Indian women have a reason to smile as scientists have developed a special variety of chilli whose natural colour will be used to manufacture lipsticks and other cosmetics.
A team of scientists of Varanasi's Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR) have developed a special type of chilli, after five years of experiment, whose natural colour can be used in manufacturing lipstick and other cosmetic, team leader Rajesh Kumar told PTI.
The new chilli is named 'IVPBC 535' or 'Paprika'. Moreover, it doesn't taste bitter and is not harmful for the skin. The chilli can be grown in different colours — red, yellow brown and orange.
At present synthetic colour is prevalently used in lipsticks, he said.
European countries, including Hungry and the US have successfully experimented with use of natural colour of the crop in preparation of lipstick and other cosmetic items, Kumar said.
A California-based company Estee Lauder is currently manufacturing lipsticks using chilli colour with the brand name 'Clinique Long Last Paprika'.
The chilli's natural colour could also be used in manufacturing medicines and food like cakes and sauces, he said.
IIVR, a constituent institution working under the aegis of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), will soon send a detailed report to the Union Agriculture ministry on the newly developed chilli for its notification, Kumar added.