Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recently, 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. METHODS: Four 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. RESULTS: Products 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. CONCLUSION: The 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.