Plants from Urban Parks as Valuable Cosmetic Ingredients: Green Extraction, Chemical Composition and Activity

The research on the possibilities of using biowaste from urban green areas is scarce. In this work, four plants, widely distributed in urban parks in Central Europe (Lotus corniculatus, Medicago lupulina, Knautia arvensis and Plantago major) were extracted using eco-friendly solvents based either on aqueous cyclodextrin solutions (hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin or γ-cyclodextrin) or natural deep eutectic solvents based on glycerol, betaine and glucose. Metal content was determined using total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF). The content of selected metabolites was determined using UV-VIS spectrophotometric methods and HPLC. Skin-related bioactivity was assessed using tyrosinase and elastase inhibition assays. The selected plants contained metals beneficial for skin health, such as zinc and calcium, while having a low content of toxic heavy metals. The extracts contained the bioactive phenolics such as quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin and apigenin. L. corniculatus was the most potent tyrosinase inhibitor, while K. arvensis showed the most pronounced elastase inhibitory activity. The employed solvents actively contributed to the observed bioactivity. The results indicate that the biowaste obtained from urban parks represents an ecologically acceptable alternative to conventional cultivation for the preparation of ecologically acceptable, high-value cosmetic products.

The Influence of Polysaccharides/TiO2 on the Model Membranes of Dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol and Bacterial Lipids

The aim of the study was to determine the bactericidal properties of popular medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic ingredients, namely chitosan (Ch), hyaluronic acid (HA), and titanium dioxide (TiO2). The characteristics presented in this paper are based on the Langmuir monolayer studies of the model biological membranes formed on subphases with these compounds or their mixtures. To prepare the Langmuir film, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) (DPPG) phospholipid, which is the component of most bacterial membranes, as well as biological material-lipids isolated from bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used. The analysis of the surface pressure-mean molecular area (π-A) isotherms, compression modulus as a function of surface pressure, CS−1 = f(π), relative surface pressure as a function of time, π/π0 = f(t), hysteresis loops, as well as structure visualized using a Brewster angle microscope (BAM) shows clearly that Ch, HA, and TiO2 have antibacterial properties. Ch and TiO2 mostly affect S. aureus monolayer structure during compression. They can enhance the permeability of biological membranes leading to the bacteria cell death. In turn, HA has a greater impact on the thickness of E. coli film.

The effect of education on knowledge and attitudes in using halal cosmetic products

Consumers' awareness of halal cosmetics is still low. The high level of dependence on a product and the lack of consumer knowledge of cosmetic ingredients makes it difficult for consumers to switch to cosmetic products that are halal certified. Minimal education that is easily accessible regarding the halalness of a cosmetic product among the community is a problem that results in the lack of awareness of halal. This study aims to obtain information about the effect of halal education on knowledge and attitudes in the use of cosmetics. The method used in this study is an experimental design with a sample size of 30 respondents who are active users of cosmetics both labeled halal and not labeled halal. The sampling technique used was accidental sampling. Data on the knowledge and halal attitudes of respondents before and after education were obtained from filling out questionnaires which were carried out online. The data analysis technique used was the Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test using SPSS 16. The results of the respondents' research indicated that there were significant differences in their knowledge and attitudes towards the use of cosmetics before and after halal education with p value ≤ 0.05.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide-induced THP-1 cells of coumarins from the bark of Hesperethusa crenulata R.

All parts of Thanakha (Hesperethusa crenulata R.) have been used as traditional skin care herbal material in Myanmar. In this study, coumarins from H. crenulata R. bark were isolated through solvent extraction, systematic solvent fractionation, and repeated column chromatography. Spectroscopic analyses using ESI–MS, 1D NMR (1H and 13C), 2D NMR (gHSQC and gHMBC), specific rotation, circular dichroism, and IR spectrometry revealed three coumarins 2R-7-hydroxy-8-(2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-coumarin (compound 1), peucedanol (compound 2), and methylpeucedanol (compound 3), which were first isolated from Thanakha tree. Antioxidant capacities of three coumarins decreased as follows: compound 2 > compound 3 > compound 1. Treatments of lipopolysaccharide-induced THP-1 human monocytic cells with compounds 2 and 3 at 378.8 μM and 359.7 μM inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α production by approximately 32.7% and 13.3%, respectively, compared with the negative control. In summary, these results suggest that Thanakha bark extracts can be used as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory source for cosmetic ingredients.

