Tree leaf compound may help prevent skin aging

Saturday, June 18, 2011 by: Jonathan Benson, staff writer
Tags: tree leaves, skin aging, health news

(NaturalNews) A new study published in the American Chemical Society's (ACS) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry highlights a new beneficial use for poplar tree leaf buds. When extracted, the antioxidants and other substances found in the buds effectively fight against, and possibly even help reverse, the aging process in skin.

Xavier Vitrac and his colleagues tested the antioxidant activity of poplar bud extract on cells both in vitro and in a replicated model of normal human skin cells and found that, in both cases, it appeared to help fight and even reverse the aging process.

"The collective antioxidant properties and transcriptional effect of this extract suggest potential anti-aging properties which could be utilized in cosmetic and nutraceutical formulations," wrote the authors in their paper.

Poplar tree leaf buds are already known to help treat a variety of health problems, including colds, sinusitis, sunburns, and even arthritis. And bee propolis, a substance found in beehives that is made from the buds, is also a powerful immune boosting "superfood" substance that effectively deters tumors, fights infections, combats stomach ulcers, and fights inflammation, among many other things (https://www.naturalnews.com/propolis.html).

And poplar buds have a long history of medicinal uses in ancient cultures. Its oil is useful as an antiseptic, and can also be applied to burns, scalds, bruises, and other skin problems to quicken healing. Poplar bud oil is also said to be effective at improving digestion, clearing up sore throats, alleviating headaches, and relieving general pain (http://www.ryandrum.com/twobudsoneleaf.htm).

Vitamin C and alpha lipoic acid are two other antioxidant nutrients that are beneficial in maintaining skin health, and in helping to prevent skin aging. To learn more about skin health, visit:
https://www.naturalnews.com/skin_care.html

Sources for this story include:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-...