The medical uses and dermatological benefits of placental extracts have been reported since 1954.^1-10 More recently, benefits of the topical use of placental extracts on chronic, non-healing wounds, and vitiligo has also been reported.^11-16

The pharmacological mechanism of action of placental extracts ranges from anti-inflammatory ¹⁷ and wound healing properties to the regenerative effects of transforming growth factor (TGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), fibronectin-like peptide, keratinocyte growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and growth hormone releasing factor. ^18-24

Sterile placental extracts have also been used by oral, intramuscular and intravenous administration in which benefits were seen in humans and animals with autonomic dysfunction (25), neuronal regeneration (26), liver regeneration (27), alopecia (28), atrophic rhinitis (29), myopia and senile chorio-retinal dystrophies (30).

Furthermore, cytokine growth factors and extracellular matrix molecules present in placental extracts are also known to activate and be released by dermal multipotent stem cells to promote the proliferation of fibroblasts and epidermal cells. ^31,32

It is for this reason that the small peptides present in placental extracts are called biomimetics - they mimic the body's own systems and hence cause an activation of stem cells and boost the body's own regenerative and repair mechanisms.

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