Septem Soken, a Japanese company specialising in skin care products, is drawing on the Eskitis Institute’s Nature Bank to develop new natural beauty products.
Researchers have identified three Queensland plants within the Nature Bank collection which have biological properties of interest. Those plants are now being investigated for use in cosmetics, skin care products and health foods.
Director of the Eskitis Institute, Professor Ron Quinn AM said that under a recently signed Collaboration and Licence Agreement, Griffith University will receive a royalty from any products Septem Soken develop as a consequence of access to Nature Bank.
“And there will be a welcome flow-on effect to the broader community,” Professor Quinn said.
“A proportion of all the revenue Eskitis receives from this venture will be paid to the State Government to benefit all Queenslanders.”
Located at Griffith’s Nathan campus, Nature Bank is a unique drug discovery resource based on natural products found in Australia, China and Papua New Guinea. It comprises more than 45,000 samples of plants and marine invertebrates, 200,000 semi-purified fractions and 3,250 pure compounds.
Professor Quinn said the Septem Soken research is the first time Nature Bank has been investigated as a source of products other than pharmaceuticals.
Company researcher Akihiro Aioi has spent the past two years conducting tests on samples within Nature Bank to see which of the natural compounds might be of interest for new products.
“Septem Soken is looking to create products from Queensland plants that have a variety of beneficial effects, including sunscreens and wound healing amongst others,” Dr Aioi said.