Rootness® Mood+
The light-mimicking
skin tone equalizer
The existence of the brain-skin axis was recently demonstrated to explain that some skin issues can have an emotional origin. But if the brain can affect skin's health, what happens on the skin can also affect the brain and mood.Based on this, Clariant Actives & Natural Origins developed Rootness Mood+, an active ingredient that mimics the effects of the sunlight on the skin to produce a positive effect on the brain, improving the mood and providing a relaxing effect.
For this innovative mode of action and its efficacy, Rootness Mood+ was awarded the 2nd prize at the BSB Innovation Awards 2023 and the Ringier Innovation Award 2023.. It also won the bronze prize at CITE Japan 2023 in the category "technology", and the BSB Innovation Award 2023 in the category "Environement", that highlights the benefits brought by the Plant Milking technology.
Responsibly-sourced by Plant Milking technology
Rootness Mood+ comes from the roots of Sanguisorba officinalis, a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).This active ingredient is obtained thanks to the Plant Milking Technology, a patented process allows cultivation of plants in aeroponic conditions to have direct access to the roots, which allows their specific stimulation. As a result, for the first time, tormentic acid derivatives were referenced in the roots of this plant. This molecule is known for its capacity to relieve pain through a neuronal activity.
The Plant Milking Technology is a way to responsibly source new active ingredients while preserving the natural resources:
Water preservation:- Minimal water use- Water recycling- 90% spared water vs. traditional culture
Agricultural land preservation:- Culture in greenhouses: increased production yield with the same surface- Controlled environment: no use of pesticides- 3 root harvests per year
Local production:- No transport: from seed to the active, all the process is done at the same location- Made in France, production supports local economy
Mimicks light-therapy to boost well-being molecules
Skin explants were treated every day during 5 days with Rootness Mood+ or left untreated. Immunostaining demonstrated that Rootness Mood+ activates two types of skin's photoreceptors, peropsin and rhodopsin, for a sun-like mimicking effect. This active can even reinforces the effects of light therapy on skin to activate the cells' photoreceptors.Rootness Mood+ also favors the distribution of vitamin D in the body, by increasing its transporters expression by +35% and receptors expression by +15%, to improve its activity.As a result, Rootness Mood+ increases the levels of two well-being molecules, serotonin and melatonin, by respectively +55% and +120%.
Relaxing the mood to enhance complexion
Women reporting low mood and presenting a dull facial complexion as well as a lack of skin brightness, were enrolled in the clinical study. Twice daily, one group applied on the entire face a product containing 1% Rootness Mood+ and the other a placebo product. The relaxation effect on the mood was measured thanks to electroencephalography (EEG) using a headset device developed by the French biotech company "myBrain Technologies".
Relaxation of volunteers increased by 279%, while there was no change observed among the control group. This mood-boosting effect is equal to that of a yoga session or similar exercise. This confirms the in-vitro results observed for serotonin and melatonin production.
73% of volunteers said they feel refueled when using the product containing Rootness Mood+ (only 50% when using the placebo); this confirms the positive effect on well-being measured with the headset.
