Noxious Weed in South Korea Regenerates Skin with Collagen but Kills with Overdose

According to South Korean scientists, a noxious weed with a high collagen content can regenerate skin but can also be fatal if overdosed.

This noxious weed, also known as the cocklebur plant, is found all over the world and produces fruit with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may be useful as a skin protectant.

In laboratory tests that used cells and tissues, researchers discovered that substances in the species' prickly fruits minimized UVB exposure damage and accelerated wound healing. Additionally, the cocklebur extracts seem to have an impact on the synthesis of collagen, which has been popular these days because it is a protein that gives skin its elasticity and reduces wrinkles.

Potentials of a Noxious Weed

The study, which was carried out by Myongji University doctoral candidate Eunsu Song and Myongji University professor Jinah Hwang, revealed that cocklebur fruit can preserve skin and improve collagen production.

In this regard, Song continued, it might be a desirable substance for cosmetic products. If it is combined with other anti-aging ingredients like hyaluronic acid or perhaps retinoic acid, it will probably have a synergistic effect.

Song will present their research at the annual conference of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology by the last week of March in Seattle.

Cocklebur Plant and Collagen

The common cocklebur is possibly native to southern Europe, South Asia, and North, Central, and South America. It was introduced to Australia and can also be found in Africa. Riverbanks and beaches are the natural habitats of the cocklebur plant, but more recently, it has also invaded some disturbed habitats such as agricultural fields and roadside, according to Cornell - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Its distinctive fruits, which are covered in tough burrs and husks, have been used for generations as traditional medicines to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis-related illness, headache, stuffy nose, and skin pigmentation issues. Recently, researchers have looked into how it might be used to treat cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

The new study is the first to look at the fruit's abilities to heal wounds and protect the skin. The molecular characteristics of cocklebur fruit extracts were first investigated, and specific compounds that might contribute to anti-oxidant, as well as anti-inflammatory effects, were isolated.

They then examined how these substances affect wound healing, collagen production, and UVB radiation damage using cell cultures coupled with a 3D tissue model that has features resembling those of human skin.

The outcomes demonstrated that cocklebur fruit extracts promoted collagen synthesis, accelerated wound healing, and had a protective impact against UVB rays. When researchers compared the bioactivity of cocklebur fruits from various regions, they discovered that South Korean fruits had slightly greater anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties as well as more wound-healing activity than fruits from China.

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Overdose Kills

In order to use cocklebur fruit extract safely for cosmetic or pharmaceutical applications, researchers cautioned that it can be harmful to consume large doses of it.

According to Song, the cocklebur fruit also contains the toxic substance carboxyatractyloside in its burrs, which can harm the liver.

Meanwhile, livestock can die if they ingest cocklebur seedlings or seeds at 1% or more of body weight, according to the University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources.

Song noted that Cocklebur increased collagen synthesis, demonstrating potential as a cosmetic agent, but that higher concentrations produced undesirable effects. Finding the right concentration, therefore, seems crucial and would be essential for the commercialization of extracts from the cocklebur in cosmetics.

In order to explore how to safely adapt extracts of the cocklebur fruit for use in cosmetic products, the researchers intend to further investigate the biological mechanisms directly implicated and carry out experiments using animal substitutes in the future, Neuroscience News reports.