A Plant-Based Collagen Analogue with Similar Structure and Function

VC-H1^® is composed of hydrolyzed peptides of a collagen-like protein sourced from organically grown hibiscus. It is the first plant-based collagen alternative containing high levels of the same bioactive peptides from which collagen derives its efficacy, only with better bioavailability, higher potency, and a cleaner organoleptic profile.

Key Benefits

Clinical research shows that VC-H1^® provides substantial benefits for skin appearance and health. Benefits which stem from the stimulation of skin proteins collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.

Wrinkle Reduction

Bolstered Barrier Function

Smoother Skin Texture

Tighter Skin Elasticity

Deep Skin Moisture

Key Features

Besides its health benefits for the consumer, VC-H1^® also has several compelling features that increase its marketability and help tell a complete story about the ingredient.

Low 1.5g Dose

Bioactive Peptides

Sustainable Supply Chain

100% Plant Based

Clean Organoleptic

CLEAN LABEL VERIFIED

VC-H1^® is composed of hydrolyzed peptides from a hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein found in hibiscus. It is hydrolyzed, then fermented to convert some of the sugars in the glycoprotein to amino acids. The final result consists of low molecular weight, bioactive di- and tripeptides with high levels of glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline arranged in motifs found in animal sourced collagen and known to stimulate collagen synthesis.

Preclinical in-vitro

Using an in vitro method, a study compared how effective VC-H1^® stimulated collagen synthesis compared to four other animal-sourced collagen material. VC-H1^® outperformed them all, stimulating the synthesis of between 2x and 4x the amount of collagen as the animal sources, but at 40% of the concentration used to test the animal sources – 0.1% vs 0.25%.

Preclinical in-vivo

A preclinical in vivo study used UVB light as a model for photoaging in mice and compared it to three other groups: a normal control (sham), a photoaged control, and a hydrolyzed fish collagen (HFC) positive control. The results showed VC-H1 had significant effects on mRNA levels, indicating it upregulated and downregulated certain processes. Specifically, it upregulated the production of collagen (COL1A1) and hyaluronic acid (HAS 1/2), and fibroblast proliferation (FGFR1). And it down regulated collagen degradation (MMP 1/2). It also increased collagen fibers and mitigated the thickening of the epidermis, along with decreased TEWL, roughness, and wrinkle depth.

Human Clinical Trial

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled human clinical study evaluated the effects of VC-H1^® on skin health outcomes and appearance. Improvements in hydration, TEWL, Moisture, and Keratin Index indicate better hydration and barrier function. Improvements in Elasticity, Roughness, and Wrinkles indicate a healthier extracellular matrix (ECM) with more abundant and stable proteins like collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. And the improved overall appearance scores from expert graders indicates that the improvements measured by the objective instrumentation outcomes is visibly noticeable.

VC-H1^® is a very versatile ingredient and able to work in a wide range of applications. Its comparatively small dose allows it to be used in applications too small for traditional collagen. It has excellent solubility and long-term stability. It has a light, neutral taste, it is odorless, and it has a very smooth and light-bodied texture. This is an advantage of VC-H1^® because the market share for powder formats continues to shrink as consumers opt for for smaller, more convenient formats. Some expect gummies to become the top format by 2026 as it has strong growth projections. But the fastest growing is ready to drink beverages. Within the “Other” category, jelly or jelly stick packs are seeing a strong uptick in adoption. VC-H1^® has already been proven out in most of the categories including liquid, gummies, powder, and jelly.

VC-H1^® Can Be Formulated Into:

Clinical research shows that VC-H1^® provides substantial benefits for skin appearance and health. Benefits which stem from the stimulation of skin proteins collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.