A clinical trial published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that a plant-based rose petal extract can significantly improve multiple signs of skin aging, including wrinkles, elasticity, hydration and skin barrier function.
The research was conducted by scientists from Sejong University and focused on Rosa chinensis Jacq. petal extract, a polyphenol-rich botanical standardized as NOVAROSE®. Researchers noted that skin photoaging is largely driven by ultraviolet exposure, which can trigger oxidative stress, inflammation and the breakdown of proteins that help keep skin firm and smooth.
For the study, 100 healthy men and women between the ages of 25 and 65 were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial lasting 12 weeks. Participants were given either a daily tablet containing 300 milligrams of the rose petal extract or a placebo. Skin measurements were taken at the start of the study, as well as at week six and week 12, using validated assessment tools.
According to the findings, those who received the extract experienced significant improvements in wrinkle-related measures, skin roughness, elasticity, dermal density and sagging when compared to the placebo group. The extract also improved hydration and skin barrier function, with researchers reporting reduced transepidermal water loss and less stratum corneum desquamation, a marker tied to skin renewal. Skin brightness also improved.
Researchers said the findings provide “the first clinical evidence” that anthocyanin-containing Rosa chinensis petal extract can improve both structural and functional markers of skin health. They also described the extract as “a safe, plant-based nutraceutical with potential as a systemic oral strategy for managing photoaging.”
Compliance in the study exceeded 95%, and no serious adverse events were reported.
The full abstract of the study can be found below:
Skin photoaging, characterized by wrinkles, loss of elasticity, dryness, and pigmentation, is primarily driven by UV-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and degradation of extracellular matrix proteins. Polyphenol-rich botanicals, particularly anthocyanin-containing Rosa chinensis Jacq. petals, have shown promising antioxidant and collagen-supportive properties in preclinical studies, yet clinical evidence has been lacking. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of a standardized Rosa chinensis petal extract (RPE; NOVAROSE®) in 100 healthy men and women aged 25-65 years over 12 weeks. Participants received one tablet per day containing 300 mg of RPE or placebo. Skin parameters were assessed at baseline, week 6, and week 12 using validated instruments. RPE supplementation significantly improved wrinkle indices, skin roughness, elasticity, dermal density, and sagging compared with placebo. Additionally, RPE increased hydration, reduced transepidermal water loss, and decreased stratum corneum desquamation, reflecting enhanced barrier and renewal functions. Additionally, RPE significantly improved skin hydration and barrier function, as evidenced by increased hydration, reduced transepidermal water loss, decreased stratum corneum desquamation, and enhanced skin brightness (L*). Compliance exceeded 95%, and no serious adverse events were reported. These findings provide the first clinical evidence that anthocyanin-containing RPE supplementation yields meaningful improvements in both structural and functional markers of skin health. RPE is a safe, plant-based nutraceutical with potential as a systemic oral strategy for managing photoaging.
