Skin Ageing : Natural Weapons and Strategies

• Published in: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine Vol. 2013; no. 2013; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Binic, Ivana, Lazarevic, Viktor, Ljubenovic, Milanka, Mojsa, Jelena, Sokolovic, Dusan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Puplishing Corporation 01.01.2013; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Acids; Aging; Aging (natural); Antioxidants; Biochemistry; Collagen; Cosmetics; Dermatitis; Elasticity; Free radicals; Fruits; Hair; Historic artifacts; Melanoma; Metabolism; Plant extracts; Plant protection; Polyphenols; Review; Science; Signal transduction; Skin; Tightness; Ultraviolet radiation
• ISSN: 1741-427X; 1741-4288
• DOI: 10.1155/2013/827248

The fact that the skin is the most visible organ makes us aware of the ageing process every minute. The use of plant extracts and herbs has its origins in ancient times. Chronological and photo-ageing can be easily distinguished clinically, but they share important molecular features. We tried to gather the most interesting evidence based on facts about plants and plant extracts used in antiaging products. Our main idea was to emphasize action mechanisms of these plant/herbal products, that is, their “strategies” in fighting skin ageing. Some of the plant extracts have the ability to scavenge free radicals, to protect the skin matrix through the inhibition of enzymatic degradation, or to promote collagen synthesis in the skin. There are some plants that can affect skin elasticity and tightness. Certainly, there is a place for herbal principles in antiaging cosmetics. On the other hand, there is a constant need for more evaluation and more clinical studies in vivo with emphasis on the ingredient concentration of the plant/herbal products, its formulation, safety, and duration of the antiaging effect.