The global demographic landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. The world population is rapidly aging, with individuals aged 60 and older projected to double by 2050, reaching an astonishing 2.1 billion. This significant demographic shift has instigated a re-evaluation of aging, moving beyond merely extending lifespan to enhancing "healthspan" – the period of life spent in good health, free from chronic disease and disability. This paradigm defines the burgeoning "age-better" trend, a holistic approach prioritizing physical vitality, mental acuity, and social engagement. Individuals are no longer content with passive aging; they actively seek to maintain independence, pursue passions, and contribute meaningfully to society well into their later years (1).

Today's population is more informed and proactive, viewing aging not as an inevitable decline but as a phase to be optimized. This mindset drives demand for comprehensive solutions supporting critical functions: preserving physical mobility, maintaining cognitive sharpness, boosting energy, strengthening immune resilience, and fostering emotional well-being. Such a proactive approach fuels significant investment in personal health, with many exploring nutrition, exercise, and supplementation to achieve their "age-better" goals.

The pursuit of healthy aging extends beyond internal vitality to encompass external appearance, reflecting a holistic view of well-being. A vibrant appearance, particularly through healthy skin and hair, has become a key indicator of overall vitality and a significant component of the "age-better" trend. Consumers increasingly recognize that a healthy look contributes not only to self-confidence and social engagement but also to an improved quality of life. This growing awareness fuels a substantial global market; the anti-aging segment alone was valued at an estimated USD 67.5 billion in 2023 and is projected for substantial growth, demonstrating a collective commitment to maintaining a healthy and youthful aesthetic. Individuals seek sophisticated solutions that offer lasting results by addressing the underlying biological mechanisms of aging (2).

In this evolving landscape of health expectations, Indena stands as a pioneering force, dedicating its extensive research to understanding cellular aging, optimizing body function, and enhancing healthy appearance. These three pillars are fundamental to achieving healthy longevity. Indena's commitment is reflected in its portfolio of specific natural ingredients, each meticulously validated through rigorous scientific studies, empowering individuals to embark on their golden aging journey today.

The dermis, the skin's deeper layer, serves as a critical interface, constantly signalling our internal health status to the external world. Exposed to a barrage of external stressors like pollution and UV radiation, as well as internal factors such as stress and aging, it requires robust support to maintain its integrity and youthful vitality.

Collagen, the body's most abundant protein, is essential for providing structure, strength, firmness, and elasticity to skin and other tissues. However, the body's natural collagen production begins to decrease as early as age 25, leading to thinner and more fragile skin, wrinkles, and loss of muscle tone. To maintain healthy-looking skin for longer, acting on time and accessing natural ingredients that can reactivate endogenous collagen production is crucial, preventing long-term deterioration without adverse effects. This is precisely what today’s consumers and healthcare professionals seek.

Centella asiatica L., a highly valued botanical, offers numerous benefits for skin health. Its remarkable properties are attributed to unique triterpenoid acids and derivatives: madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, and asiatic acid. These active compounds are scientifically proven to promote collagen synthesis, support wound healing, exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, provide antioxidant protection, stimulate microcirculation and help contrast water retention (3).

However, as is common with many powerful natural ingredients, the full potential of centella is often limited by its inherently reduced bio-absorbability.

To unlock the full potential of its premium centella extract while preserving its rich phytochemical profile, Indena exploited its multitalented proprietary delivery system, Indena Phytosome®, successfully integrating it with the Centella asiatica extract, ensuring its beneficial triterpenes remained intact and highly absorbable. The result is CENTEXTRA^®, much more than Centella.

Rigorous preclinical tests conducted by Indena demonstrate CENTEXTRA^®'s superior effectiveness compared to the unformulated centella extract. Its advantages are: Data on file – Manuscript in preparation

• enhanced antioxidant action: greater protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitigating oxidative stress risks;
• support for healthy inflammatory response: significant reduction in intracellular IL-6 release in response to inflammatory stimuli, promoting balanced inflammation;
• promoted/superior cell migration: enhanced wound healing and faster skin repair;
• collagen level restoration: helps restore collagen levels after oxidative stress and inhibits collagenase (MMP-1), crucial for maintaining skin integrity.

Moreover, to ensure rigorous control over botanical raw material, standardization, and the absence of contaminants, Indena sources Centella asiatica also from a dedicated agricultural hub in South Sardinia. This innovative project utilizes a high-precision, combined production cycle integrating phytotrons (climate chambers for precise growth control) and 160 completely self-sufficient photovoltaic greenhouses. This approach aligns fully with Indena’s ecological sustainability mission, guaranteeing unparalleled raw material quality, the highest standards, an entirely traceable “Made-in-Italy” sourcing process, and a local, transparent supply chain.

CENTEXTRA^®, the innovative Centella Indena Phytosome®, stimulates collagen production, contributing to thicker, smoother, and more radiant skin – truly promoting healthier and restored skin for longer. Data on file – Manuscript in preparation It represents a significant advancement in the holistic management of skin aging processes.

Complementing the strategies for a healthy appearance, Indena offers PUREBKALE^®, an innovative food-grade extract designed to support the body’s detoxification processes and foster healthy-looking skin. Through meticulous screening of Brassica oleracea seed samples, known for their beneficial nutrients (4), Indena identified the optimal source for a uniquely high glucoraphanin concentration (≥17%). Produced exclusively with water as a solvent and leveraging a trusted Italian supply chain, PUREBKALE^® underscores Indena's commitment to purity and quality.

Clinical studies have shown that PUREBKALE^® provides significant benefits for skin barrier integrity, dermal structure, and various skin parameters, establishing it as a viable healthy aging strategy for the skin (5).

Improvements were observed in firmness, elasticity, wrinkle depth, and dermis density in women experiencing mild-to-moderate facial aging signs.

PUREBKALE^®'s production demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability, taking place in an ISO 14001 and ISO 45001-certified plant. Here, CO₂ emissions are significantly reduced, energy transition initiatives are underway, and occupational health and safety are prioritized. Sourced from a 100% Italian supply chain, the raw material benefits from sustainable cultivation practices, ensuring superior biomass quality. PUREBKALE^® truly embodies harnessing nature's power for beauty that starts from within.

The "age-better" trend represents a fundamental and empowering shift in how society perceives and approaches aging – an active pursuit of longevity, quality of life, and sustained vitality across physical, cognitive, emotional, and aesthetic dimensions. As a recognized leader in the nutraceutical industry, with its unwavering focus on natural and scientifically validated solutions, Indena is uniquely positioned as a vital partner in this journey. Through innovative ingredients like CENTEXTRA^® and PUREBKALE^®, Indena empowers individuals to actively pursue their goals of living longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives, profoundly demonstrating that nature offers effective solutions for a timeless quality of life. The foundation of your golden aging truly begins today, naturally.