The skin barrier is essential for maintaining epidermal homeostasis and preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This study investigated the ability of a Hyssopus officinalis cell culture hydroethanolic extract to support epidermal barrier function by modulating ceramide-related enzymes and structural proteins. Hydroethanolic extracts from cell cultures grown under light and dark conditions were characterized by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Dark-grown cultures accumulated higher levels of rosmarinic acid, hydroxytyrosol glycosides, and polymethoxyflavones than light-grown cultures and intact plants. In keratinocytes, the extract from dark-grown cells (HoEx) at 0.002% w/v exhibited significant antioxidant activity (20% ROS reduction) and increased β-glucocerebrosidase (GBA) activity (25%) as well as the expression of β-glucocerebrosidase (44%), serine palmitoyltransferase (34%), involucrin (17%), and filaggrin (44%) compared with control. In human skin explants, 0.5% w/w HoEx increased ceramide content (36%) and total epidermal lipid levels (99%) relative to control. In a clinical study involving 10 volunteers with mechanically stressed skin, 0.5% w/w HoEx increased GBA activity by 30% and reduced TEWL by 15%, whereas placebo treatment led to a 55% decrease in GBA activity and a 25% increase in TEWL. Collectively, these findings indicate that HoEx modulates multiple epidermal pathways involved in lipid processing and differentiation under in vitro, ex vivo, and stressed in vivo conditions. While the study was not designed to establish mechanistic causality, the coordinated modulation of ceramide-related enzymes, structural proteins, and TEWL suggests that HoEx may support epidermal barrier function within the limits of the tested models. HoEx therefore represents a standardized source of bioactive compounds with potential relevance for dermocosmetic applications.

Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) has been traditionally used in East Asian medicine for its immunomodulatory and skin-health benefits. Among its bioactive constituents, ergosterol— a provitamin D₂ precursor— plays an important role in maintaining skin homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the ability of an oil-soluble extract from Lentinula edodes (SMosE) to modulate vitamin D receptor (VDR)–dependent transcription and influence key biological processes involved in skin barrier integrity, hydration, wound repair, and sebum regulation, supporting its relevance for dermatological applications. SMosE was obtained through lipophilic extraction and standardized for ergosterol content (302.9 ± 74.7 mg/kg). Its activity was first evaluated in human keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, where SMosE 0.06% w/v significantly increased VDR-dependent transcription, promoted wound closure and repair, and modulated the expression of markers associated with epidermal differentiation, barrier function, and sebaceous activity. These molecular effects were further supported by ex vivo human skin explant experiments, which showed significant increases in both cytokeratin 10 and claudin-1 levels, consistent with enhanced epidermal maturation and improved tight junction integrity. The functional relevance of these findings was subsequently assessed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial involving 39 adults with oily and acne-prone skin. After 28 days of topical application, SMosE 0.06% w/v produced greater improvements than placebo in transepidermal water loss, skin hydration, sebum levels, and pore appearance. Overall, this integrated preclinical and clinical investigation suggests that a Lentinula edodes–derived extract can modulate vitamin D–related pathways in vitro and ex vivo and may translate these activities into measurable improvements in skin barrier function, hydration, and superficial lipid regulation in vivo. SMosE thus emerges as a novel ethnobotanical strategy with strong potential as a functional ingredient in dermatology and cosmetic applications for skin repair and resilience.

Human galectin-3 (Gal-3), a β-galactoside binding lectin through its Carbohydrate Recognition Domain (CRD), is implicated in a wide range of cellular functions and is involved in critical biological processes including pathogen recognition, immune response, inflammation and fibrosis. Recently, Gal-3 has gained increasing attention for its role in pathological conditions such as cancer, where it influences cancer growth and progression, inflammatory processes and oxidative stress, opening the search for potential inhibitors. In this context, several naturally derived molecules have attracted particular interest, some of them being used in clinical trials. Here, we used the seeds of the legume Phaseolus coccineus as a green resource for bioactive compounds. The peptide-rich crude extracts were chemically characterized for their peptide and polyphenol contents, as well as their in vitro antioxidant activity, and the powerful obtained extract was tested for biological activities such as cytotoxicity and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on cellular models. Furthermore, the interaction between the crude extract and the CRD of recombinant Gal-3 was verified with the aim of associating its biological effects with the inhibition of Gal-3 activity.

