This is a story about the peony and how we have unveiled its beauty secret

Mitochondrial aging is one of the causative factors of cell aging. Mitochondria, responsible for generating the energy needed by the cell, age over time and become less effective, so cells also lose their function and start to age. This process also entails excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause significant damage.

According to the discoveries made by Yoshinori Ohsumi, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2016, autophagy mechanisms are responsible for discarding the worn out cellular material. When mitochondria are no longer functional, the cell has a system to degrade and recycle them selectively, mitophagy autophagy of mitochondria, which functions as a quality control.

These cell renewal systems deteriorate with age and so, over time, cells tend to accumulate mitochondria that do not function optimally.

If mitophagy is stimulated, the cell will slough off these dysfunctional mitochondria and be able to work at full capacity. For this reason, mitophagy, along with mitochondrial biogenesis (the process where new mitochondria are created), is considered one of the most powerful ways to rejuvenate cells.

Detoskin is a  combination of trehalose and paeoniflorin intended to  promote mitophagy and skin detoxification. Trehalose is a natural disaccharide derived from starch, in this case extracted from cassava, through a bioprocess accepted by COSMOS. Paeoniflorin is obtained from a root fraction of Paeonia lactiflora, ​the peony, queen of flowers. 

Peony is an emblem of health, beauty and femininity. Owing to its attractive, curvy appearance and its fragrance, it is one of the main flowers chosen to decorate gardens and a prime contender to form part of the bride's bouquet at wedding celebrations, as a symbol of lasting love.

In vitro​ studies have inked this combination to mitophagy activation, enhanced mitochondrial function, resilience to stress and, the improvement of structural components in the dermis.

The efficacy of Detoskin in vivo ​was assayed with a panel of 32 women, from 40 to 60 years of age, presenting facial signs of aging skin.

One of the consequences of mitochondria malfunctioning is an increase in the amount of ROS in the skin, which act as toxins, accelerating aging even further. Moreover, when ROS oxidize proteins and lipids, more toxins are produced.

Detoskin reduced the ROS in the skin by up to 64% on day 56.

Another consequence of aging is that the papillae of the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ) become flatter.

After 28 days, Detoskin increased the thickness of the epidermis and improved the area in dermal fibers in addition to achieving an increase in the area of the papillary formations, i.e., a reduction in DEJ flattening.

Energizing the cell by improving the mitochondrial pool shows results in all levels, and the outer appearance of the skin also improves, the anisotropy affected by aging is reduced and the skin shows a more uniform and smooth tone and enhanced elasticity.

Wrinkles also show an improvement when mitophagy is activated, and show the holistic anti-aging effect when the powerhouse of the cell works to its fullest potential. 

CONCLUSIONS​

Detoskin seeks to renew skin mitochondria, activating mitophagy so that cells recover all their energy, which becomes visually evident in fewer signs of aging such as wrinkles, roughness and tone heterogeneity.