The Finnish National Institute of Technology, in collaboration with research institutions and enterprises from multiple European countries, has discovered various plant-based new ingredients with anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects in a recent research project, providing new directions for the development of sustainable skincare products. The InnCoCells project team, coordinated by the Finnish National Institute of Technology, screened over 100 plant extracts and assessed their effects on 20 biomarkers related to skin inflammation and aging, ultimately identifying about 25 candidate ingredients with development potential. These ingredients can be sourced from plants cultivated in greenhouses, plant cells and tissues cultured in bioreactors, or agricultural by-products repurposed through "waste-to-resource" processes, combining efficacy with environmental sustainability. Among the various active substances discovered, the most notable is the cell culture extract of Danish rock cress, which exhibits significant anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and antibacterial activities; the cell culture extract of Physalis alkekengi effectively combats harmful skin bacteria and even inhibits the superbug "methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus" without causing skin irritation, demonstrating strong anti-aging activity; the extract of basil hairy roots shows anti-collagenase and anti-hyaluronidase activities, helping to delay skin aging and maintain moisture balance. The project team stated that the research results pave the way for the development of a new generation of green sustainable cosmetic ingredients. Currently, they are exploring business models and cooperation mechanisms to promote the market application of related plant-based ingredients as soon as possible
