AGI Dermatics' Bioengineered Botanicals Set a New Direction
for the Skincare Market
FREEPORT, N.Y., April 3, 2006 -- AGI Dermatics, a world leader in DNA science for skin, announces two new advances in its biomolecular formulation of botanicals for dermatology use. First, U.S. patent No. 6,982,284 B1 was granted to AGI Dermatics in January 2006 for the use of Ursolic Acid, extracted from the leaves of the rosemary plant and formulated in liposomes, to augment the skin's barrier function. Shortly afterwards, scientific results detailing the workings of Evodia Biomimetic, AGI Dermatics' molecular recreation of the traditional Chinese medicine Wu Zhu Yu, were accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed Journal of Dermatological Science. Both announcements underscore AGI Dermatics' commitment to science and the sharing of validated results. "The public disclosure of these advances highlights the revolution under way in skincare," said Daniel B. Yarosh, Ph.D., president of AGI Dermatics. "Molecular biology is isolating and identifying the active components of plant extracts. Pure and reliable ingredients will drive the next wave in consumer products," he added.
URSOLIC ACID
Ursolic Acid, found in the waxy coating that protects and lends a shine to the fruit and leaves of many plants — notably rosemary and heather — has finally been harnessed for use as a potent skincare compound. Not being water-soluble, this mild acid is typically lost during the extraction process. But by encapsulating it in liposomes — microscopic oil spheres called Merospheres — AGI Dermatics uncovered in clinical studies Ursolic Acid's ability to boost the skin's lipid content and speed up collagen production. Thus improved, the skin's barrier function is strengthened and able to repel irritation.
EVODIA BIOMIMETIC
Evodia Biomimetic is the synthesized version of a botanical extract known as Wu Zhu Yu, harvested from the red-brown berries of the Evodia rutaecarpa tree of Northern China and Korea, and valued by Chinese medicine for two millennia in the treatment of pain and inflammation. Like many botanicals, the evodia fruit varies significantly from crop to crop, due to seasonal, geographic, and processing variables. To ensure consistency, AGI Dermatics sorted through the berry's constituents and identified the active components that inhibit inflammation. Those components were synthesized and then mixed in precise ratios to produce a biomimetic version of the original key compound, trademarked by AGI Dermatics as Evodiox.
Evodiox works by blocking the cascade of inflammation produced when the skin is irritated by sunburn or pollution. As reported in the abovementioned Journal of Dermatological Science article (co-authored by AGI Dermatics scientists and a molecular biologist at New York's Stony Brook University), this compound is a potent inhibitor of the enzymes that produce prostaglandins, key molecular signals for inflammation. Clinical studies showed that Evodiox dramatically inhibited the inflammatory response in the skin of volunteers.
"The future of skincare science lies in identifying the active essence of valuable but inconsistent botanical extracts," said Dr. Yarosh. "Products benefiting from the dependable results of these active essences will be propelled to the head of the pack."
Merospheres and Evodiox are sold throughout the world to prestige cosmetic manufacturers and are key ingredients in AGI Dermatics' Remergent skincare line.
