Xanthium strumarium. Credit: Robert H. Mohlenbrock/USDA
Key points:
- Researchers say the cocklebur plant fruit may provide the next line of anti-aging products.
- The species’ fruits’ compounds reduced UVB exposure damage, increased wound healing and production of collagen.
- Further studies are necessary as high doses of cocklebur fruit extract can be harmful.
New research is hailing the fruit of the cocklebur plant, an invasive weed that grows worldwide, as the next line of anti-aging products. The weeds have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components that could make it useful as a skin protectant.
Cocklebur is a plant native to Southern Europe, Central Asia and China that has spread worldwide, often found in moist or sandy areas such as roadside ditches and riverbanks.
Researchers found that the species’ spiky fruits’ compounds reduced damage from UVB exposure and sped wound healing times in laboratory tests. The cocklebur extracts also appear to influence the production of collagen, a protein that gives skin its elasticity and prevents wrinkles.
For the study, presented at Discover BMB, researchers first examined the molecular properties of cocklebur fruit extracts and isolated particular compounds that contributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. They then used cell cultures and a 3D tissue model similar to human skin to study how these compounds affect collagen production and wound healing.
The results showed that the cocklebur fruit extracts encouraged collagen production, sped wound healing and exerted a protective effect against UVB radiation. Comparing the bioactivity of cocklebur fruits grown in different places, the researchers found that fruits grown in South Korea had slightly higher anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and greater wound-healing activity than those grown in China.
However, the researchers cautioned that high doses of cocklebur fruit extract can be harmful.
“In its burrs, cocklebur fruit also has a toxic constituent, carboxyatractyloside, which can damage the liver,” said Eunsu Song, a doctoral candidate at Myongji University in South Korea. “Cocklebur showed a potential as a cosmetic agent by increasing collagen synthesis; however, it showed negative results with higher concentrations. Therefore, finding the proper concentration seems very important and would be key to commercializing cocklebur fruit extracts in cosmetics.”
Moving forward, the researchers plan to further study the biological mechanisms involved and conduct experiments in animal alternatives to explore ways to safely adapt cocklebur fruit extracts for use in cosmetic products.