Asiaticoside Supports Collagen Production for Firmer Skin

This chapter begins with the description of the chemical and pharmacological properties of asiaticoside. Asiaticoside, a saponin component that has been isolated from C. asiatica, induces type I collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblast cells. C. asiatica contains triterpenoids, essential oils, amino acids, and other compounds, such as vellarin. The terpenoids include asiaticoside, centelloside, madecassoside, brahmoside, brahminoside, thankuniside, and centellose, and asiatic, brahmic, centellic, and madecassic acids. Asiaticoside produces no side effects such as localized erythema or any kind of discomfort. Following this, the antibiotic character of asiaticoside, anti-herpes simplex virus activities of asiaticoside, wound-healing activity of asiaticoside, anxiolytic properties of asiaticoside, and the anti-wrinkle activity of asiaticoside are described. Asiaticoside induced the phosphorylation of both Smad2 and Smad3. In addition, the asiaticoside-induced binding of Smad3 and Smad4 has also been detected. It is also demonstrated that treatment with asiaticoside induces the synthesis of type I collagen, and the mechanisms underlying its action may be mediated via a TGFβ receptor I kinase (TβRI kinase)-independent Smad activation pathway in cultured human dermal fibroblast cells. It is concluded that asiaticoside can induce the synthesis of type I collagen and that the mechanisms underlying its action are mediated via a TβRI kinase-independent Smad activation pathway.