Resveratrol: A Unique Antioxidant Offering a
Multi-Mechanistic Approach for Treating Aging
Skin

Results are encouraging

Resveratrol is an important polyphenol with numerous known health benefits. Working through multiple pathways this powerful antioxidant can improve the function of multiple organ systems including the skin. Resveratrol holds great promise as a topical ingredient for treating skin as it can both prevent and improve the clinical signs of aging. Many of its scientifically proven properties show great potential to facilitate the aesthetic problems of skin ageing. However, further innovation is required to overcome the challenges of effectively delivering resveratrol into the skin to transform this omnipotent extract into a proven therapeutic product.

Anaysis and further testing

Furthermore, the physico-chemical properties of resveratrol have restricted its use in topical formulations. One particular challenge is the stilbene’s relatively low water solubility, estimated at around 0.05 mg/mL.56 This property prevents the incorporation of high concentrations of pure resveratrol into topical products. This is supported by the fact that the leading topical resveratrol products often contain less than 1% of pure resveratrol in the final formulation. Various solvents are often employed to increase the hydro-solubility of solid ingredients. However, solubilizing agents may potentially introduce unknown and unwanted side effects. Furthermore, resveratrol’s protonation state is integral to understanding the complexity of its biological role. Studies have established that the transport of resveratrol to the skin is limited by the type of vehicle used in the formulation.57 Proper formulation parameters are essential since the ingredient is required to both escape from its vehicle and penetrate the initial barrier to exert biological action in the skin. Overcoming these impediments is an area of ongoing resveratrol research that is essential for the development of effective topical formulations.

A positive result

Resveratrol is a botanical antioxidant with diverse biologic effects. In this paper we will review the unique antioxidant activity of resveratrol including its effects on mitochondrial function. The molecular signaling of resveratrol and cellular mechanisms that make this botanical active an important anti-aging ingredient for topical application will be discussed.