ARCAGENOL TECHNOLOGY
ARCA and ARCAGENOL obtain their best GENOL by extracting pine bark from 1/3 of the base of 25~30-year-old PINUS RADIATA pine trees, which are scientifically proven capable of supplying the best quality of GENOL through a 100% pure deionized water method.
1. Growth stimulation in skin fibroblasts
Research has demonstrated that ARCAGENOL can stimulate skin cell growth. Here human skin fibroblasts were incubated with ARCAGENOL added to the growth medium at 1 μg/ml. In comparison to untreated cells ARCAGENOL stimulated cell growth by up to 10%.
2. Rate of ARCAGENOL compound penetration through skin
Research has shown that the proanthocyanidin (PA) compounds in ARCAGENOL can penetrate the skin. In this study a 1% ARCAGENOL solution (in 10% glycerin) was applied to the outside of a sample of rat skin; while the inside of the skin was in contact with a buffer solution. Liquid samples were taken periodically from the inside buffer and were assayed by HPLC for the presence of catechin and polymeric PAs that had penetrated across the skin.
3. Reduction of intracellular peroxide load in skin fibroblasts
Research on internal oxidative stress has shown that ARCAGENOL can protect skin cells from the free radicals that are produced internally through the normal skin metabolism. In this study human skin fibroblasts were incubated without or with increasing concentrations of ARCAGENOL and the intracellular load of hydrogen peroxide produced by the cells was determined.
4. Protection of human skin tissue from UVA and UVB radiation
Research in the full thickness 3D human skin model (EpiDerm-FT) has shown that ARCAGENOL can protect human skin from the harmful effects of UVA and UVB exposure. In this study human skin tissue was treated with ARCAGENOL (10mg/ml or 30mg/ml) before irradiation with UVA (400mJ/cm2) and UVB (1600mJ/cm2). The results showed that tissues treated with either dose of ARCAGENOL showed a complete lack of inflammatory response demonstrating the strong protective effect of ARCAGENOL.
5. pH dependent absorption to PA of collagen type I and protection from collagenase
Proanthocyanidins bind to and stabilize collagen. PAs, the main polyphenolic compounds that make up 80% of ARCAGENOL, can bind to and stabilize collagen, with the highest adsorption capacity between pH 4-7 covering the natural pH level of the skin (5.5-6.5). PA binding protects collagen from digestion/solubilization by collagenase.