IFF finds hairy rock rose extract reduces aging signs by curbing psychological stressors and inflammation
19 Jan 2023 --- A research team at International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) has found that Cistus incanus extract – also known as hairy rock rose – can block psychological stress by signaling and reducing neurogenic inflammation and signs of aging. To highlight, the treatment with the extract reduced skin wrinkling after 28 days in people with high-stress levels.
The relationship between anxiety, psychological stress and aging has been well documented according to the authors; however, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully understood.
To the best of their knowledge, the authors tout that the study is the first to show the direct, controlled, in vivo demonstration of the anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects of Cistus incanus extract.
“To the best of our knowledge, no work has been published regarding the effect of a Cistus incanus extract (or indeed, any other similar botanical extract) on the interruption of psychological stress signaling or neurogenic inflammation, especially via blockage of the CRH-R1 receptor,” they outline.
Blocking the stress pathway
As the body attempts to overcome perceived threats, it stimulates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and others. If these pathways are triggered regularly, it can result in chronic psychological stress, immune dysfunction and inflammation, including DNA damage, which contributes to the acceleration of aging skin and tissues.
Through randomized clinical trials and in vitro models, Cistus incanus extract was effective against the CRH-R1 receptors, showing that it can potentially block the stress response chain (decrease NF-kB levels).
The extract indicates that it suppresses CRH inflammatory activity and thus offers protection from the side effects of aging from psychological stress.
As a result, the extract indicates that it suppresses CRH inflammatory activity and thus offers protection from the side effects of aging from psychological stress.
Tested in person
These indications were confirmed in vivo in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in a population sample selected for high levels of psychological stress. The extract was able to inhibit the effects of CRH signaling and present some of the damage caused by psychological stress on the living skin.
Volunteers were recruited through a screening questionnaire and saliva cortisol measurements. The researchers observed “significant baseline anti-inflammatory effects” from the extract, including a significantly improved skin resilience to inflammation-inducing provocations.
This was measured by evaluating skin redness and microcirculation (after using the chemical irritant SLS, the recovery speed increased and irritation decreased). The anti-inflammatory effects were observed through microcirculation measurements and analysis of cross-polarized visible light photographs.
Studies have also found the extract contains flavonoid myricitrin, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects. The authors say that it is difficult to attribute all the anti-aging effects observed to the single blockage of CRH-R1 as the extract’s other effects on other biological mechanisms might also be in play.
Moreover, they indicate that their investigations have been limited to studying the extract’s effect on the skin, while other types of tissues can also be affected by neurogenic inflammation, which can be of scientific and industrial interest.
In other recent research, a Portugal-based study revealed that cyanobacteria strains showed antioxidant activity and contained photoprotective compounds and carotenoids, which have anti-aging and skin protective properties.
By Venya Patel
