Herbal approaches to anti-ageing: a comprehensive review of anti-wrinkle phytoconstituents and mechanisms

Aging of the skin is a complex biological process characterized by visible manifestations such as wrinkles, loss of elasticity, pigmentation irregularities, and dermal thinning [1].These alterations result from cumulative damage caused by both intrinsic factors genetic, hormonal, and metabolic and extrinsic factors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, pollution, and lifestyle habits.At the molecular level, skin aging is associated with oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, advanced glycation end-product (AGE) accumulation, telomere shortening, and impaired cell signaling [2].Skin aging is a complex and multifactorial biological process driven by the interplay of intrinsic factors such as genetics, hormonal fluctuations, and metabolic activity, along with extrinsic influences including ultraviolet (UV) radiation, environmental pollution, and lifestyle habits.These factors collectively induce oxidative stress, inflammation, collagen degradation, and cellular senescence, leading to visible signs of aging such as wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and pigmentation.In recent years, plant-derived phytochemicals have gained significant attention as natural, effective, and safer alternatives to synthetic anti-ageing agents.Owing to their diverse bioactivities, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, photoprotective, collagen-preserving, and cell-signalling modulation they offer multifaceted protection and rejuvenation benefits for the skin.