Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39654386›Full record

SynthesisJournal of cosmetic dermatology2025

Efficacy and Safety of Topical Application of Plant-Based Products on Skin Aging in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Fengrui Cheng, Jinhong Feng, Ziling Cao, Qu Duan, Haoying Li

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Dual action of herbal compounds inFrontiers in immunology · 2026
    Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Fengrui ChengHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Jinhong FengHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Ziling CaoClinical Medical College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0500-5711
Qu DuanHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Haoying LiHospital of Baoji Traditional Chinese Medicine, Baoji, Sichuan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRecently, numerous topical products containing plant-based ingredients have been reported to resist skin aging. However, there is a lack of sufficient evidence to substantiate these claims. This paper presents a comprehensive review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical products containing plants or plant extracts in anti-aging.

methodsFour databases-PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL)-were systematically searched for articles related to plant-based interventions and skin aging, covering the period from January 2000 to December 2024. A total of eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis.

resultsProducts containing plant extracts demonstrated a statistically significant difference in improving skin hydration and skin elasticity, reducing melanin and erythema compared to other products. No significant statistical difference was observed in reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant statistical difference in improvement overall skin elasticity (R2) during short-term (≤ 8 weeks)treatments, while no statistical difference was observed during long-term (> 8 weeks)treatments. Additionally, no significant difference was observed in the specific measurements of skin elasticity, including R5 (net elasticity) and R7 (the ratio of elastic recovery to total deformation). Regarding safety, no adverse events were reported in six studies, while the remaining two studies did not specify whether adverse events occurred.

conclusionThe meta-analysis results indicated that botanical preparations significantly enhanced skin hydration, reduced melanin levels and erythema, and increased overall skin elasticity. However, the analysis did not provide sufficient evidence to support a reduction in transepidermal water loss (TEWL), or improvements in R5 (net elasticity) and R7 (the ratio of elastic recovery to total deformation). SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (york.ac.uk) identifier: CRD42023478803.

Indexed as

Plant ExtractsSkin AgingAdministration, CutaneousElasticityErythemaHealthy VolunteersHumansMelaninsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSkinTreatment OutcomeWater Loss, InsensibleMelaninsPlant Extractsmeta‐analysisplant extractskin agingsystematic evaluationtopical treatment

Identifiers

PMID39654386
PMCPMC11845950

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.