What is Bakuchiol?

Bakuchiol is a monoterpenoid compound – half terpenoid structure. Mainly it can be found in the seeds of the Indian plant babchi (Psoralea corylifolia) that has been extensively used in Chinese and Indian traditional medicine to treat several illnesses.

Medicinal chemists have identified that bakuchiol can interact with the same enzymes as retinol. It can modulate the receptors of retinoic acid, upregulate collagen and extracellular matrix synthesis enzymes, therefore, it has gained quite the attention from cosmetics industries. However, bakuchiol has been screened and showed good results for other biological effects like:

• anti-cancer
• antioxidant
• anti-inflammatory
• antibacterial
• hepato- and cardioprotective
• and many more

Use of bakuchiol in cosmetics

With clinically proven results, bakuchiol has gained success as an additive for cosmetics. It has similar activity as retinol to improve photoaging but has better skin tolerance. Bakuchiol is recommended for use in cosmetics as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and skin condition improvement. 

As we mentioned before, bakuchiol with its similar effects is slowly replacing retinol in cosmetics due to the fact that direct application of retinol may cause redness, hives, dryness, pruritus, excessive sweating, and others. Oral administration has concluded teratogenic effects. However, bakuchiol is completely safe and does not have to be combined with compounds to neglect the negative effects of retinol and its derivatives.

Bakuchiol also has exhibited the ability to increase the synthesis of collagen. After 12 weeks of product use, a clinical study concluded that facial contours, skin elasticity and firmness have improved.

Bakuchiol has also been tested against adult acne with positive results

Anti-cancer effect of bakuchiol

Like many terpenoid-type compounds, also bakuchiol has been tested for its anti-cancer activity. It showed several cellular pathways that it was able to inhibit. Bakuchiol was able to reduce the potential of mitochondrial membranes in cancer cells, induce apoptosis, and many others.

Cardioprotective effect

Bakuchiol has been tested for its protective effect in the case of ischemia-reperfusion injury. It was able to improve myocardial function, inhibit apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and induce synthesis of various compounds to either stop the induction of apoptosis or improve the condition of living cells.

Antioxidative action of bakuchiol

Due to its structure of phenyl moiety linked to the unsaturated system, it can delocalize and neutralize highly reactive radicals. It has been observed, that bakuchiol can protect healthy lipids and proteins.

Other studies have shown antioxidative protection of respiratory chain enzymes found in mitochondria. 

Bakuchiol as the anti-inflammatory compound

As with similar compounds, bakuchiol has shown the ability to inhibit the production of nitric oxide – the compound responsible for vasodilatation and therefore swelling. 

Another study pointed out to inhibit degranulation of human neutrophils that are causing inflammation. Also, bakuchiol strongly inhibits myeloperoxidase which prevents the synthesis of oxidizing compounds like hypochlorite. This leads to a reduction of tissue damage and oxidizing compounds found in leukocytes.

In conclusion

Bakuchiol exhibits an exceptionally wide range of biological activity. And with its high praises in cosmetics, we believe, bakuchiol will be a hot topic for the near future. If you wish to join the exploration of bakuchiol, visit our store to buy bakuchiol now!