Novel plant growth factor as cosmetic ingredient

 For centuries, people worldwide have been mystified by the formation of circles or arcs of accelerated or suppressed plant growth in woodlands and grassy fields. These rings sometimes erupt with mushrooms, adding to the intrigue. Myth and superstition led these geometric patterns of plant growth to be called ‘fairy rings’ (Figure 1). 

Honorary Distinguished Professor of Shizuoka University, Dr. Kawagishi, discovered the ‘fairies’ were plant growth regulators, 2-azahypoxanthine (AHX), and imidazole-4- carboxamide (ICA) from the fairy-ring-forming and mushroom-forming fungus Lepista sordida and that AHX was converted into 2-aza-8- oxo-hypoxanthine (AOH) in plants (Figure 2).¹ AHX, ICA, and AOH are called ‘fairy chemicals’ because they are involved in the formation of fairy rings.

Research at Shizuoka University has shown that fairy chemicals are natural, safe compounds found in crops such as rice, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and truffles.² Considering the growth-promoting effect of fairy chemicals on plants, the Vitamin C60 BioResearch Corporation (VC60) hypothesized that fairy chemicals could be beneficial for human skin and, from 2018, started joint research with Shizuoka University to apply fairy chemicals as a cosmetic ingredient. Preliminary studies showed that AOH was a promising candidate as a cosmetic ingredient. Therefore, our research has been focused on AOH.