Plant stem cells are now being used in many skincare products for added skin healing and so called dramatic results. A bit of back ground on what stem cells are and what they do is helpful to know why they are now being used in your skin cream. 

Stem cells can be from plant and animal source. Stem cells play a key role in tissue development. There are two major categories of human stem cells: embryonic and adult. Embryonic stem cells have the amazing potential to form all tissues of the body. They can be found in the early embryos and are also in the umbilical cord blood collected at birth. Adult stem cells have been found in most tissues and organs of fetuses, children, and adults, including the skin. They contribute to tissue quality and ensure tissue renewal. Adult stem cells are less powerful than embryonic stem cells, as they are already “pre-determined”, So they can not become any other type. In adults, stem cells are not randomly distributed, but are concentrated in tiny regions e.g. In the skin, stem cell regions are found in hair follicles. The epidermis stem cells are located in the erector muscle of hairs. Skin stem cells move either towards the surface of the skin to regenerate the epidermis or towards the base of the hair follicle. Skin stem cells continuously renew the skin.

All plants contain stem cells found in areas of the plant where growth takes place with a continuous supply. It is possible, from only a small fragment of a plant to create numerous copies of the same plant, as well as to produce plant stem cell extract. 

Tests have shown plant stem cell extracts can have a huge impact on the skin renewal, they contain molecules that help the skin repair.  While all plants have stem cells, some have shown better results than others.

 

Edelweiss is of interest beyond stem cells as it is able to grow in extremely arid climates (minimal water, freezing temperatures) it contains various leontopodic acids, which have huge antioxidant activity.  These stem cell’s show stronger antioxidant activity than many natural antioxidants including resveratrol and vitamin C.

 

 

 

 

Plant stem cells are one of the latest tool in our fight against skin ageing. They do not take away from our current ingredients such as retinols, peptides, antioxidants, vitamins etc but combining them with will give a multi ingredient approach will give the best skin healing results.