Biobank’s collagen drink is an excellent product that can supplement both the collagen which makes the skin strong and the elastin that provides elasticity to the skin. Therefore, many users love it. Some of you may already know that there is a version that contains SAKURA EXTRACT as an additional beauty ingredient in our collagen drink. Experts have discovered that SAKURA EXTRACT has a property to control proteins binding to sugars which can cause symptoms of aging. In this newsletter we will talk more about SAKURA EXTRACT, which is still uncommon, focusing on its anti-glycation effect. Taking these two profitable components, tripeptide and SAKURA EXTRACT, with our collagen drink will provide further effects to support skin rejuvenation. 

Cherry blossoms represent Japan along with Mt. Fuji as a symbol of Japan. They bloom all together in the spring and attract many people with their beauty appearances. Cherry blossom is a plant that is loved by people for its beautifulness, but recent research has found that the extract from petals of cherry trees contain ingredients that have a positive effect on the skin. 

#1 feature of SAKURA EXTRACT: To suppress glycation of collagen
The research has shown that extracts from petals of cherry trees have the effect of inhibiting glycation of collagen, which causes wrinkles and sagging skin. Glycation… Isn’t it a word that we do not often hear about? Before we talk about various things, we will explain about glycation.

• Summary of glycation: Glycation means the condition where excess carbohydrates taken from meals bind to amino acids, proteins, and lipids in the body which will turn into melanoidin, a browning substance, after repetitive decomposition processes. When carbohydrates bind to proteins in the body, they become difficult to be broken down. These substances that are difficult to break down are called Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). AGEs accumulate gradually in the body with age and cause various aging phenomena. An increasing number of people are now paying attention to this compound and the phenomena caused by it. If oxidation caused by active oxygen is described as “the body gets rusty”, glycation can be described as “the body gets burnt”.

• Glycation causes adverse effects on the skin: When AGEs bind with collagen, they are recognized as foreign matters by the body. Subsequently, the body secretes a number of degrading enzymes which are called collagenase and elastase in order to break down and discharge AGEs. If these degrading enzymes would only target AGEs, there wouldn’t be any problems. Unfortunately, such enzymes target not only AGEs but also normal collagen and elastin in the body, and accelerate the speed for degradation. As the degrading processes moves forward, the fitness and elasticity brought by collagen and elastin fibers decrease which in turn make the dermis thinner. This phenomena cause wrinkles and sagging skin. AGEs result in adverse effect on both collagen and elastin present in the skin.

Cherry blossoms contain active ingredients called caffeoylglucose (1-caffeoyl-O-β-D- glucopyranoside) which is a glycoside of phenylpropanoid, and quercetin (quercetin 3-O-β- D-glucopyranoside) which is a glycoside of flavonoid. The study about an action blocking the production of AGEs in the body was conducted with using these two components. As a result, 100 μg / mL or higher of SAKURA EXTRACT significantly suppressed the production of AGEs. 

The study also examined how much AGEs could be suppressed in fibroblasts. The fibroblasts present in dermis of the skin make collagen, and elastin which serves to support the skin as well as what collagen does. When these cells lose their functionality, the structures of the skin become vulnerable, and more wrinkles and aging phenomena occur. As a result of this study, 10 μg / mL of SAKURA EXTRACT strongly suppressed the production of AGEs in fibroblasts. 

Suppressing the production of AGEs in the body or in fibroblasts will result into a deceleration of skin problems derived from aging. 

#2 feature of SAKURA EXTRACT: To promote the production of collagen fibroblasts
Another in-vitro study has revealed that SAKURA EXTRACT can promote the collagen formation by fibroblasts. When fibroblasts are cultured in a collagen solution, collagen lattices are formed. When the fibroblasts glycated with glyoxal were added in this test sample, the formation of collagen lattices were suppressed. However, when SAKURA EXTRACT was added together with glyoxal, the fibroblasts kept extending prongs and the formation of collagen lattices were enhanced. In other words, SAKURA EXTRACT can maintain normal “entanglement” between collagen and fibroblasts in the dermis while suppressing glycation of fibroblasts.

#3 feature of SAKURA EXTRACT: To improve skin condition (human clinical trials)
A human clinical trial with a placebo-controlled double-blind study was also conducted in order to verify whether SAKURA EXTRACT is effective to improve skin conditions. The subjects were 20 Japanese women in their 30s and 50s who find troubles with makeup not fitting well on their skin, and skin losing fitness, getting dry and showing advanced age. The subjects were divided into 2 groups of 10 women: one took SAKURA EXTRACT and the other took placebo. The subjects in the SAKURA EXTRACT group took 150 mg of the extract and those in the placebo group took 150 mg of dextrin per day for 8 weeks every day after breakfast.

As a result, the SAKURA EXTRACT group showed the reduction in the amount of AGEs, a suppression of viscoelasticity reduction in the skin, a suppression of the degree of skin drying caused by the low humidity and an improvement in the smoothness of the skin.

The researchers believe that AGEs deform skin collagens and reduce its functions. SAKURA EXTRACT can prevent deformation of collagen by reducing the amount of AGEs produced, maintain the functions of collagen tissues, and improve overall skin conditions such as skin viscoelasticity, dryness and smoothness.

AGEs have adverse effects on the components that are supposed to support skin by keeping its fitness and elasticity, such as collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. They are also involved in skin aging. It is also known to cause macules and freckles. AGEs are currently attracting attention in the field of beauty science. It is considered that suppressing AGEs is effective to prevent skin problems caused by aging. Controlling AGEs can be a help to keep the skin youthful. 

SAKURA EXTRACT contained in the Biobank’s collagen drink has the effect of suppressing glycation that cause the generation of AGEs. It also has the effect of promoting the formation of collagen in fibroblasts. Similarly, tripeptides contained in the Biobank’s collagen drinks act on fibroblasts to promote the production of our own collagen. 

In conclusion, the two beneficial components of SAKURA EXTRACT and tripeptides will be strong friends of us when we tackle the progress of skin aging, because SAKURA EXTRACT can suppress the generation of substances that possibly progress aging and tripeptides work on fibroblasts to produce our own collagen.