Vol. 38, Issue 5, Page 25 (May 2007)

LESLIE S. BAUMANN, M.D.

DR. BAUMANN is director of cosmetic dermatology at the University of Miami. To respond to this column, or to suggest topics for future columns, write to Dr. Baumann at our editorial offices via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The coffee plant Coffea arabica is cultivated worldwide and is, of course, a source of the wildly popular beverage. In spite of its name, C. arabica actually comes from Ethiopia and is thought to have been introduced into Arabia before the 1400s, Java before 1700, and the West Indies and Central and South America in the 1700s (Morton, J.F. “Major Medicinal Plants.” Springfield, Ill.: Thomas, 1977).

Extracts of the coffee plant have been shown to exhibit antioxidant activity. Two recent studies, for example, point to the antioxidant properties of roasted C. arabica. In one, researchers prepared coffee model systems from combinations of compounds, including chlorogenic acid, sucrose, and cellulose. Tests revealed that antioxidant activity exhibited a positive, nonlinear relationship with the level of chlorogenic acid, a known antioxidant, after roasting (J. Agric. Food Chem. 2002;50:3751–6).

In the other study, C. arabica and C. robusta (C. canephora) revealed potent activity against the hydroxyl radical in an in vitro assay, and ex vivo in IMR32 cells. The investigators concluded that both green and roasted coffee exhibit antiradical activity, with 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid as the most active constituent, and that the roasting process stimulates high-molecular-weight components to display antiradical activity in coffee. The authors speculated that these findings could account for the neuroprotective effects associated with coffee consumption in recent epidemiologic studies (J. Agric. Food Chem. 2004;52:1700–4). In fact, three recent epidemiologic studies have provided evidence linking regular coffee and caffeine consumption with a lower incidence or reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease (J. Neurosci. 2001;21:1–6; Ann. Neurol. 2001;50:56–63; JAMA 2000;283:2674–9).

Coffee Berry

Although much attention has been focused on coffee beans, particularly roasted beans, the fruit of the coffee plant has long been ignored because it decays rapidly.

Coffee berry, the fruit that grows on C. arabica, is suffused with polyphenols, especially chlorogenic acid, condensed proanthocyanidins, quinic acid, and ferulic acid. Coffee berry is believed to exhibit higher antioxidant activity than do green tea, white tea, pomegranates, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. Polyphenols, which are secondary metabolites in plants, play an integral role in a healthful diet and are key constituents of fruits, vegetables, grains, coffee beans, and green and black tea (Annu. Rev. Nutr. 2002;22:19–34; Nutr. Cancer 1993;20:21–9; Pharmacol. Ther. 2001;90:157–77; Am. J. Med. 2002;113 (suppl. 2):71–88; Pol. J. Pharmacol. 1996;48:555–64; J. Sci. Food Agric. 1999;79:362–72; Free Radic. Biol. Med. 2001;30:1213–22; Biomed. Papers 2003;147:137–45).

Copious research during the past several years has shown that polyphenols represent a wealth of potential health benefits, typically related to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Consequently, pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical manufacturers have targeted the activity of polyphenols for medical and cosmetic applications.

A method of translating the claimed prodigious properties of the coffee-berry fruit has reportedly been developed. In fact, the extract of the fruit was acknowledged as a suitable ingredient for dermatologic application at the February 2007 meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

RevaléSkin was the first skin care product line based on the purported antioxidant capacity of coffee-berry polyphenols. Stiefel Laboratories, the manufacturer, claims that this line of products is indicated for antiaging treatment. Specifically, the product line is said to confer antioxidant activity and protection against UVA and UVB radiation (SKIN & ALLERGY NEWS, April 2007, p. 1).

The primary active ingredient in these products is CoffeeBerry extract (a registered trademark of VDF FutureCeuticals). In proprietary research, CoffeeBerry extract exhibited 10 times as much antioxidant capacity as green tea did in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay. In addition, Stiefel claims that a test of the RevaléSkin formulation over a 6-week period resulted in improvement in hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, and overall appearance. According to Stiefel, there were no reports of irritation by patients with sensitive skin. The products in the RevaléSkin line (a cleanser, day cream, and night cream), which contain 1% CoffeeBerry extract, have been available to patients through medical aesthetic professionals since spring 2007. Before CoffeeBerry extract was used in RevaléSkin products, it had been employed in dietary supplements and food products.

Sövage Instant Lip Plumper, a new serum manufactured by Sövage Dermatologic Laboratories, is another product that contains C. arabica as an active ingredient, although CoffeeBerry extract is not included. According to the manufacturer, this formulation hydrates and protects the lips, and can alter the appearance of lip contour, size, and color.

The C. arabica plant is also used in some botanical formulations intended to treat cellulite. The caffeine in these products is extracted from the leaves rather than the berries (Dermatol. Surg. 2005;31:866–72).

Topical products that contain C. arabica—and CoffeeBerry extract in particular—are generally regarded as safe.

Conclusions

Given the widespread use of the C. arabica plant, and growing scientific interest in exploring and expanding its use, it would certainly be convenient and cost effective if companies that harvested the plant also used its fruit in some capacity.

Preliminary evidence suggests that coffee berry warrants consideration for its strong antioxidant potential. However, claims that it improves wrinkles likely stem from a moisturizing effect, as we all know now that antioxidants prevent wrinkles but do not treat wrinkles. The therapeutic effects seen on hyperpigmentation make sense because antioxidants play a role in the pigmentation process.

In my opinion, the “superior antioxidant protection” that any product claims cannot be proven. This is because there is no agreement on what test is best for assessing antioxidant activity. In the test that compared the antioxidant capacity of CoffeeBerry extract with that of green tea, the oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay was used. However, other assays are available, such as the environmental protection factor assay used to compare idebenone to several antioxidants.

It is certain that antioxidants are useful for combating aging and cancer. However, it is not known which antioxidants are best, or whether oral or topical administration is most effective. For a discussion of topical vs. oral antioxidants, please see my comment in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (“How to Prevent Photoaging,” J. Invest. Derm. 2005;125:xii-xiii).

PII: S0037-6337(07)70336-4

doi:10.1016/S0037-6337(07)70336-4

© 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.