In vitro determination of the anti-aging potential of four southern Africa medicinal plants: Poster

Abstract

Aging is an inevitable process for all living organisms that increases reactive oxygen species leading to the dysregulatian of extracellular and intracellular homeostasis, ultimately resulting in the skin not functioning optimally. The level of antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and two proteins, elastin and collagen, all play a pivotal role in regulating the aging process as they are all are involved in maintaining the elasticity, flexibility and the strength of the skin. People living on the African continent are exposed to the harsh sun and rarely use skin protective agents as they are expensive. It is for this reason that four southern African medicinal plants used indigenously as cosmetics agents and/or exhibited good antioxidant activity in previous studies were explored for their potential use as anti-aging reagents. In this study the anti-collagenase, anti-hyaluronidase and anti-elaste activity of the plants Clerodendrum glabrum (PA, Schotia brachypetala (SB), Psychotria capensis (PC) and Peltophorum africanum (PA) were investigated.