Maple trees produce more than maple syrup and fall foliage. Maple leaves produce phenolic compounds known as glucitol-core-containing gallotannins these are showing promise to protect skin from inflammation and lighten dark spots, such as unwanted freckles or age spots.
The new product is named MaplifaTM (pronounced "mape-LEAF-uh"). It’s been licensed to a botanical extracts supplier Verdure Sciences based in Indiana and the company hopes to market it in the cosmetics sector or even in dietary supplements as a wrinkle prevention treatment.
Since leaves fall naturally, it’s a potential value added product for maple syrup farmers.
The paper was published with the American Chemical Society. "Maple leaf extract could nip skin wrinkles in the bud." ScienceDaily, 20 August 2018.