Kakadu Plum

Kakadu Plum is a native Australian superfruit with one of the highest vitamin C concentrations ever recorded in a plant — here’s the compositional science behind it, and an honest note on what hasn’t been directly tested.

Description

What is it?

Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) is a native Australian fruit, traditionally used by Indigenous Australian communities and now valued in skincare for its exceptionally high natural vitamin C and antioxidant content.

What does it actually do?

Kakadu Plum contains some of the highest vitamin C and antioxidant levels ever measured in a plant. According to PubMed, a phytochemical analysis of 45 accessions of Kakadu Plum (Konczak I, Maillot F, Dalar A. “Phytochemical divergence in 45 accessions of Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum).” Food Chemistry, 2013) measured vitamin C levels up to 322.2 mg/g dry weight alongside high levels of phenolic compounds and strong antioxidant capacity (FRAP and ORAC assays) — concentrations far higher than typical vitamin C-rich fruits like citrus. (DOI)
Kakadu Plum extracts show strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties relevant to cosmetic use. According to PubMed, a compositional study of Kakadu Plum’s hydrolysable tannins (Bobasa EM, Phan ADT, Netzel ME, Cozzolino D, Sultanbawa Y. “Hydrolysable tannins in Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell fruit powder and comparison of their functional properties from different solvent extracts.” Food Chemistry, 2021) found high antioxidant properties and strong antimicrobial effects, and explicitly notes the fruit’s “potential applications in food, cosmetic and nutraceutical industries.” (DOI)

Who is it good for?

Dull skin and uneven tone looking for an antioxidant boost — works well alongside Vitamin C for a stronger combined free-radical defense.

No real precautions.

How Mystic Dust uses it

Formulated in the live 10% Vitamin C Face Serum, alongside Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid and Blueberry Fruit Extract, and in the Face Cleanser.

Pairs well with

Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid — the other antioxidants it’s already formulated alongside in the Vitamin C Serum.

Use with caution alongside

Nothing specific — well tolerated alongside other antioxidants.

Research & Findings

According to PubMed: -

Konczak I, Maillot F, Dalar A. “Phytochemical divergence in 45 accessions of Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum).” Food Chemistry, 2013;151:248-56. DOI

Bobasa EM, Phan ADT, Netzel ME, Cozzolino D, Sultanbawa Y. “Hydrolysable tannins in Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell fruit powder and comparison of their functional properties from different solvent extracts.” Food Chemistry, 2021;358:129833. DOI