Maplifa was recently introduced at the SupplySide West trade show in Las Vegas. It’s the company’s latest installment in a vast line up of patented and clinically backed plant-based ingredients. The water-soluble extract is standardized to a unique polyphenolic ratio and the extract is a proprietary, non-GMO solution. The company said Maplifa (Acer rubrum extract) offers clinically-supported applications that promote multiple areas of dermal health.
Leisha Jenkins, marketing associate at Verdure Sciences, told NutraIngredients-USA that so far the response has been positive: “SupplySide West is one of the biggest trade shows of the year and we were thrilled to talk to many people who visited our booth specifically to ask about Maplifa, its properties, extraction method and more. People seem to be excited about an extract that is clean label, eco-friendly, non-GMO and both sourced and manufactured in North America.”
Plant-based Botox
As we age, skin cell function declines by the loss of skin elasticity and wrinkles appear. Skin elasticity is maintained by proteins such as elastin, and when these proteins are depleted, the skin begins to show wrinkles. Verdure said Maplifa works to defend the skin’s elastin.
Clinical studies are currently underway to examine how Maplifa may support antioxidant function, skin radiance, and skin elasticity, as well as anti-microbial activity at functional skin care levels. Current in vitro work supports the promotion of epidermal homeostasis and multiple mechanisms associated with anti-aging.
Previously, researchers found that maple leaf extract "could inhibit the activity of elastase, which is the enzyme responsible for breaking down elastin," according to Hang Ma, Ph.D., a research associate in the lab of Navindra P. Seeram, Ph.D., the lead investigator of a 2018 study that explored whether leaf extracts from red maple trees could block the activity of elastase.
"You could imagine that these extracts might tighten up human skin like a plant-based Botox, though they would be a topical application, not an injected toxin," Seeram said.
The global Botox market was valued at $4550 million in 2018 and will reach $10400 million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of 12.5% during 2019-2025.
The global anti aging market is expected to exceed more than $271 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of about 8% in the forecast period.
Clean, traceable, sustainable
Verdure said consumers will also appreciate transparent product labels and natural, plant-based ingredients. “Immense effort has been taken to establish a completely clean label ingredient that is traceable, sustainable, and clinically studied. Verdure truly listens to our customers and their market needs. We are honored to offer Maplifa to the global marketplace, while adding to the already impressive lineup here at Verdure. It is only an indication of what is yet to come and we are excited to see how this will continue to highlight Verdure’s position with focused initiatives and clinically efficacious solutions,” explained lead on the project, Sonya Cropper, vice president of marketing & innovation at Verdure Sciences.
Maplifa is also part of the newly announced 'Verdugration' initiative that involves sustainable harvesting techniques to promote healthy tree populations. Verdure explained that Verdugration is a comprehensive initiative targeting traceability, sustainability, and global stewardship of Verdure’s portfolio of plant-based ingredients.
In addition to the earth-friendly harvesting techniques, Maplifa uses eco-friendly extraction. Beyond sustainable and traceable initiatives for the extract, Verdure has secured land in Indiana, where red maple is a native tree.
