Plant Extracts as Skin Care and Therapeutic Agents

Natural ingredients have been used for centuries for skin treatment and care. Interest in the health effects of plants has recently increased due to their safety and applicability in the formulation of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Long-known plant materials as well as newly discovered ones are increasingly being used in natural products of plant origin. This review highlights the beneficial effects of plants and plant constituents on the skin, including moisturizing (e.g.,Cannabis sativa,Hydrangea serrata,Pradosia mutisiiandCarthamus tinctorius), anti-aging (e.g.,Aegopodium podagraria,Euphorbia characias,Premna odorataandWarburgia salutaris), antimicrobial (e.g.,Betula pendulaandEpilobium angustifolium), antioxidant (e.g.,Kadsura coccinea,Rosmarinus officinalis,Rubus idaeusandSpatholobus suberectus), anti-inflammatory (e.g.,Antidesma thwaitesianum,Helianthus annuus,Oenanthe javanica,Penthorum chinense,Ranunculus bulumeiandZanthoxylum bungeanum), regenerative (e.g.,Aloe vera,Angelica polymorpha,Digitaria ciliaris,Glycyrrihza glabraandMarantodes pumilum), wound healing (e.g.,Agrimonia eupatoria,Astragalus floccosus,Bursera morelensis,Jatropha neopaucifloraandSapindus mukorossi), photoprotective (e.g.,Astragalus gombiformis,Calea fruticose,Euphorbia characiasandPosoqueria latifolia) and anti-tyrosinase activity (e.g.,Aerva lanata,Bruguiera gymnorhiza,Dodonaea viscosa,Lonicera japonicaandSchisandra chinensis), as well as their role as excipients in cosmetics (coloring (e.g.,Beta vulgaris,Centaurea cyanus,Hibiscus sabdariffaandRubia tinctiorum), protective and aromatic agents (e.g.,Hyssopus officinalis,Melaleuca alternifolia,Pelargonium graveolensandVerbena officinalis)).Keywords:plants;skin;photoprotection;wound healing;anti-aging;anti-tyrosinase;essential oils;colorants;cosmetics;pharmaceutics