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine principles and natural bioactive compounds to combat age-related ailments and enhance longevity. A Cordyceps sinensis mycelium hydroethanolic extract (CsEx), which was standardized in cordycepin and adenosine using UHPLC-DAD, was investigated for its adaptogenic properties using in vitro assays and a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 40 subjects. The CsEx demonstrated activity at a concentration of 0.0006%, significantly increasing sirtuin expression (SirT1: +33%, SirT3: +10%, SirT6: +72%, vs. CTR, p < 0.05) and NAD+ synthesis in HaCat cells (+20% vs. CTR, p < 0.001). Moreover, the CsEx boosted ATP production by 68% in skin cells, correlating with higher skin energy values (+52.0% at D28, p < 0.01) in the clinical trial. Additionally, CsEx notably reduced cytosolic reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 30% in HaCaT cells (p < 0.05) and enhanced collagen production both in vitro (+69% vs. CTR, p < 0.01) and in vivo (+10% vs. D0, p < 0.01), confirmed by ultrasound examination. Furthermore, CsEx’s stimulation of fibroblasts, coupled with its antioxidant and energizing properties, led to a significant reduction in wrinkles by 28.0% (D28, p < 0.001). This study underscores Cordyceps sinensis hydroethanolic extract’s potential in regulating skin cell energy metabolism and positively influencing the mechanisms associated with skin longevity control.

Piezo1 and Piezo2 are mechanoreceptors involved in sensing both internal and external mechanical forces converting them in electrical signals to the brain.Piezo1 is mainly expressed in the endothelial system and in epidermis sensing shear stress and light touch. The internal traction forces generated by Myosin Light Chain Kinase (MYLK) activate Piezo1, regulating cell contraction.We observed Oenothera biennis cell culture hydro-soluble extract (ObHEx) activated MYLK regulating cell contraction ability. The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that ObHEx activates Piezo1 through MYLK pathway using CHO cell overexpressing Piezo1, HUVEC and SHSY5Y cells endogenously expressing high levels of Piezo1. Results showed that ObHEx extracts were able to activate Piezo1 and the effect is due to Liriodendrin and Salvadoraside, the two most abundant lignans produced by the cell culture. The effect is lost in presence of MYLK specific inhibitors confirming the key role of this pathway and providing indication about the mechanism of action in Piezo1 activation by lignans.In summary, these results confirmed the connection between Piezo1 and MYLK, opening the possibility of using lignans-containing natural extracts to activate Piezo1.

Oxidative stress plays a major role in the skin aging process through the reactive oxygen species production and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation. Antioxidant ingredients are therefore needed in the skin care market and the use of molecules coming from plant cell cultures provide a unique opportunity. In this paper, the features of an hydroethanolic extract obtained by Jasminum sambac cells (JasHEx) were explored. The antioxidant and anti-AGE properties were investigated by a multidisciplinary approach combining mass spectrometric and bio-informatic in vitro and ex vivo experiments. JasHEx contains phenolic acid derivatives, lignans and triterpenes and it was found to reduce cytosolic reactive oxygen species production in keratinocytes exposed to exogenous stress. It also showed the ability to reduce AGE formation and to increase the collagen type I production in extracellular matrix. Data demonstrated that JasHEx antioxidant properties were related to its free radical scavenging and metal chelating activities and to the activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway. This can well explain JasHEx anti-inflammatory activity related to the decrease in NO levels in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Thus, JasHEx can be considered a powerful antioxidant booster against oxidative stress-induced skin aging.

