Skin Properties of Kinetin (6-Furfurylaminopurine)

Kinetin, 6-furfurylaminopurine, was the first isolated cytokinin growth factor. Kinetin has inherent antioxidant properties and is known to delay senescence in plant cells. In 1994, it was shown to also delay aging in human dermal fibroblasts, without harmful effects such as increased cell proliferation or transformation leading to carcinogenesis. Compared to cells treated with kinetin, which retained normal morphology, control cells had highly polymerized actin filaments and disorganized microtubules, and a decrease in protein synthesis by a factor of three. Different mechanisms have been proposed, including stimulation of protein elongation factors, interaction with ribosomal proteins, and other signal transduction pathways promoting protein synthesis. 

It has also been shown to induce differentiation of keratinocytes undergoing aging, especially in the presence of calcium. Moreover, kinetin acts indirectly as an antioxidant and increases superoxide dismutase activity. In hairless dogs, it has been shown to decrease the density of melanin granules throughout all of the epidermal layers. Kinetin’s anti-aging effects on skin were compared to those of retinol in a randomized double blinded 12-week trial. Both compounds showed significant improvement in aging characteristics of skin. In another study, volunteers with mild to moderately photodamaged skin used a moisturizing cream containing 0.1% kinetin combined with sunscreen application. Subjects had high tolerability for the kinetin cream and improved the appearance of photodamaged skin. Asian women who applied topical kinetin and niacinamide compared to only niacinamide showed that kinetin helped reduce age spots, pore size, wrinkles, and evenness. Other clinical trials have shown that kinetin increases elasticity of the skin but does not significantly support the skin’s ability to retain water. Recently, a skin cream containing N-acetylfarnesyl- cysteine was found superior to kinetin in its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. An evidence-based study on topical skin rejuvenation found that kinetin is not as effective on wrinkles and epidermal thickening as Pal-KTTKS, niacinamide, or tretinoin.

Pyratine-6 is a molecule with a structure similar to kinetin. Like kinetin, it has the ability to slow down senescence onset in human skill cells, and to neutralize reactive oxygen species that can lead to skin aging. A single-arm longitudinal study on 40 women with photodamaged facial skin who applied pyratine-6 to their faces showed significant improvement in skin moisture and roughness in two weeks. At four weeks, there was also significant improvement in mottled hyperpigmentation, facial erythema, and wrinkles. Pyratine-6 has also trialed as a topical treatment of mild to moderate rosacea.

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