Fermented pomegranate extracts protect against oxidative stress and aging of skin.

BACKGROUND: Punica granatum (pomegranate) potentially ameliorates skin inflammation and pain, including herpetic stromal keratitis. Fermentation is a biotechnological technique that may naturally induce health benefits by producing antioxidants. However, the anti-aging effect of fermented pomegranate extracts (FPE) on the skin is still unclear. AIM: This investigation evaluates the effects of fermented pomegranate as a functional supplement (FPE drink, FPE-D) and a cosmetic ingredient (FPE serum, FPE-S) in vitro and in vivo. PATIENTS/METHODS: The effects of FPE products for anti-oxidation, anti-tyrosinase, anti-inflammation, and anti-aging were examined. Forty subjects were randomly allocated to FPE-D or placebo drink groups (50 ml of a FPE-D /placebo drink daily for 8 weeks for each subject), and another 40 subjects were recruited to FPE-S or placebo serum groups (about 3 ml of a FPE-S /placebo serum daily and nightly/daily for 4 weeks for each subject) in a double-blind study. RESULTS: The effects of FPE products on the DPPH, ABTS + , and NO· free radical scavenging activities, their inhibiting of tyrosinase activity and their enhancement of the skin health of healthy subjects, were investigated. FPE-D improved the moisture, brightness, elasticity, and collagen density of the skin of most subjects at 8 weeks relative to the baseline without treatment (p < 0.05). After 4 weeks of FPE-S serum consumption, the moisture, brightness, elasticity, spots, UV spots, and collagen density of skin were slightly better than those at week 0 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The daily consumption of fermented pomegranate extracts can protect the skin against oxidative stress and slow skin aging.