The present invention relates to the cosmetic or pharmaceutical use of an extract of a nonfruiting nonphotosynthetic filamentous bacterium in a composition containing a cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable medium, as an agent increasing the endogenous synthesis of superoxide dismutase, in particular for preventing and/or limiting the formation of free radicals and/or removing the free radicals present in cells; in addition, the invention relates to a composition comprising at least one extract of Vitreoscilla filiformis and lycopene.