Botanical extracts used in the treatment of cellulite.
BACKGROUND
Cellulite is defined as skin relief alterations that give the skin an orange peel or mattress appearance. The lesions tend to be asymptomatic and may be considered the anatomic expressions of the structures in the affected area, such as the fat and subcutaneous septa.


OBJECTIVE
The present article reviews the most important botanical extracts used as active ingredients in the treatment of cellulite, as well as the steps to obtain these botanicals as raw material and their standardization and quality control, which are important to guarantee their therapeutic action.


METHODS
The current literature was reviewed, and we also obtained information from the manufacturers of the products that contained botanicals because of the few publications about this subject.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduction in fat deposits through the continuous use of anticellulite products depends on the availability of the active ingredient at the action site, the concentration of the ingredient in the formulation, and the physiochemical characteristics particular to each active ingredient. The botanicals used in topical products must have standardized extracts, which would permit each phytomedicine to have the same effect anywhere in the world. New scientific research is necessary to verify the efficacy and ideal concentrations of such substances.
Hexsel
Doris
D
Doris Hexsel Dermatologic Clinic, Brazil. dohexsel@terra.com.br
Orlandi
Cecilia
C
Zechmeister do Prado
Debora
D
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000187:drug effects
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts