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Innovative Medicines & Omics

REVIEW ARTICLE
Fermentation-derived compounds and their

impact on skin health and dermatology:
A review

Rawan Atef Essmat 1 , Nour Altalla , and Radwa Abdallnasser Amen *
1
2
1 Faculty of Pharmacy, Modern University for Information and Technology, Cairo, Egypt
2 Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Fermented plant extracts have recently become popular ingredients in various
cosmetic and dermal applications, mainly because of their superior biological
activities. In fermentation by microorganisms, the concentration of the useful
compound is increased or new phytochemicals are introduced, enhancing
their biological activity in anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, wound-healing,
anti-melanogenic, and antioxidant applications. The fermented state of
Panax ginseng shows higher anti-wrinkle and whitening effects than its non-
fermented counterpart. Black ginseng promotes collagen synthesis and inhibits
melanogenesis after fermentation. Fermented extracts of Magnolia denudata,
organic Indica rice bran, and unpolished Black rice also show very good antioxidant
and skin-whitening activities. Hyaluronic acid, kojic acid, citric acid, glycolic acid,
*Corresponding author: and ascorbic acid are acids produced by the fermentation of natural products,
Radwa Abdallnasser Amen
(radwaabdallnasser@gmail.com) forming smaller molecules size that are more effective than high molecular size
and able to penetrate deeply into the skin, maintaining its microbiota balance
Citation: Essmat RA, Altalla N,
Amen RA. Fermentation-derived and providing antioxidant protection. Fermented vitamins include B3, A, and E
compounds and their impact on skin produced through microbial fermentation with added stability and bioactivity to
health and dermatology: A review. contribute toward better skin health, promotion of absorption, anti-inflammation,
Innov Med Omics. 2025;2(1):19-35.
doi: 10.36922/imo.5020 and antioxidant properties. Skin health is modulated by its resident microbiota
and their metabolites, among which fermented microorganisms have gained
Received: October 01, 2024 interest as active skincare ingredients. It is known that metabolites from skin-
Revised: November 05, 2024
Accepted: November 21, 2024 associated bacteria improve skin pigmentation and wrinkle appearance, such as
Published online: December 27, Nitrosomonas eutropha, which oxidizes ammonia produced from sweat into nitric
2024 oxide derivatives. Similarly, antimicrobial peptide from Enterococcus faecalis strain
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). proved to be potent against Cutibacterium acnes; hence, anti-acne treatments
This is an Open-Access article have been commercialized. In addition, Vitreoscilla filiformis found in hot springs
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution significantly ameliorated symptoms of atopic dermatitis and photoaging while
License, permitting distribution, Streptococcus thermophilus enhanced levels of the natural ceramides, thereby
and reproduction in any medium, enhancing skin barrier and hydration.
provided the original work is
properly cited.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience Keywords: Fermented plant extracts; Anti-melanogenic; Antioxidant protection;
Publishing remains neutral with Skin barrier; Anti-wrinkle effects; Anti-inflammatory; Wound healing; Skin microbiota
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional balance
affiliations.

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 19 doi: 10.36922/imo.5020