Centella asiatica and Frankincense for Anti-aging Benefits

During In-Cosmetics 2012, Indena launched two new botanical ingredients for anti-aging skin care applications. Centevita (INCI: Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract) was designed to address "inflammaging" and glycation.This Ecocert-validated extract contains well-known tripetrenic fractions and a novel polyphenolic fraction from Centella asiatica leaves to closely mimic the content of the biologically active molecules in the plant.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (n = 20), the product was applied twice daily for six weeks in a cosmetic formulation at 0.5%, and improved skin elasticity by 29% (p = 0.001) as well as firmness by 17% (p = 0.003). Collagen density was also evaluated by siascope and increased in a statistically significant manner in 70% of test volunteers.

Bosexil (INCI: Lecithin (syn. Phosphatidylcholine) (and) Olibanum Extract (syn. Boswellia Serrata Resin Extract) (and) Microcrystalline Cellulose) is the highly bioavailable form of frankincense extract. It is characterized by containing boswellic acids, endowed with known anti-inflammatory properties. The resin is collected from small cuts made in the plant's bark without impacting its life cycle and is processed via the company's Phytosome technology to improve the bioavailability of boswellic acids.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (n = 40) of individuals affected by psoriasis or eczema showed a 20% reduction of visible erythema (p < 0.05) and a 29.2% reduction of scale formation (p  < 0.01) in the psoriasis group; and a 30.4% reduction of visible erythema (p < 0.05) and 31.8% itch reduction (p < 0.05) in the eczema group. Additional trials indicate the extract also counteracted photoaging due to DNA-protecting and anti-inflammatory properties.

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