umeboshi-grade) for extract manufacturing
Wakayama Prefecture (Nanko-ume) is the dominant supply source.
Storage requirements
How the receiving OEM facility needs to handle inbound raw material.
- Temperature
- Refrigerated 4°C for liquid extract
- Conditions
- Sealed, opaque; pH-stable due to organic acids
- Shelf life
- 18 months sealed
Supply concentration
Where this ingredient comes from — useful for single-source-risk planning.
- Primary regions
- Wakayama (Nanko-ume — approximately 60% national share per 果樹生産出荷統計, multi-year average; R3=63%, R4=67%)
- Import dependence
- Premium for cosmetic / FFC grade is domestic; commodity imports from China for processed
農林水産省 果樹生産出荷統計
Certifications commonly available
Certification schemes commonly obtainable for this raw material. Always confirm the specific supplier's current certificate before contracting.
| Scheme | Availability | |
|---|---|---|
| Organic JAS | On-request | 和歌山 Nanko-ume organic-certified options |
| COSMOS | On-request | |
| Halal | On-request | |
| Vegan | Inherent | |
| GI status | Regional brand recognition (not GI-registered) | 和歌山 紀州南高梅 is a famous brand and trademark-protected cultivar but is NOT in 農林水産省 GI register. Wakayama's only ume-related GIs are not for nanko-ume. (Toyama #71 氷見稲積梅 is the only ume GI nationally.) |
Documented adulteration risks
Known fraud / adulteration patterns reported by regulators or industry bodies. Specify CoA params and screening tests on every PO.
- Chinese-grown ume labeled as Japanese / 紀州梅 in processed umeboshi / extract products
Detection: Country-of-origin per 食品表示法; isotope-ratio analysis
和歌山県 / 消費者庁
Alternative ingredients
Related ingredients commonly evaluated as substitutes.
Quick answers
- What is Prunus Mume Fruit Extract?
- 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.
- What is the regulatory status of Prunus Mume Fruit Extract in Japan?
- Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name dictionary. The fruit is also widely used in food (umeboshi, umeshu, umezu) under the Food Sanitation Act.
- What products typically use Prunus Mume Fruit Extract?
- Face toners and essences / Body washes / Hand care products / Food and beverage applications
- Where does Prunus Mume Fruit Extract come from?
- Plant-derived (Prunus mume, Japanese apricot)
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Prunus Mume Fruit Extract?
- INCI: Prunus Mume Fruit Extract / JSCI: ウメ果実エキス
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Sharing similar functions
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From the same origin
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Regulatory guidance
Take the next step
FAQ for OEM buyers
Q. Is Prunus Mume Fruit Extract listed in CosIng?
Yes, 'Prunus Mume Fruit Extract' is listed in the CosIng database as a skin-conditioning ingredient. Closely related extracts include leaf, flower, and bark extracts under separate INCI names.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
- CosIng database — INCI: Prunus Mume Fruit Extract
Q. Is there a registered Geographical Indication for ume varieties used in cosmetic extracts?
Wakayama Prefecture's 'Kishu Nanko Ume' is registered under the 農林水産省 (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) Geographical Indication system as a food product, primarily for umeboshi-grade fruit. Cosmetic extracts using Wakayama-origin ume can reference regional sourcing in marketing copy with appropriate provenance documentation.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
- 農林水産省 (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) — Geographical Indication (GI) Registry: Kishu Nanko Ume (No. 9)
Q. What are typical solvent and concentration formats for ume fruit extract?
Liquid extracts in BG/water at 1:1 to 1:10 plant-to-solvent ratio are most common, with usage levels of 0.5–3% in finished formulations. Concentrated 'ume polyphenol' fractions are also marketed by some specialty suppliers.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
- Industry knowledge — Japanese cosmetic ingredient suppliers
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Q. Is the cosmetic extract compatible with the same supplier's food-grade ume products?
Cosmetic-grade and food-grade specs differ in residual solvent, microbial limits, and labeling requirements; buyers should request the cosmetic-grade COA and confirm PMD Act compliance separately. Many ume processors operate parallel cosmetic and food-grade lines.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
- Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act (PMD Act) — Cosmetic chapter
Use cases
Facial toner
- Positioning
- Year-round Japanese-heritage toner with regional storytelling
- Typical usage level
- 0.5–3%
Sources
- Industry knowledge — Japanese heritage-botanical skincare
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Hand cream
- Positioning
- Winter hand-care gift product with ume floral/fruit narrative
Sources
- Industry knowledge — Japanese gift cosmetics
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Body wash
- Positioning
- Refreshing seasonal body wash for summer line
Sources
- Industry knowledge — Japanese body-care market
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Sheet mask
- Positioning
- Heritage-botanical mask with regional Wakayama or Mie sourcing story
Sources
- Industry knowledge — Japanese mask category
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
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Official regulatory databases
External links to public Japanese / international regulatory authorities. We are not affiliated.
References
- JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) 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.