LONGEVITY 23
in this production chain which is known to reduce with age.12
The bakuchiol NAD+ ester was evaluated in
collaboration with OxiProteomics – a French CRO specialised in biomarker assessment - for three key longevity measures: NAD+/NADH ratio, γH2AX presence (DNA damage marker) via immunofluorescence, and PARP1 activity via immunofluorescence. NAD+/NADH ratio is a common measure of NAD+ levels, a higher ratio is the goal for longevity interventions. The assessment was performed on a human
skin explant that was stressed with UVA to simulate photoageing. Actives were incubated with explants for one day. Bakuchiol, nicotinic acid, and the combination of bakuchiol with nicotinic acid in formulation were used as comparative results versus the bakuchiol NAD+ ester. In these tests, the bakuchiol NAD+ ester
overwhelmingly outperformed all other comparators in NAD+ production alongside lowest PARP1 protein activity (indicative of low DNA damage – as PARPs are normally active when DNA becomes damaged). This indicates a strong synergy established through combining bakuchiol and nicotinic acid into one molecule over their individual counterparts. This is especially apparent when considering
that 0.01% bakuchiol NAD+ ester contains 0.0025% of bakuchiyl nicotinate (the rest being solvent) vs 0.005% bakuchiol. Therefore bakuchiyl nicotinate outperformed bakuchiol and nicotinic acid despite being tested at half the concentration versus bakuchiol and 400x less versus nicotinic acid.
The bakuchiol NAD+ ester also showed
protective efficacy against DNA damage, γH2AX is a phosphorylated histone variant that has greater expression with DNA damage. Figure 5 illustrates that all conditions performed exceedingly well with over 70% protective efficacy except for bakuchiol alone which only reached 41%. The more traditional mechanisms of action for bakuchiol NAD+ ester are best exemplified by its
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Figure 3: Overview of conversion pathways cells use to create NAD+ alongside the many uses of NAD+ within cells10
gene expression profile. Figure 6 is a compilation of multiple gene expression tests done comparing the bakuchiol NAD+ ester with bakuchiol, nicotinic acid, and water. Ultimately, bakuchiyl nicotinate outperforms its individual components manifold in key tests like collagen, elastin, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant markers. It also uniquely increased PARP gene expression to reinforce their availability (different from protein activity which is usually elevated upon DNA damage), a mechanism that was unfound in bakuchiol nor nicotinic acid. The ester technology approach also solves several constraints inherent in Nicotinic Acid (also
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known as Niacin). Niacin, just like niacinamide, is water soluble which is suboptimal for skin penetration and requires the use of higher concentrations. However, high concentration use of niacin leads to the infamous niacin flush, which is an immune cell interaction that leads to skin redness.13 The bakuchiol NAD+ ester subverts these
constraints because it is lipophilic and small molecular weight. Quantitative modelling demonstrated 200x+ greater penetration potential of bakuchiyl nicotinate versus NAD+ precursors (niacin, niacinamide, NMN etc.). This was reinforced by in vitro skin penetration
Figure 4: Assessment of NAD+/NADH ratio and PARP1 activity in skin explants with the bakuchiol NAD+ ester, bakuchiol, nicotinic acid, and bakuchiol + nicotinic acid as treatment conditions
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Figure 5: Assessment of γH2AX expression (labelled in red) in skin explants with the bakuchiol NAD+ ester, bakuchiol, nicotinic acid, and bakuchiol + nicotinic acid as treatment conditions
May 2026 PERSONAL CARE MAGAZINE
NAD+/NADH ratio (% vs Control)
PARP1 level (RFU, % vs Control)
Control Stress (UV-A)
0.01% Bakuchiol NAD+BCR+Stress
0.005% Bakuchiol+Stress 1% Nicotinic Acid+Stress
0.005%+1% (Bakuchiol: Nicotinic Acid)+Stress
Control Stress (UV-A)
0.01% Bakuchiol NAD+BCR+Stress
0.005% Bakuchiol+Stress 1% Nicotinic Acid+Stress
0.005% (Bakuchiol x 1% Nicotinic Acid)+Stress
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