Col-Frag Remastered™ is the name of a patented biotech active, listed in INCI as Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 sh-Polypeptide-47. It is neither a synthetic peptide nor a plant extract: it is a fragment of collagen produced by a plant. The name says it all — Col-Frag stands for collagen fragment — and it is one of the latest technologies available in dermocosmetics.
The plant Nicotiana benthamiana is induced to produce the sequence through a process called transient expression: the protein is synthesized without genetically modifying the plant. The fragment reproduces a portion of human collagen, which fibroblasts recognize as a matrix-remodeling signal and respond to by producing their own collagen. This is a different mechanism from that of signal peptides: here, a message is not being imitated; the authentic fragment is supplied.
It works on loss of firmness and sagging-related wrinkles—those linked to thinning of the dermis. It is used in a serum, morning and evening. Like all actives that act on fibroblasts, it requires consistency: four to eight weeks.
The ingredient’s technical dossier documents a complete safety profile using standardized methods — non-irritating, non-phototoxic, non-mutagenic — along with notable environmental data: 85% biodegradable in twenty-nine days, non-ecotoxic, and certified vegan and halal. It is a rare combination of documented efficacy and limited environmental impact.
On our blog, you can find an in-depth article on plant-based biotech collagen and how it is produced.
