Marula, a natural anti-aging agent, found to maintain healthy collagen levels

Researchers in South Africa have established that the natural anti-aging plant called marula (Sclerocarya birrea [A. Rich.] Hochst) has the ability to maintain collagen and elastase. The study, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, investigated the anti-aging properties of marula extracts.

• The researchers collected the extracts of marula from its stems, leaves, and fruits. They used acetone, ethanol, and methanol to create different marula extract concentrations. Marula oil, which is used in cosmetics, was also assessed in the study.
• They used pure standards to determine the main compounds in the marula extracts and screened them for their anti-elastase and anti-collagenase activities.
• Results revealed that the extracts from marula stems were the most active, exhibiting powerful anti-elastase and anti-collagenase activities. The leaf extract showed moderate anti-elastase activity, while marula fruit extract and oil had limited anti-elastase and anti-collagenase activities.
• Among the different concentrations of extracts (acetone, ethanol, and methanol), the ethanolic extract of marula stems was the most suitable for the skin due to its acceptability to be used for skincare and its anti-collagenase activity.
• Defatting and concentration enhanced its anti-aging activity and reduced the intensity of color.
• Pure standards confirmed that the ethanolic extract of marula stems contains four main compounds, such as quinic acid, catechin, epigallocatechin gallate, and epicatechin gallate.
• Epigallocatechin gallate and epicatechin gallate contribute to the anti-aging activity of marula stem ethanol extract.

Based on the findings, the researchers concluded that the ethanolic marula stem extract can be used as an anti-aging ingredient.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

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Journal Reference:

Shoko T, Maharaj VJ, Naidoo D, Tselanyane M, Nthambeleni R, Khorombi E, Apostolides Z. ANTI-AGING POTENTIAL OF EXTRACTS FROM SCLEROCARYA BIRREA (A. RICH.) HOCHST AND ITS CHEMICAL PROFILING BY UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018; 18(54). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2112-1