Efficacy of a multifunctional plant complex in the treatment of the so-called 'cellulite': clinical and instrumental evaluation.

'Cellulite' or more correctly oedemateous fibrosclerotic panniculopathy, or local lipodystrophy, is a common aesthetic problem for many women, visually characterized by the orange peel or dimpled look of the skin, mainly on the buttocks and thighs. The cause of cellulite is still a matter of debate. It is currently considered an endocrine-metabolic microcirculatory disorder that causes interstitial matrix alterations and structural changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue. The first step in cellulite treatment is stimulation of microcirculation and the removal of accumulated fluids and toxic elements. This can improve the interstitial matrix basal regulation, fibroblast activity and decrease interstitial oedema, with subsequent increase in lipolysis and a better oxygen and nutrition of the adipose tissue. In this paper are reported two trials aimed at evaluating clinically and instrumentally the effects of different orally administered multifunctional plant extracts-based formulations in the treatment of cellulite compared with a placebo.