Is there anything sexier than slathering your pancakes in a thick, slow-pouring layer of maple syrup?

The answer is no - but the next best thing to slather maple syrup on might be your face. New research shows that extracts from the leaves of maple trees could help to slow down the signs of ageing. Maple leaf extract contains could block the production of elastase, reducing the breakdown of skin's elastin. Elastin is the protein in skin's connective tissue that helps it return to its original form after it's stretched, keeping skin firm and springy. It is naturally broken down by elastase over time, causing wrinkles and fine lines. "You could imagine that these extracts might tighten up human skin like a plant-based Botox, though they would be a topical application, not an injected toxin," said Navindra P Seeram, the principal investigator on the study at University of Rhode Island. "And the fact that the extracts are derived from trees would be appreciated by consumers who are looking for natural, plant-based ingredients in their skincare products. "Native Americans used leaves from red maple trees in their traditional system of medicine, so why should we ignore the leaves?" So far, there's no formula containing this extract on the market but we'd be expecting to see maple-themed skincare products on sale in the near future.