New research out of Finland has successfully showcased how plant cell culture technology can be used to develop natural compounds with attributes that could potentially revolutionise the cosmetics industry.
Environmentally-friendly cell culture technology using birch leaves and seeds produces a range of compounds that could be used in cosmetics.
These include:
- Pigments, such as yellow carotenoids and red anthocyanins
- Amino acids that are known to be good for the skin
- Fatty acids that can help to maintain the skin’s moisture and elasticity
- Antioxidants that can not only prevent harmful oxidation skin reactions, but also support product preservation and allow for a longer shelf life.
- Antimicrobial properties that can influence the microflora of the skin by inhibiting the growth of harmful microbes.
“Cell cultures provide an opportunity to utilise wood material in a new way. By natural means, we can obtain compounds that have not traditionally been associated with birch, such as anthocyanin pigments which belong to the group of red polyphenols,” said Riitta Puupponen-Pimiä, Principal Scientist at VTT Technical Research Centre, which led the research.
The concept of using birch cell cultures in cosmetics was launched as part of VTT’s Innovative Business from Emerging Technologies Programme.
The process is also entirely flexible, meaning the volumes of compound production can be influenced through the strategic use of different biotechnological processing methods. For instance, LEDs have been shown to increase the amount of red pigment produced, while boosting the antioxidative properties of cells and increasing their antimicrobial activity.
Source: Phys.org