Study of the protective effects of cosmetic ingredients on the skin barrier, based on the expression of barrier-related genes and cytokines

Background Sensitive skin is the result of a complex process that is closely linked to the damage of the skin barrier. There are no recognized methods for evaluating the efficacy of anti-allergy products. Methods In this study, a model of skin barrier damage was created by treating HaCaT cells with 60 μg/ml of sodium dodecyl sulfate for 48 h. The protective effects of nine cosmetic ingredients, including oat extract (S1), on the skin barrier were investigated based on the gene expression levels of aquaporin3 (AQP3), filaggrin (FLG), caspase-14 (CASP14), and human tissue kallikrein7 (KLK7), as well as those of various interleukins (IL) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Results Among the nine ingredients, S1 had a good protective effect on the function of the skin barrier. It promoted the expression of AQP3, FLG, and CASP14, while inhibiting the expression of KLK7 in HaCaT cells, at a concentration of 0.06%. It also maintained IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF at appropriate levels while promoting the proliferation and differentiation of HaCaT cells. Conclusions The above indicators allow for the preliminary establishment of a method to evaluate the efficacy of the barrier protection ability of sensitive skin.

An Overview on Herbal Cosmetics and Cosmeceuticals

Herbal cosmetics are formulated by using different cosmetic ingredients to form the base in which one or more herbal ingredients are wont to cure various skin ailment. The name suggests that herbal cosmetics are natural and free from all the harmful synthetic chemicals which otherwise may convince be toxic to the skin. Compared to other beauty products, natural cosmetics are safe to use. They are hypo-allergenic and tested and proven by dermatologists to be safe to use anytime, anywhere. Cosmeceuticals are cosmeticpharmaceutical hybrid products intended to enhance the health and wonder of the skin by providing a selected result, starting from acne-control and anti-wrinkle effects to sun protection. Cosmeceuticals have medicinal benefits which affect the biological functioning of skin depending upon the sort of functional ingredients they contain. These are cosmetic products that aren't just used for beautification but for different skin ailments. These products improve the functioning/texture of the skin by boosting collagen growth by eradicating harmful effects of free radicals, maintain keratin structure in good condition, and making the skin healthier. There are numerous herbs available naturally having different uses in cosmetic preparations for skin care, hair care, and as antioxidants. The current review highlights the importance of herbal cosmetics, the herbs used in them, and their advantages over their synthetic counterparts.

Addressing Human Skin Ethnicity: Contribution of Tissue Engineering to the Development of Cosmetic Ingredients

Recent publications describe various skin disorders in relation to phototypes and aging. The highest phototypes (III to VI) are more sensitive to acne, with the appearance of dark spots due to the inflammation induced by Cutibacterium acnes (previously Propionibacterium acnes). Dryness with aging is due to a lower activity of specific enzymes involved in the maturation of lipids in the stratum corneum. To observe and understand these cutaneous issues, tissue engineering is a perfect tool. Since several years, pigmented epidermis with melanocytes derived from specific phototypes allow to develop in vitro models for biological investigations. In the present study, several models were developed to study various skin disorders associated with phototypes and aging. These models were also used to evaluate selected ingredients’ ability to decrease the negative effects of acne, inflammation, and cutaneous dryness. Hyperpigmentation was observed on our reconstructed pigmented epidermis after the application of C. acnes, and pollutant (PM10) application induced increased inflammatory cytokine release. Tissue engineering and molecular biology offer the capability to modify genetically cells to decrease the expression of targeted proteins. In our case, GCase was silenced to decrease the maturation of lipids and in turn modify the epidermal barrier function. These in vitro models assisted in the development of ethnic skin-focused cosmetic ingredients.