TITLE:
Oral Supplementation with Rosa damascena Extract Improves Skin Antioxidant Status: Exploratory Clinical Studies
AUTHORS:
Messaouda-Mouna Kaci, Audrey Gauthier, Sarah Kreitz, Marina Humbert, Irène Lamour, Smail Meziane
KEYWORDS:
Antioxidants, Food Supplement, Polyphenols, Rosa damascena, Superoxyde Dismutase, Skin Protection
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.16 No.12,
December
12,
2025
ABSTRACT: Rosa damascena has long been cultivated for its essential oil and consumed as an edible flower. It is a rich source of phytochemicals including phenolic acids and flavonoids exhibiting strong antioxidant properties, making it a promising candidate for mitigating the adverse effects of exposome-related oxidative stress. This study evaluated the antioxidant potential of dietary supplementation with an upcycled Rosa damascena extract (RE) derived from a by-product of fresh rose hydrodistillation, used alone or in combination. Its composition and antioxidant activity were assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, HPLC methods and the total antioxidant power assay both in vitro (PAOT Liquid®) and in vivo (PAOT Skin®). Two exploratory clinical studies were conducted: in study 1, volunteers received a single oral dose of 40 or 140 mg of RE; in study 2, volunteers took a blend of RE and melon concentrate, standardized in Superoxide Dismutase, daily for 8 weeks. Both the single oral dose of RE and the 8-week daily supplementation with the combined formulation significantly improved skin antioxidant status. These findings suggest that RE, either alone or in combination, offers a promising strategy for protecting the skin against oxidative stress and preventing its associated consequences.