Nonclinical evaluation of a Vitis vinifera extract towards a novel antiaging cosmetic ingredient

Abstract

BackgroundSkin aging is regulated by multiple physiological processes, such as oxidative stress. Natural products have been considered as a promising source of antioxidant compounds. As a result, few innovative products on the market based on natural products tackle additional underlying mechanisms of skin aging.AimsThe present work reports the nonclinical evaluation of a novel extract from the skin of V. vinifera fruits (codified as ACH37 extract), with the aim of supporting its use as an antiaging cosmetic ingredient candidate in clinical trials.MethodsWe employed enzymatic, phenotypic, and gene expression assays, both in vitro and ex vivo, to investigate the action of the ACH37 extract in different biological processes that could be related to skin aging mechanisms.ResultsThe ACH37 extract was able to scavenge reactive oxygen species (DPPH, O2−), prevent inflammation (LPS‐ and UV‐induced COX‐2, IL‐1β, and IL‐8 expression), modulate extracellular matrix remodeling (inhibiting elastase, MMP‐1, MMP‐3, and MMP‐12, as well as associated expression), increase telomere length, telomerase activity, and reverse the UV‐induced suppression of genes involved in skin protection. In addition, the ACH37 extract permeated human skin explants and presented antioxidant efficacy ex vivo.ConclusionThe results indicated that the ACH37 extract acts on multiple targets commonly related to skin aging, being a promising antiaging active ingredient candidate to be further investigated in clinical trials.