Ashitaba, an ingredient with anti-ageing properties?

The progression of age is invariably accompanied byskin ageing. Signs of ageing begin to appear from the thirties onwards and are particularly visible on the hands and face. This is an inevitable phenomenon associated with several intrinsic causes. Among them, we find a shortening of the telomeres which become dysfunctional and trigger the onset of cellular senescence. This process is characterised by an irreversible halt of the cell cycle, as well as by specific cellular and molecular changes leading notably to a slowdown in cell renewal and collagen production.

These dysfunctional molecules are typically eliminated by autophagy, a cellular mechanism for self-cleaning of cells and degradation of pathogens present in the cytoplasm. Indeed, this process slows down the ageing of the organism by limiting the accumulation of macromolecular damage that leads to cellular senescence. Thus, an alteration in autophagy is responsible for an increase in oxidative damage and a decrease in mitochondrial function.

In response to these biological disruptions, the consequences of cellular ageing become visible at the skin level with the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, as well as brown spots. A slackening and dryness of the skin can also be observed.

Traditionally, theAshitaba is renowned for its benefits in Asian medicine. Cultivated for over 2,000 years in Japan, it is known to symbolise longevity. A long-held belief suggests that a substance found in Ashitaba could help to combat ageing. But is this really the case?

A study conducted in 2019 highlighted a compound found in Ashitaba, the 4,4'-dimethoxychalcone (DMC). This flavonoid would act directly deep within skin cells by triggering the process of autophagy. It would act on the GATA transcription factors to initiate this process, which will eliminate all dysfunctional or altered cells that cause premature skin ageing.

When this process is initiated, waste and dead cells are eliminated to prevent their accumulation. Tests have been conducted on yeasts, worms, and flies. After the external administration of DMC, the lifespan of these organisms was extended. Moreover, trials on human cells have revealed a slowdown in the senescence process, a physiological process associated with morphological and functional changes in the cell that lead to their ageing.

Although these experiments appear to demonstrate that DMC slows down the ageing of human cells, we must wait for the clinical studies to be able to guarantee its effectiveness in humans.