Herbs And Botanicals Extracts In Anti-Aging Cream -

Hibiscus Extract

Hibiscus Extract contains mucilage polysaccharides and pectins, organic acids (hibiscus, ascorbic (vitamin C), citric, malic and tartaric acids). Hibiscus is high in Vitamin C and contain many of the same beneficial antioxidant compounds found in red wine (used to make resveratrol) including flavonoids, polyphenols and anthocyanins.

It is used for various allergic eczemas and other skin conditions. It has anti-aging possibilities due to the I-hydroxy-acids, anthocyanocides and mucilages contained, as the I-hydroxy-acids act on the horny layer of the skin, to reduce the cohesion between the corneocytes, which affects the thickness of the layer and increases skin moisture. This improves skin flexibility and elasticity, as well as creates higher moisture levels in the skin. The anthocyanocides again have astringent, anti-inflammatory, and free radical scavenging, as well as enzyme inhibition properties – and is especially useful to inhibit elastase and hyaluronidase. Finally, the high mucilage content enhances the retention of the skin’s hydric content. This makes the herb useful against the effects of aging, due to the power of the I-hydroxy-acids, together with the moisturizing ability of the mucilages in combination with the astringent, anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenger properties of the anthocyanocides.

Clinical study results showed that it had strong antioxidant activity and that such an activity was closely related to the polyphenolic substances contents in the extract. The antioxidant properties of Hibiscus was assessed and compared with those of BHA and b-carotene. The results showed that the Hibiscus extract had stronger antioxidant activity than BHA and b-carotene.