Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is a popular
ornamental plant that belongs to the Asteraceae
family. Numerous uses of this plant by herbal
medicines in several cultures have been reported. The whole plant has been used to treat bronchitis,
rheumatic pain, cold and respiratory diseases, and as a stimulant and muscle
relaxer. The flowers have been used to
treat fevers, epileptic fits, scabies, liver complaints and eye disease, and
have been demonstrated their astringent, carminative and stomachic
effects. In addition, this plant has
been used to cure boils, carbuncles, ulcers, bleeding piles, colds, colic,
earaches, headaches, myalgia, stomach aches and rheumatism, and has displayed analgesic
and antihyperlipidemci effect.
Marigold essential is the fatty component of the
plant extract. The chemical constituents
include limonene (6.9%), terpinolene (4.7%), (Z)-myroxide (7.9%), piperitone
(28.5%), piperitenone (10.9%), piperitenone oxide (7.2%) and β-caryophyllene
(7.0%). The oil is known for its
anti-aging effect because of its antioxidant constituents.
In a recent study published in Experimental and Therapeutic
Medicine, the fatty component of the marigold extract is tested for its
elastase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. (Experimental and Therapeutic
Medicine DOI:10.3892/etm.2013.1373)
Elastase is a member of the serine protease enzyme family that hydrolytically
degrades elastin. Elastin has been demonstrated
to form elastic fibers in the skin dermis, providing elasticity to connective
tissues and thus influencing skin elasticity.
Damage to the skin can result in reduced skin elasticity and the
linearity of dermal elastic fiber, leading to skin wrinkling and sagging. Therefore, inhibiting elastase activity would
reduce elastin degradation and therefore maintain skin elasticity and firmness.
Tyrosinase is an enzyme that catalyzes melanin
synthesis in melanocytes of the skin.
The hyperpigmentation of the epidermis and dermis has been demonstrated to
depend on either increased numbers of melanocytes or the activity of the
tyrosinase enzyme. The accumulation of
excessive epidermal pigmentation results in various dermatological disorders
including melisma associated with age, freckling, age spots and sites of
actinic damage. Therefore, inhibiting
tyrosinase acitivity would reduce dark spots and even skin tone.
The study shows that the fatty component of marigold
extract exhibited inhibitory activities over both elastase and tyrosinase,
indicating that the marigold abstract is capable of increasing skin firmness,
reducing wrinkle and sagging and removing dark spots.
So here is a recipe for making an anti-aging and
skin even tone serum including Marigold essential oil:
Jojoba oil (5ml), avocado oil (3ml), Marigold oil (2ml),
vitamin E oil (1ml), lemon oil (5 drops), orange oil (5 drops), lavender oil (2
drops, optional), sage oil (2 drops, optional), rose oil (2 drops, optional).
Thanks for reading.
Connie
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