Psychological stress activates catecholamine production, determines oxidation processes, and alters the lipid barrier functions in the skin. Scientific evidence associated with the detoxifying effect of fruits and vegetables, the growing awareness of the long-term issues related to the use of chemical-filled cosmetics, the aging of the population, and the increase in living standards are the factors responsible for the growth of food-derived ingredients in the cosmetics market. A Ficus carica cell suspension culture extract (FcHEx) was tested in vitro (on keratinocytes cells) and in vivo to evaluate its ability to manage the stress-hormone-induced damage in skin. The FcHEx reduced the epinephrine (−43% and −24% at the concentrations of 0.002% and 0.006%, respectively), interleukin 6 (−38% and −36% at the concentrations of 0.002% and 0.006%, respectively), lipid peroxide (−25%), and protein carbonylation (−50%) productions; FcHEx also induced ceramide synthesis (+150%) and ameliorated the lipid barrier performance. The in vivo experiments confirmed the in vitro test results. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL; −12.2%), sebum flow (−46.6% after two weeks and −73.8% after four weeks; on the forehead −56.4% after two weeks and −80.1% after four weeks), and skin lightness (+1.9% after two weeks and +2.7% after four weeks) defined the extract’s effects on the skin barrier. The extract of the Ficus carica cell suspension cultures reduced the transepidermal water loss, the sebum production, the desquamation, and facial skin turning to a pale color from acute stress, suggesting its role as an ingredient to fight the signs of psychological stress in the skin.

Skin aging is a very well-known process setting a gradual worsening of skin mechanical features due to a decline in the production of the extra-cellular matrix machinery and to a concurrent change in the contraction process. To slow this progression, it is crucial to induce the expression of several proteins able to promote elastic fibers formation and tissue repair. Here, the Oenothera biennis cell culture aqueous extract has been investigated from a chemical point of view and then it was tested in vitro, in cell, and in ex vivo experiments as adjuvant in counteracting skin aging. Accordingly, it has been shown that the Oenothera biennis extract was able, by increasing MYLK gene expression, to promote matrix collagen contraction, actin polymerization, and the production of essential ECM proteins.

Facial pore enlargement is considered a significant esthetic and health concern in skincare cosmetics. The pores fulfill the critical function of keeping the skin surface hydrated and protected against microbial infections. The hyperseborrhea, the stress factors, and the hormonal triggers can cause pore size enlargement, causing higher susceptibility of the skin to microbe aggressions and inflammatory reactions. Thus, reducing excessive sebum production and keeping functional pores are two of the most requested activities in skincare cosmetics. A Cirsium eriophorum cell culture extract was investigated for its role in sebum regulation, stratum corneum desquamation, and anti‐inflammation. The extract was able to regulate essential markers associated with sebum secretion and pore enlargements, such as the enzyme 5α‐reductase, which plays a central role in sebum production, and the trypsin‐like serine protease Kallikrein 5, which promotes skin exfoliation and antimicrobial response. Moreover, the extract showed a sebum‐normalizing and pore refining activity in individuals having seborrheic or acne‐prone skins, suggesting a role of the C. eriophorum extract in rebalancing altered skin conditions responsible for pore enlargement.

Plant extracts are rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, sesquiterpenes, and triterpenes, which potentially have antiviral activities. As a consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, thousands of scientists have been working tirelessly trying to understand the biology of this new virus and the disease pathophysiology, with the main goal of discovering effective preventive treatments and therapeutic agents. Plant-derived secondary metabolites may play key roles in preventing and counteracting the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections by inhibiting the activity of several viral proteins, in particular those involved in the virus entry into the host cells and its replication. Using in vitro approaches, we investigated the role of a pomegranate peel extract (PPE) in attenuating the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein and the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, and on the activity of the virus 3CL protease. Although further studies will be determinant to assess the efficacy of this extract in vivo, our results opened new promising opportunities to employ natural extracts for the development of effective and innovative therapies in the fight against SARS-CoV-2.

