Lentinus Edodes (Shiitake Mushroom) Extract
The shiitake is vastly popular as a dietary choice in China and Japan and it is considered a symbol of youthfulness and virility. The Chinese were the first to use the shiitake mushroom for nutrition and healing. According to a Chinese legend, a deity, Shennong bestowed the world with natural treasures including medicinal mushrooms. This laid the foundation for the conceptual framework of Chinese medicine based on super foods and acupuncture.
Shiitake mushrooms are prized for their ability to fade the appearance of photodamage and acne scarring. Their skin healing properties improve barrier strength, encourage faster skin renewal, and boost skin elasticity.
Shiitake mushrooms are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. They contain the powerful antioxidant l-ergothioneine and are a rich source of kojic acid.
Kojic acid is a well-known anti-tyrosinase agent, efficiently used to treat hyperpigmentation and melasma for bright, even-toned skin.3
L-ergothioneine is considered an integral part of the skin’s defense system. This potent and stable low-molecular-weight antioxidant not only prevents oxidative damage but also may enable DNA repair in UV-irradiated cells.1
Shiitake has even shown the ability to halve the proliferation of tumor cells, strengthen the immune system, and help regenerate healthy cells.2
references
[1] Markova, N., Karaman-Jurukovska, N., Dong, K., Damaghi, N., Smiles, K., & Yarosh, D. (2009). Skin cells and tissue are capable of using l-ergothioneine as an integral component of their antioxidant defense system. Free Radical Biology And Medicine, 46(8), 1168-1176. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2009.01.021
[2] Taofiq, O., Heleno, S., Calhelha, R., Alves, M., Barros, L., & Barreiro, M. et al. (2016). Development of Mushroom-Based Cosmeceutical Formulations with Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Tyrosinase, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Properties. Molecules, 21(10), 1372. doi: 10.3390/molecules21101372
[3] Lajis, A., Hamid, M., & Ariff, A. (2012). Depigmenting Effect of Kojic Acid Esters in Hyperpigmented B16F1 Melanoma Cells. Journal Of Biomedicine And Biotechnology, 2012, 1-9. doi: 10.1155/2012/952452
