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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The newest potion in a woman's skin care regimen may be found in berries. A new study shows the antioxidant ellagic acid -- prevalent in raspberries, strawberries, cranberries and pomegranates -- protects the skin from UV damage.
Twelve mice were exposed to increasing ultraviolet radiation three times weekly for eight weeks. Half were given daily 10 microM topical applications of ellagic acid on their skin surface.
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The study, conducted at Hallym University in the Republic of Korea, shows mice exposed to the radiation without the antioxidant developed wrinkles and thickening of the skin. The mice that received ellagic acid showed reduced wrinkle formation and inflammatory response due to protection from the degradation of collagen.
Ellagic acid is found in berries as well as other fruits, vegetables and nuts. It protects against UV damage by blocking the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes that break down the collagen of damaged skin cells.
SOURCE: Presented at the Experimental Biology meeting in New Orleans, April 21, 2009
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