Edelweiss: Making You Look Younger, One Stem Cell at a Time

A biotech company in Milan has found a way to grow stem cells of a highly bioactive ingredient found in - guess what - edelweiss.

"[E]delweiss grows in harsh climates, [so] it is obliged to produce a number of active substances that help protect against the elements such as UV rays," explained Francesca Melandri, a spokeswoman for the Institute for Biotechnological Research (IRB).

Rather than harvest the rare and protected plant itself in large quantities, the company is producing metabolites from stem cells it grows from small amounts of plant biomass. This allows the compound to be produced at "industrial levels" without endangering the species, reported Cosmetics Design.

The particular ingredient, Leontopodium alpinum stems, has high concentrations of leontopodic acids A and B which have strong antioxidant properties, according to the IRB. It also has has strong anti-collagenase and hyaluronidase actvity which helps to limit the degradation of important macromuolecules in the skin.

Antioxidants: What's in, what's out, and what's (About) to come

It seems that just about everyone is really big on following health trends, and as many of you may know, antioxidants has been the latest craze! Antioxidants help to maintain health and prevent diseases such as cancer. Blueberries and pomegranates have become popular due to the fact that they contain antioxidants. All kinds of drinks and meals have been oomph-ed with the help of blueberries and pomegranates.

BUT why follow a trend when you can be a part of the trend-setting? Blueberries and pomegranates are currently in, but will shortly be on their way out! Its time to get your Acai berry and Goji berry fix!

Acai has been claimed to be ‘Nature’s Energy Fruit’ and one of the most powerful foods in the world. It is a small berry found in Brazil’s Amazon region. And, it is recommended by Dr. Perricone on Oprah.com - what more could you ask for?

Goji berries are found in subtropical regions of China, Tibet and Mongolia. They have been used for over 6,000 years to boost the immune function and promote longevity. Containing 19 amino acids (including the 8 essential ones) and essential fatty acids like omega-6, they fill in where many foods leave off. They also contain Vitamin E, which is virtually unheard of in fruits.

Are Antioxidants For the Birds?

I admit that The Economist is, as weekly publications go, one of the best out there. But it's difficult to be a regular enthusiast of their articles on foreign elections, the strength -or should I say weakness- of the dollar, Kim Jong, and EU regulation. Basically, it takes a bit more mental energy to digest than, say, InStyle.
However, a recent perusal of this text-heavy newsmag revealed a fascinating piece on antioxidants.

Antioxidants were a top hit of 2007. They're little biochemical wonders that clean up molecules in the body known as free radicals that would otherwise damage cells. They have been shown to have cancer preventative properties; other benefits include anti-aging and improved physical recovery from exercise. Modern science tells us (and we believe them) that antioxidants are extremely important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. So where are these suckers? The principle micronutrient (vitamin) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. In other words -- fruits and vegetables.

And we know, as wonderfully educated human beings, that these are good sources of antioxidants. We have access to analyses of various foods and their antioxidant content. We also have access to Jamba Juice and Naked antioxidant-loaded concoctions. But what about animals?

In Germany, Martin Schaefer and his team of scientists wanted to see if and how creatures can sense antioxidants. The article explains:

They analysed how 60 different fruits appear to the birds that disperse their seeds. Birds see colours in their own way, because they are sensitive to wavelengths, such as ultra-violet, that are invisible to people. The researchers found that birds could clearly perceive the strong ultra-violet coloration given to the fruit by the presence of a group of antioxidants called anthocyanins.

Little geniuses, aren't they. The next step is to find out if birds know to supplement their diet with more antioxidants during "stressful" times, like during migration -- kind of like us reaching for that extra tangerine (ok, or glass of red wine) when we're feeling a little under the weather. So you see, we may have more in common with critters after all.