Annalisa Tito 1 Massimiliano Minale Salvatore Riccio 2 Fabrizia Grieco 2 Maria Gabriella Colucci Fabio Apone 1Arterra Bioscience Srl, Naples, 80142, Italy; 2Farmaceutici Damor S.p.A., Naples 80145, Italy; 3VitaLab Srl, Naples, 80142, Italy Introduction: Chronic skin lesions represent a problem of increasing occurrence, mostly due to the global ageing of the world population. Research in skin care and dermatology is constantly looking for new non-invasive solutions, preferably those based on the use of natural certified products, able to accelerate the spontaneous skin repair mechanisms and without altering the skin normal appearance and functionality. The wound healing process in the skin is finely regulated by several factors and orchestrated mechanisms, which modulate the progression and the fitting of different consequent phases, including haemostasis, inflammation, cell proliferation and tissue remodelling. It was previously shown that a patented Triticum vulgare aqueous extract was able to trigger the skin repair process by stimulating new tissue growth and reducing the expression levels of inflammatory mediators, such as IL6, TNFα, prostaglandin E2, and nitric oxide. Methods: Scratch assay was performed in Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDF). The production of fibronectin was measured by gene expression, protein quantification and localization using specific antibodies in HDF. The polymerization of actin was measured using rhodaminphalloidin in HDF. The epidermal lipid content was estimated in HaCaT (human spontaneously immortalized keratinocytes) using Nile Red staining and the increasing GBA gene expression and activity was demonstrated by RT-PCR and enzymatic activity assay. Results: In the present study, it was demonstrated that the T. vulgare extract enhanced cell migration inducing the synthesis of fibronectin, new actin polymerization and stimulating the expression of the Hyaluronan Synthase 2. Furthermore it improved the restoration of the epidermal barrier stimulating lipid synthesis. Conclusion: In conclusion, we demonstrated that the T. vulgare extract possessed promising potential to be developed as a wound healing promoting agent in skin care and dermatology.

Introduction: Chronic skin lesions represent a problem of increasing occurrence, mostly due to the global ageing of the world population. Research in skin care and dermatology is constantly looking for new non-invasive solutions, preferably those based on the use of natural certified products, able to accelerate the spontaneous skin repair mechanisms and without altering the skin normal appearance and functionality. The wound healing process in the skin is finely regulated by several factors and orchestrated mechanisms, which modulate the progression and the fitting of different consequent phases, including haemostasis, inflammation, cell proliferation and tissue remodelling. It was previously shown that a patented Triticum vulgare aqueous extract was able to trigger the skin repair process by stimulating new tissue growth and reducing the expression levels of inflammatory mediators, such as IL-6, TNF alpha, prostaglandin E2, and nitric oxide. Methods: Scratch assay was performed in Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDF). The production of fibronectin was measured by gene expression, protein quantification and localization using specific antibodies in HDF. The polymerization of actin was measured using rhodaminphalloidin in HDF. The epidermal lipid content was estimated in HaCaT (human spontaneously immortalized keratinocytes) using Nile Red staining and the increasing GBA gene expression and activity was demonstrated by RT-PCR and enzymatic activity assay. Results: In the present study, it was demonstrated that the T. vulgare extract enhanced cell migration inducing the synthesis of fibronectin, new actin polymerization and stimulating the expression of the Hyaluronan Synthase 2. Furthermore it improved the restoration of the epidermal barrier stimulating lipid synthesis. Conclusion: In conclusion, we demonstrated that the T. vulgare extract possessed promising potential to be developed as a wound healing promoting agent in skin care and dermatology.

In order to support their sessile lifestyle, plants evolved sophisticated defence mechanisms that result in the synthesis of a vast spectrum of chemical compounds. Plants have been the main source of natural ingredients for human use since ancient times and nowadays, with the development of plant tissue culture techniques, remarkable progresses towards the production of bioactive compounds on an industrial scale have been achieved, as plant tissue cultures represent standardized, contaminant-free, and bio-sustainable systems. In cosmetics, particularly as skin care applications, plant tissue cultures represent a valuable and promising source of active ingredients with a wide range of biological activities. While plant cells, grown as undifferentiated suspension cultures, could be a valuable source of active molecules which are normally synthesized in low amounts in differentiated tissues, hairy roots or somatic embryo cultures, due to their more specialized nature, synthetize compounds that can address more specific functions in skin care; although widespread in the pharmaceutical industry, plant tissue culture technology is not yet very common in the cosmetic field. The aim of the present article is to focus on the successful research accomplishments in the development of plant tissue cultures-derived active ingredients for cosmetic applications.

