Roots – the Underexplored Source of Innovative Molecules Highlighted Thanks to PAT Plant Milking™ Technology

As consumers become increasingly conscious of the need to protect rather than spoil biodiversity on the other side of the

world, evolution of technological processes now offers the possibility to get new active molecules from local sourcing.

Plant roots, in particular, contain specific and rare compounds with strong biological activities, but were underexplored until

recently. A new technology, called Plant Milking™, now allows plant cultivation in aeroponic conditions that give direct access

to the roots. Grown in an air environment, they present a different phytochemical profile than those grown in the soil. 

For the white mulberry tree (Morus alba), this corresponds to an enriched content in prenylated polyphenols. As a result, Prenylium™, the extract of Morus alba obtained from the Plant Milking™ technology, presents the capacity to protect the skin matrisome against UV radiation and chronoaging, by regulating the expression of COL-3, CCN-1 and MMP-1 genes, whose expressions are dysregulated in aged and photoaged skins. In addition, the synergistic effect of these prenylated polyphenols in Prenylium™ has a stronger collagenase inhibition than the molecules taken individually, demonstrating the benefit of using such an extract.

Thanks to these biological activities, Prenylium™ clinically demonstrates a significant capacity to reduce wrinkle depth, improve skin smoothness and promote skin plumping.