A recent study determined Liquiritigenin 'blocks loss of skin nutrients' and reduces 'stress in keratinocytes,' demonstrating great promise as a beneficial ingredient for anti-aging topical product formulation.
Investigating the efficacy of Ba Zhen Tang in delaying skin photoaging and its potential mechanism based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.
Writing in
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, researchers from Korea investigated the cosmetic potential of collagen peptides extracted from the starfish species
Asterias pectinifera – primarily found in Korea, Eastern Russia, Japan and China and considered a
“critical marine hazard” because it damaged aquaculture fisheries.
The research – partly funded by Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups – was conducted by Korea University in collaboration with local startup Starstech Co. – an environmental firm specialised in valorising starfish.
The eco argument behind starfish collagen
The researchers said various marine life sources had been tested over the years as biosafe alternatives to collagen derived from pork and cattle; animals susceptible to biosafety issues induced by animal diseases. Research efforts had included studies on marine sponges, fish, jellyfish and starfish.