Spotted Geranium, known as Geranium maculatum, is a native North American wild perennial that can grow up to two feet tall. The plant has long hairy stems, broad leaves that are segmented into toothed fifths, and five-petaled pink to lavender flowers from April to June.
The Chippewa Indians of North America were the first peoples to use this herb for its effectiveness as an astringent, and to fight dysentery and hemorrhaging. These Indians as well as early settlers used the root, or rhizome, to treat and heal sores of the mouth, as an eye-wash when mixed with water, and in a poultice to treat swollen feet.
The roots of this plant are thought to contain ~ 10-20% tannins, which are the chemicals responsible for the plantís astringent properties. Geranium maculatum extract is obtained from the whole plant exists as a clear yellow liquid with a typical pH of 5.5-6.5, and can be utilized in both skin and hair care products.
Geranium maculatum extract boosts dermal fibroblast proliferation and therefore enhances ECM (extracellular matrix) components production including hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin. It promotes skin hydration, smoothness, and firmness. In addition, Geranium Maculatum Extract speeds up dermal cell renewal, exposing a fresher, youthful, and radiant appearance.Is there proof of efficacy for Geranium Maculatum Extract?
Three efficacy studies were performed utilizing Geranium Maculatum Extract, the first being a Cell Proliferation Study. Here, human fibroblasts were grown in a nutrient media with and without sterile filtered Geranium Maculatum Extract at 0.1%. Proliferation was measured with flow cytometry. Results showed that 0.1% of the extract stimulated proliferation at 155%.
The second study performed was an 8-week Chronic Use Study. Geranium Maculatum Extract was used at 10% in water as the 10 subjectís only moisturizer. Four parameters on each subject were evaluated at 0, 4, and 8 weeks: skin firmness via ballistometry, skin hydration via Nova impedance meter, skin smoothness via clinical grading by trained evaluators, and fine lines and wrinkles by the Packman method of SFL evaluations. Smoothness improved by 24%, firmness by 66%, hydration by 22%; fine lines decreased by 21%;
Efficacy Studies The third and final study performed on Geranium Maculatum Extract was a Skin Cell Renewal study. The study was carried out via a Dansyl Chloride method. The Dansyl Chloride was applied at 5% in petrolatum to the backs of subjects for 24 hours under a non-occlusive patch. A quartz mineral lamp was utilized to monitor fluorescent intensity. It was found that NAB Spotted Geranium when used at 10%, increased cell renewal by 16%.
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