An overproduction of free radicals or reactive oxygen species, often due to environmental factors, can alter the DNA structure and irreversibly modify proteins and lipids in the living cells. The superoxide anion (O2-) is one of the strongest oxidant molecules produced under oxidative stress conditions but it can be neutralized by the action of the enzymes SuperOxide Dismutases (SODs). In all the human tissues, SODs are essential for the prevention of serious diseases and the protection against oxidative stress damages. In the dermo-cosmetic sector, SODs have found promising applications, but their use is limited due to the loss of activity following the addition of the enzyme in the skin care formulas and the exposure of the skin to UV radiations and heat. Extremophile organisms, which proliferate in extreme physical and/or geochemical conditions, represent a potential source of stable SOD enzymes, able to function even in harsh conditions of high temperature, acid pH and long UV exposures. In the present study we investigated on a Mn-SOD deriving from the extremophilic bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans and, after its expression in E.coli, the Mn-SOD was characterized in terms of chemical and physical properties. Its extraordinary features in terms of UV resistance prompted us to investigate further about its potential applications in the dermo-cosmetic sector. It was expressed in Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) cell cultures with the main goal of developing a new ingredient, capable of keeping its ROS neutralizing activity once exposed to UV radiations and even when added to skin care formulas.

Ageing is a complex and progressive phenomenon, during which the accumulation of morphological and chemical changes seriously compromises the capacity of the cells to proliferate and fulfil their biological tasks. The increase in the average age of the world population, associated with a higher occurrence of age-related diseases, is prompting scientific research to look for new strategies and molecular targets that may help in alleviating age-related phenotypes. Growth factors, responsible for modulating several aging markers in many tissues and organs, represent valuable targets to fight age-associated dysfunctions. The growth differentiation factor GDF11, a TGF-β family member, has been associated with the maintenance of youth phenotypes in different human tissues and organs, and in the skin has been related to an inhibition of the inflammatory response. We investigated the role of GDF11 in skin dermal fibroblasts, and we observed that its expression and activity were reduced in fibroblasts deriving from adult donors compared to neonatal ones. The main effect of GDF11 was the induction of collagen I and III, in both neonatal and adult fibroblasts, by triggering Smad signalling in a TGF-β-like fashion. Moreover, by analysing a number of plant extracts having GDF11 inducing activity, we found that a peptide/sugar preparation, obtained from Lotus japonicus somatic embryo cultures, was capable of restoring GDF11 expression in older fibroblasts and to activate the synthesis of collagen I, collagen III and periostin, an important protein involved in collagen assembly.

Higher plants are the source of a wide array of bioactive compounds that support skin integrity and health. Hibiscus syriacus, family Malvaceae, is a plant of Chinese origin known for its antipyretic, anthelmintic, and antifungal properties. The aim of this study was to assess the healing and hydration properties of H. syriacus ethanolic extract (HSEE). We established a cell culture from Hibiscus syriacus leaves and obtained an ethanol soluble extract from cultured cells. The properties of the extract were tested by gene expression and functional analyses on human fibroblast, keratinocytes, and skin explants. HSEE treatment increased the healing potential of fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Specifically, HSEE significantly stimulated fibronectin and collagen synthesis by 16 and 60%, respectively, while fibroblasts contractility was enhanced by 30%. These results were confirmed on skin explants, where HSEE accelerated the wound healing activity in terms of epithelium formation and fibronectin production. Moreover, HSEE increased the expression of genes involved in skin hydration and homeostasis. Specifically, aquaporin 3 and filaggrin genes were enhanced by 20 and 58%, respectively. Our data show that HSEE contains compounds capable of stimulating expression of biomarkers relevant to skin regeneration and hydration thereby counteracting molecular pathways leading to skin damage and aging.

In the present study, by-products from chestnut peeling processing were used for the production of active ingredients. A blend of inner and outer chestnut shells (IOCS), and inner chestnut shells (ICS) were extracted through an eco-friendly method. IOCS extract contained the highest amount of phenolic molecules (205.99 +/- 13.10 mg of Gallic Acid Equivalents/g of dry extract), and gallic acid was the most abundant compound among those identified by HPLC (63.51 +/- 1.32 mg/g of dry extract). Condensed tannins represented the main phenolic fraction, accounting for 78.88% and 59.14% of the total phenolic compounds in IOCS and ICS extracts, respectively. Both extracts decreased the production of oxidized lipids in HaCaT keratinocytes after H2O2 exposure. They showed protecting activity against inflammation as well, because the production of NO and iNOS, selected as inflammatory markers, was attenuated. IOCS extract (0.002%) showed greater activity with a reduction of 58% of NO and 43% of iNOS levels. The extracts also exhibited hydration capacity and protection against collagen degradation in HaCaT keratinocytes. All the results suggest that chestnut shell extracts can be potential active ingredients for cosmetic formulations devoted to the skin protection.

