Role of enzymes in anti-aging products? Which solvents extract the enzymes? When enzymes are denatured?
Article at a Glance
•Enzymes are cellular catalysts which perform a number of biochemical reactions inside the body. •Enzymes play a vital role in skincare and aging. •Enzymes are anti-free radical agents for maintaining the tone, texture, firmness, smoothness, and tightness of the skin. •Several scientific studies support that enzymes are essential for skincare and maintaining youthfulness. •Enzymes are highly sensitive to excessive heat and denaturation by organic solvents such as alcohol. •We at Anti-Aging Extracts use natural herbs which contain enzymes •We use water and glycerin for the extraction without excessive heat, maximizing the availability of value-added constituents like enzymes in our extracts. |
Enzymes in the human body are the catalysts (speed up reactions) at the cellular level to bring about the specific biochemical reaction. Enzymes control thousands of reactions in cells at any given moments. Enzymes are showing very remarkable benefits to the skin with particular reference to anti-aging preparations. Enzymes act as anti-free radical agents, preventing damage to the skin caused by environmental pollution, harmful microbes, smoke, sunlight, etc. Free radicals are the molecules which injure the cells and cause the inflammation, which will lead to lines and dullness on the skin.
One of the most abundant protective enzymes is superoxide dismutase, which works to protect the cell from free radicals. This enzyme, also in combination with catalase is responsible for protecting the proteins from aging due to oxidation. Proteolytic enzyme group breaks down proteins so that the skin can better absorb components of botanical extracts and promote cell growth, which makes the skin youthful. Lactoperoxidase enzymes in the skin preparation prevent the cosmetic formulations from bacterial attack. Certain enzymes are good chemical exfoliants, as they dissolve and remove dead cells from the skin surface, leaving it smooth, fresh, bright, and youthful.
Several scientific studies available which explain how the enzymes play an important role in skincare and aging.
- Scientists at Newcastle University discovered metabolic enzymes (Mitochondrial complex) found in skin cells play an important role in cell energy level, and the levels of that enzymes decline with age resulting in wrinkles.
- One study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, the scientists studied the enzyme in skin samples of 27 donors aged 6 to 72 years old. They found that the enzyme’s activity significantly reduced with age. Thus, due to the deficiency of these enzymes, skin loses its tone, texture, and smoothness.
- The study made by Birch-Machin states that certain enzymes contribute to making energy in the cells and when its activity is decreased, it leads to reduced bio-energy, which is found in aging skin.
- One study state that Vitamin C in the concentration between 5 and 15% was proven to have skin anti-aging effect by inducing the production of Collagenase-1 and 3, which is an important enzyme to produce collagen.
- Professor Birch-Machin said, “As our bodies age we see that the batteries in our cells run down, known as decreased bio-energy, an increase of harmful free radicals.
We at Anti-Aging Extracts use different botanical herbs which contains significant levels of enzymes that benefit anti-aging skincare products.
Enzymes are very sensitive bioactive compounds which are destroyed either by excessive heat (over 106° Fahrenheit, 40° Celsius) of extraction or by denaturation caused by certain organic solvents such as alcohol. We use a water and glycerin mixture as these solvents are entirely inert, non-toxic, non-irritant, and not harmful for the value-added constituents of our extracts.
We don’t use the tincture method of extraction, which employs excessive heat that which kills the vitally important enzymes for anti-aging products.
REFERENCES
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583892/
- https://www.techtimes.com/articles/136778/20160226/enzyme-discovery-could-lead-to-anti-aging-products-that-can-erase-wrinkles-altogether.htm
- https://www.pharmatutor.org/articles/enzyme-in-cosmetics
- https://www.getthegloss.com/article/dna-repair-enzymes-the-skincare-ingredient-that-can-repair-years-of-damage
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160226080947.htm
- http://www.biocatalysts.com/2015/11/active-ingredients-chemical-vs-enzymatic-extraction/