You’ve heard of about a-million-and-one anti-aging acids-from hyaluronic to glycolic, ascorbic to salicylic-and each have proven merits. But is it possible that the ideal wrinkle-preventing, sun-stopping, antioxidant acid has flown under the radar all this time?
Rarely highlighted as the focal point of any skincare products that contain it, ellagic acid was recently studied by Korean researchers looking to confirm its anti-aging abilities. Their findings, presented last month at the Experimental Biology 2009 meeting in New Orleans, reflect an impressive antioxidant compound deserving of much more attention.
Found in nuts, vegetables and fruits-and especially abundant in pomegranate, cranberries, strawberries and raspberries-ellagic acid was found to obstruct the production of collagen-damaging MMP enzymes and inhibit ICAM, a molecule that plays a part in inflammation. Additionally, when topical ellagic acid was applied to hairless mice every day for eight weeks of increasing UVB exposure, their skin did not wrinkle and thicken like that of the mice who did not receive the application.
Ellagic acid is already believed by many experts to slow the growth of cancer cells, and now, these study authors surmise that wrinkle prevention and sun-damage defense should be added to its list of demonstrated benefits.
