As we age, one of the major changes in our skin is the breakdown and reduced production of collagen and elastin. This results in sagging skin that can most notably be observed at the face contours of the jawline. A youthful appearance with a V-shaped jawline is a desired look all over the world.
Mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes – of importance for skin regeneration
Mesenchymal stem cells are a type of stem cell in the skin that is important for various regeneration processes, such as wound healing. They are able to signal to fibroblasts to produce more collagen and elastin in the dermis. They do this by producing vesicles that are called exosomes. Exosomes are small, approximately 100 nm vesicles that are surrounded by a membrane which contain messenger molecules for cell-to-cell communication. Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells have been shown to have a beneficial effect on fibroblasts and are currently being heavily investigated for their diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The topic of exosomes is quite new; while in 2006 there were less than 100 scientific articles on this subject, there were more than 9,000 scientific articles in 2018. This underlines the unquestionable relevance of this relatively new field.
However, mesenchymal stem cells also undergo the aging process which is why an active ingredient that rejuvenates these cells and boosts exosome production may improve the oval face shape.
Goji plant stem cells for skin stem cells
To achieve a V-shaped face, Mibelle Biochemistry developed PhytoCellTec Goji, a novel plant stem cell active ingredient based on a plant stem cell culture of a goji seedling. For hundreds of years, goji berries have been eaten in Asia for their medicinal and nutritive properties. Today, goji berries are considered a superfruit and eaten all over the world, mostly in dried form, and there are various goji berry supplements on the market with the reported effects ranging from anti-aging, immune boosting and energizing to improved memory. The production of goji plant stem cells for cosmetic use has several benefits: plant stem cells are able to vitalize human skin stem cells by providing optimized nutrients. Furthermore, the production of plant stem cells via the PhytoCellTec biotechnology is a clean and sustainable method to obtain biomass.
Goji stem cell extract helps maintain stemness and boosts exosome production
When aged mesenchymal stem cells were treated with goji stem cell extract, the expression of stem cell markers was increased. This suggests that PhytoCellTec Goji is able to help mesenchymal stem cells to maintain their stemness. In addition, treatment with goji stem cell extract is able to boost the production of exosomes by mesenchymal stem cells. Further experiments demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells treated with goji stem cell extract were able to communicate with fibroblasts and activate them to produce more collagen and elastin.
Furthermore, placebo-controlled clinical studies showed that treatment with PhytoCellTec Goji:
- Improves skin density
- Tightens facial contours
- Minimizes fine wrinkles and deeper lines
Therefore, PhytoCellTec Goji rejuvenates the skin from inside out for an improved V-shaped face.
