Lactobacillus Pumpkin Ferment Extract
Also known as Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Cucurbita pepo Ferment Extract, fermented pumpkin extract
“No regulator has issued a verdict on this ingredient.”
LACTOBACILLUS/PUMPKIN FERMENT EXTRACT is produced by fermenting Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) peel and/or pulp with Lactobacillus species (strains reported in literature include L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, L. fermentum, and L. paracasei); the bacterial cells are removed after fermentation, yielding an extract of fermentation metabolites. CIR's June 2025 Tentative Report on Lactobacillus Ferment Ingredients explicitly covers only four standard-substrate ingredients (Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, and Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate Filtrate); the report itself notes that atypical fermentation substrates — such as pumpkin — produce distinct INCI-named ingredients outside that assessment's scope. Accordingly, LACTOBACILLUS/PUMPKIN FERMENT EXTRACT has no CIR safety verdict as of April 2026. Ziemlewska et al. (2025, PMID 41157100) evaluated Lactobacillus-fermented Cucurbita pepo peel and pulp extracts in a cosmetic context: ferments inhibited collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase; reduced reactive oxygen species in HaCaT keratinocytes and HDF fibroblasts; and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β. An irritation test showed the ingredient was barely more irritating than glycerin, including on sensitive eye tissue. A prototype skin toner was formulated and tested successfully. In vitro evidence supports anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties, though no long-term in vivo human safety data or formal regulatory toxicology package exists in the public literature.
Inhibits skin-degrading enzymes: collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase in vitro, supporting anti-aging claim
Reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HaCaT keratinocytes and HDF fibroblasts, supporting antioxidant protection
Decreases pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion (IL-6, IL-1β) in vitro, consistent with anti-inflammatory action
Cytoprotective effects on skin cell models
Irritation test showed comparable tolerability to glycerin, including on sensitive eye tissue
Skin conditioning — miscellaneous; reported as a mild enzymatic exfoliant alternative to AHAs at cosmetic use concentrations
Lactobacillus fermentation bioconverts pumpkin phytochemicals (carotenoids, phenolics) into potentially more bioavailable forms
- · No CIR safety assessment on file for this specific INCI as of April 2026 — the June 2025 CIR Lactobacillus Ferment Tentative Report explicitly excludes atypical-substrate ferments such as pumpkin
- · Ferment-derived complex mixture — exact composition, substrate preparation, and fermentation conditions vary by manufacturer; not fully characterized in public literature
- · No formal regulatory toxicology package (OECD acute/repeated-dose toxicity, sensitization battery) in the public literature for this specific ingredient
- · Clinical evidence limited to in vitro cell culture and prototype toner testing; no large-scale randomized controlled trial data available