Chrysin is a natural flavonoid found primarily in honey, propolis, passionflower (Passiflora caerulea), and certain plants in the Asteraceae family. It belongs to the large family of polyphenols, bioactive compounds widely studied for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hormonal metabolism-regulating properties.
Mechanisms of action of chrysin
Although its name may still sound unfamiliar outside the world of research, chrysin has been the subject of study in pharmacology and biochemistry for decades. In recent years, however, interest in it has grown significantly in the field of aesthetic medicine and anti-aging, where its multiple mechanisms of action position it as an active ingredient with great potential.
To understand why it is relevant in aesthetic medicine, it is helpful to know the main biological mechanisms through which it exerts its effects.
- Antioxidant activity. Chrysin neutralizes free radicals and reduces cellular oxidative stress, one of the main factors involved in skin aging. By protecting skin cells against oxidative damage, it helps preserve the integrity of collagen and elastin fibers, which are responsible for the firmness and elasticity of the dermis.
- Anti-inflammatory properties. Chrysin inhibits various pro-inflammatory pathways. This represents a strategy of great preventive and therapeutic value.
- Aromatase inhibition. Perhaps the most cited mechanism in scientific literature. Chrysin acts as a natural inhibitor of aromatase, the enzyme that converts androgens into estrogens. This property has direct implications for hormonal balance and, by extension, for aspects such as localized fat, dermal hydration, or collagen synthesis—all of which are strongly modulated by the hormonal system.
- Regulation of melanogenesis. Recent studies have shown that chrysin can interfere with melanin production by modulating the activity of tyrosinase, the key enzyme in pigment synthesis. This opens the door for its use in depigmenting treatments and in the management of melasma and other hyperpigmentations.
- Anti-glycation effect. Glycation deteriorates collagen and elastin by generating advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Chrysin has demonstrated the ability to inhibit this process, making it an ally against the structural aging of the skin.
The flavonoid revolutionizing aesthetic medicine
The properties of chrysin translate into a wide range of possible clinical and cosmetic applications.
In the field of active cosmetics and topical treatments, chrysin is being incorporated into anti-aging formulations, antioxidant serums, and depigmenting creams. Its ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress makes it particularly interesting in post-procedure protocols, where the tissue requires regeneration and protection.
In the area of hormonal and integrative aesthetic medicine, chrysin is used in some protocols as an oral or topical supplement for patients with hormonal imbalances that manifest in the skin: dull skin, loss of dermal density, a tendency toward hyperpigmentation, or hormonal-profile acne.
Its action on localized fat also sparks interest. By modulating estrogen levels locally, chrysin could assist in improving skin quality during body contouring treatments, although this field requires more rigorous clinical evidence.
Finally, in the context of skin aging, chrysin fits well into proactive aesthetic medicine strategies: patients who, before the signs of aging become evident, seek tools to preserve the structural quality of their skin.
Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, pigment-regulating, and hormonal balance-modulating actions make it a transversal active ingredient, capable of contributing to both preventive treatments and more complex therapeutic approaches.
However, it is important to add that most applications in aesthetic medicine are supported by reasoned extrapolations of preclinical evidence and the clinical experience of professionals working in this field. This does not diminish the value of the compound, but it does necessitate maintaining a rigorous approach and staying attentive to the results of ongoing studies.
Commitment to quality
This text abou chrysin has been prepared by professional editors. In addition, we have relied on experts in medicine, engineering and aesthetics as a source of information, as well as specific studies to maintain the quality of what we publish.
At Sisneo Bioscience we are committed to publish truthful and contrasted information. And to update or correct it as soon as new knowledge becomes available.
Among others, we have used the following sources:
- Stompor-Gorący M, Bajek-Bil A, Machaczka M. Chrysin: Perspectives on Contemporary Status and Future Possibilities as Pro-Health Agent. Nutrients. 2021 Jun 14;13(6):2038. doi: 10.3390/nu13062038. PMID: 34198618; PMCID: PMC8232110.