The industry is continuously seeking novel, natural, and effective ingredients to address various skin concerns, including aging, UV damage, and inflammation. Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable and eco-friendly cosmetic solutions. Marine resources, particularly seaweeds, have gained significant attention due to their rich content of bioactive compounds with potential benefits for skin health. Porphyra sp. (nori), a red seaweed, stands out due to its diverse array of bioactive components such as antioxidants and UV-absorbing compounds, positioning it as a promising candidate for incorporation into formulations.
Key Findings
•Antioxidant properties: Porphyra species, including Porphyra tenera, exhibit potent antioxidant properties due to the presence of compounds like phycobiliproteins and phenolic compounds. These antioxidants can neutralize harmful free radicals, which contribute to skin aging and damage. Porphyra tenera volatile oil has also demonstrated potent antioxidant properties, making it suitable for anti-aging formulations.
•UV protection: Porphyra nori contains mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) such as Porphyra-334 and shinorine. These compounds are UV-absorbing and possess high photo- and thermostability, making them ideal for sunscreen formulations. Porphyra-334 acts as a UV-screening compound, protecting against UV radiation.
•Skin regeneration potential: Lipidome analyses of Porphyra suggest its potential in skin regeneration formulations due to valuable polar lipids with nutritional and bioactive benefits. Compounds isolated from Porphyra species also show promise in skin regeneration and therapeutic compositions for skincare.
This study highlights the significant potential of Porphyra sp. (nori) as a source of bioactive ingredients for the cosmetic industry. The novelty lies in its multifaceted benefits, offering natural antioxidants to combat aging, UV-absorbing compounds for sun protection, and components with skin regeneration potential. The future implications of this research are promising, suggesting that Porphyra nori can contribute to the development of sustainable and effective cosmetic formulations that cater to the growing demand for natural and science-backed skincare solutions. Further research could focus on optimizing the extraction and incorporation of these bioactive compounds from nori into various cosmetic product formats and conducting clinical studies to validate their efficacy on the skin.
Link to the study: https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1750-3841.70110
