These active ingredients are being developed from polysaccharids and glycoproteins of plants and fungi, which have many beneficial functions including the development of new collagen and the promotion of natural biological processes for skin renewal and repair.
The researchers say the experiments are showing strong potential in the development of cosmetic anti-ageing creams.
Fighting ageing effects
Their data is based on laboratory tests performed on fungi and plants in vitro, which allowed them to detect the organisms which exhibited anti-microbial and anti-oxidative effects on human skin cell cultures.
The team are also interested in developing methods of suppressing inflammation by “stimulating the production of collagen, elastin, and other important skin tissue protein synthesis and promote cell division.”
The anti-ageing creams that have since been developed from the research, are currently being tested on volunteers, with the experiments being monitored by dermatologist.
Funding
Most of funding for the project came from the EU, with 92.5% provided by the European Regional Development Fund.
The results of the project have so far been presented at ‘multiple’ international conferences, as well as being cited in six international scientific articles.
The 16-researcher team intends to spend 36 months on the project, which is named “Preventive skin rejuvenation enhancing polysaccharides and glycoproteins preparations extraction from plants and fungi, the use of care and cosmetic formulation development."
Anti-ageing market
Anti-ageing is becoming a particular concern amongst cosmetics users, particularly in emerging markets such as Korea and China.
The hair care market is also becoming a more popular area for anti-ageing products, with the US cosmetics market in particular predicted to be driven by innovation in this field.
More natural methods, including dietary supplements and health foods such as blueberries and nuts, are also becoming highly popular in these markets, as well as Western ones.