Study finds leaf extract improves acne severity, skin quality in women

Key takeaways:

• Rehmannia glutinosa leaf extract has many properties that make it a promising acne treatment.
• 80% of the leaf extract group moved from the moderate to mild severity category vs. 50% of placebo.

Rehmannia glutinosa leaf extract supplementation improved acne severity, skin hydration and the quality of life of women with acne vulgaris, according to a study.

“Although isotretinoin and benzoyl peroxide have lately been the drug of choice for many dermatologists, the increasing cases of antibiotic resistance urges in developing acne management strategies that can successfully eliminate antibiotics,” Shalini Srivastava, MD, MSc, associate director of clinical development at Vedic Lifesciences, and colleagues wrote.

Widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, R. glutinosa Libosch leaf extract contains antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and photo-protective properties that make it a potential treatment option for acne.

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the authors evaluated the safety and efficacy of this leaf extract for the treatment of women with moderate to severe acne. Twenty-two women were randomly assigned to receive either 100 mg of the leaf extract (n = 10) or placebo (n = 12) once daily for 56 days.

Results showed that by day 28, patients treated with the leaf extract experienced a greater reduction in their Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) scores vs. those taking the placebo (–21.72% vs. –14.2%).

By day 56, a large proportion of both treatment groups moved from the moderate severity category to the mild severity category with similar results. However, those treated with the leaf extract had a slightly higher mean severity reduction than those taking placebo (–6.7 vs. –5.75).

“The reduction of the GAGS score in the placebo group may be attributed to the self-regressive nature of the acne vulgaris,” the authors explained.

Ultimately, 80% of participants treated with the leaf extract moved from the moderate to mild severity category compared with 50% of the placebo-treated group.

Additionally, those treated with the leaf extract were cleared of all inflammatory nodules whereas those treated with placebo were not. The leaf extract also achieved multiple secondary endpoints including an improvement in skin hydration and patients’ quality of life. However, it did not reduce sebum secretion or wrinkle severity.

“The results of this preliminary study provide a valid proof-of-concept for designing a more extensive investigation to confirm the efficacy of RGLE supplementation in managing acne,” the authors concluded.