BackgroundSkin whitening products, used for ages by Asian people for cultural and esthetic purposes, are very popular nowadays in Western countries as well, where the need to inhibit skin spots after sun exposure has become not only a cosmetic but also a health-related issue. Thus, the development of effective and safe depigmenting agents derived from natural products gets continuous attention by cosmetic brands and consumers. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of two preparations, obtained from the hairy root cultures of the species Brassica rapa, on melanogenesis and the expression of the extracellular matrix proteins involved in a correct pigment distribution. MethodsThe two preparations, obtained by water-ethanol extraction and by digestion of cell-wall glycoproteins of the root cells, were chemically characterized and tested on skin cell cultures and on human skin explants to investigate on their dermatological activities. ResultsBoth the extracts were able to decrease melanin synthesis pathway in melanocytes and modulate the expression of genes involved in melanin distribution. One of the extracts was also effective in inducing the expression of laminin-5 and collagen IV, involved into the maintenance of tissue integrity. The two extracts, when tested together on human skin explants, demonstrated a good synergic hypopigmenting activity. ConclusionsTaken together, the results indicate that the extracts from B. rapa root cultures can be employed as cosmetic active ingredients in skin whitening products and as potential therapeutic agents for treating pigmentation disorders.

The sebum has important protective functions for the skin, although its overproduction may lead to undesired aesthetic problems and even more serious skin diseases. Sebum overproduction is caused by the androgen hormone testosterone, which is regulated by the enzyme 5-α Reductase, and can be associated with an over-proliferation of parasitic microbes that cause serious infections linked to skin inflammatory reactions. From the extremophile microalga Galdieria sulphuraria, we obtained a water-soluble extract and we found that it was capable of inhibiting the enzyme 5-α Reductase, inducing the expression of the β-defensins, which represents the first defense response mechanism triggered by the skin cells to fight against undesired microbes, and stimulating the wound healing process in skin cell cultures. The microalga extract was finally employed in clinical tests on human volunteers and it was confirmed its capacity to regulate sebum production. The results suggested that the Galdieria extract had interesting potentialities as active ingredient in cosmetic and dermatological formulas, in particular in those addressed to oily and seborrheic skins.

OBJECTIVE:Raspberry plants, belonging to the species of Rubus idaeus, are known for their excellent therapeutic properties as they are particularly rich in compounds with strong antioxidant activity, which promote health and well-being of human cells. Besides their high content of phenolic compounds, Rubus plants are rich in oil-soluble compounds, which are also primary components of the hydrolipidic film barrier of the skin. As plant cell cultures represented a valuable system to produce interesting compounds and ingredients for cosmetic applications, we developed liquid suspension cultures from Rubus idaeus leaves and used them to obtain an active ingredient aimed at improving hydration and moisturization capacity in the skin.METHODS:Rubus idaeus cells, grown in the laboratory under sterile and controlled conditions as liquid suspension cultures, were processed to obtain an oil-soluble (liposoluble) extract, containing phenolic compounds and a wide range of fatty acids. The extract was tested on cultured keratinocytes and fibroblasts and then on the skin in vivo, to assess its cosmetic activities.RESULTS:When tested on skin cell cultures, the extract induced the genes responsible for skin hydration, such as aquaporin 3, filaggrin, involucrin and hyaluronic acid synthase, and stimulated the expression and the activity of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase, involved in ceramide production. Moreover, the liposoluble extract increased the synthesis of the extracellular matrix components in cultured fibroblasts and showed a remarkable skin-hydrating capacity when tested on human skin in vivo.CONCLUSIONS:Thanks to these activities, the Rubus idaeus liposoluble extract has several potential applications in skin care cosmetics: it can be used as hydrating and moisturizing ingredient in face and body lotions, and as anti-ageing product in face creams specifically designed to fight wrinkle formation.