Using a topical application, the scientists showed that the powerful antioxidant content found in the acid prevented collagen destruction and inflammatory response typically associated with photo-ageing associated with environmental influences such as UV rays.
The study was carried out in laboratory condition on hairless mice, which were continually exposed to UVB rays – traditionally associated with skin wrinkling.
Ellagic acid mainly derived from berries
The results of the study were presented by Dr. Young-Hee Kang, who unveiled the findings at the Experimental Biology of 2009 meeting in New Orleans at the end of last month, and published by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
Ellagic acid is derived from a host of vegetables, nuts and fruits, but is found in highest concentrations in strawberries, raspberries and pomegranates.
Although ellagic acid has been used in a number of anti-ageing formulations in the past, to date there has been no concrete scientific study highlighting its anti-ageing properties.
Ellagic acids protects against UVB
Earlier studies have shown that ellagic acid can have a photoprotective effect on the skin, so one of the main objectives of the Korean study was to investigate whether it can have an effect on existing wrinkles.
The Korean scientists had already confirmed that ellagic acid can protect human skin cells from UV damage by preserving MMP enzymes that breakdown collagen as well as reducing the expression of the ICAM molecule associated with inflammation.
The study to illustrate the anti-wrinkle effect relied on 12 four week-old hairless mice, which were exposed to constant UV-B rays sufficient to cause a mild burning of the skin for a period of eight weeks.
Mice given ellagic acid topically
Six of the mice were administered on a daily basis with 10 microM topical applications of ellagic acid on the skin surface, while the other six acted as a control group and received no such treatment.
The results of the study showed that the mice in the control group showed a marked increase in reddening and thickening of the skin, with the addition of further wrinkling.
In addition to showing fewer signs of skin irritation, the mice that were administered with the ellagic acid also showed a marked reduction in the number of wrinkles on the skin as well as the amount of inflammation.
The scientists say that from these results, they can confirm that the ellagic acid helps to reduce both inflammation and wrinkles caused by UVB exposure in hairless mice.