Science
Mechanism of Action
This extract functions as a potent antioxidant by directly neutralizing various free radicals, including DPPH, ABTS, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals, and by reducing Fe3+. It also enhances the skin's inherent antioxidant defenses, boosting the activities of enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Its anti-inflammatory properties stem from inhibiting arachidonic acid (AA)- and TPA-induced ear edema, attenuating oxidative stress-induced cellular damage, and potentially modulating key inflammatory pathways such as NF-κB, NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, mitochondrial ROS production, and MAPK pathway activation, alongside downregulating COX-2 expression. Furthermore, it may contribute to skin brightening by inhibiting tyrosinase activity. These diverse biological activities are primarily due to its complex composition, including unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherol, amino acids, minerals, polyphenols, squalene, phytosterols, and terpenoids.
Research
Clinical Evidence
Medium confidenceN/A
Key findings
- 01 Protected human dermal fibroblasts against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and inhibited LDH release at concentrations of 50 and 250 µg/mL.
- 02 Demonstrated significant scavenging activities against DPPH and superoxide radicals at concentrations of 100 and 1000 µg/mL.
- 03 Exhibited strong radical scavenging with IC50 values of 0.08 mg/mL for DPPH and 0.07 mg/mL for ABTS from cultivated kernel extracts. Aqueous colloids achieved high scavenging rates: 84% for ABTS, 58% for DPPH, and 60% for hydroxyl radicals.
- 04 Topical application in a dose-dependent manner inhibited arachidonic acid (AA)- and TPA-induced ear edema in mice, confirming anti-inflammatory effects.
- 05 An ethanol extract from the seed coat, at 0.1 mg/mL and 0.2 mg/mL, maintained the pH of an O/W emulsion at 7.0 for 23 days, indicating its antioxidant capacity and formulation stability.
Transparency
Dusting Analysis
The Formula
Formulation
Stability
An ethanol extract from the seed coat has shown promising stability, maintaining the pH of an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion at 7.0 for 23 days. However, raw Torreya grandis kernels are prone to rapid oxidation and degradation when exposed to excessive water, necessitating careful storage of the bulk raw material.
Safety
Safety Profile
No specific safety assessments by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), or U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the topical use of Torreya Grandis Extract in cosmetics have been identified. While there is a history of its use in food and traditional medicine, and some oral rat studies indicated inflammatory cell infiltration in liver and intestine with long-term kernel oil consumption, this data is not directly transferable to topical cosmetic safety.
Your Skin
Skin Compatibility
Our Assessment
Verdict
Torreya Grandis Extract demonstrates strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential in scientific studies, but the absence of formal topical safety reviews by regulatory bodies for cosmetic use necessitates further data before a definitive precision skincare recommendation.
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References
Sources