Multiple-physiological benefits of bird’s nest fern (Asplenium australasicum) frond extract for dermatological applications

Abstract

p-coumaric acid and fucose-rich polysaccharide have been studied for many bio-functions in skin including cutaneous protection from oxidative damage and antiageing, respectively, as well as wound healing. The physiological activities of various bird’s nest fern extracts (BNFE), containing considerable fucose-rich mucilage and p-coumaric acid, on fibroblast and human skin were first investigated. BNFE with higher polysaccharide content generally contributed to a better moisture holding capability. Furthermore, BNFE showed pronouncedly enhancing effect on collagen production and growth of fibroblast (NIH-3T3), clinical trial results revealed that the emulsions with 1% BNFE showed good moisturising effect and improved the elasticity of human skins effectively. The potential of BNFE for cosmetics and medical applications such as natural moisturiser, antiageing and wound repairing was possibly related to the fucose-rich mucilage and various phenolic compounds including p-coumaric acid in BNFE.

Keywords:

• Bird’s nest fern
• fibroblast
• skin ageing
• collagen
• fucose-rich mucilage
• p-coumaric acid

Acknowledgments

Sincere appreciation to the kind sponsorship of National Science Council, Taiwan (project number: NSC 101-2313-B-005 -048 -MY3), without which this work would not have been possible.