Improvement in the Safety of Use of Hand Dishwashing Liquids Through the Addition of Hydrophobic Plant Extracts

Nonylphenol ethoxylate degradation in detergents during shelf time, a new exposure pathway, and a perspective on their substitution

Detergents are highly produced pollutants with environmental problems like foam generation and toxic effects in biota. Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) are efficient, economical, and versatile surfactants, used in detergents for more than 40 years due to their detergency capacity. In the environment, NPE biodegrades into the metabolite nonylphenol (NP), classified as an endocrine disruptor. The identification and quantification of 4-NP in a designed detergent and 30 commercially available detergents were performed to prove the degradation of NPE into 4-NP during storage time. This investigation introduces the first evidence of NPE degradation during storage in commercially available detergents, demonstrating a novel exposure pathway in humans that has not been explored before, representing potential human health risks. Therefore, simple, easy, low-cost, and available approaches to remove and substitute NP is paramount. Alkyl polyglucoside (APG) was assessed as a substitute, and the feasibility of this substitution was proven according to physical and chemical properties, cleaning performance, and antimicrobial properties. NPE substitution in detergents is demonstrated as a viable strategy to minimize exposure risks in humans and the environment.

Towards the Development of a Smart Detergent with Enhanced Safety and Efficiency for Pesticide Residue Removal from Fruits and Vegetables

The research focused on the development and evaluation of special detergents for washing fruits and vegetables, with the primary emphasis on removing pesticide residues. The research aimed to improve food safety and meet consumer preferences for effective cleaning of food products. Using the cloud point characteristic of non-ionic surfactants, a 'smart' detergent was developed to adapt to typical washing conditions. Optimization of the detergent system composition was conducted and the properties of the surfactant system in relation to the cloud point were investigated to highlight the importance of precise control over detergent behavior in response to temperature changes. The physicochemical properties study of the model washing baths included surface tension, aggregate size, solubilization properties, and foaming ability. A model detergent, tailored for both cleaning efficacy and safety against the skin, was developed. Washing efficacy tests demonstrated the superior ability of the designed detergent to remove pesticide residues, eliminating consumer concerns and promoting healthier and safer food consumption. The conducted research paves the way for innovative and safe detergents for washing fruits and vegetables, thereby increasing food safety and consumer satisfaction.

Benefits of topical natural ingredients in epidermal permeability barrier

Because of the crucial role of epidermal permeability barrier in regulation of cutaneous and extracutaneous functions, great efforts have been made to identify and develop the regimens that can improve epidermal permeability barrier function. Studies have demonstrated that oral administration of natural ingredients can improve epidermal permeability barrier in various skin conditions, including inflammatory dermatoses and UV-irradiation. Moreover, topical applications of some natural ingredients can also accelerate the repair of epidermal permeability barrier after acute barrier disruption and lower transepidermal water loss in the intact skin. Natural ingredient-induced improvements in epidermal permeability barrier function can be attributable to upregulation of keratinocyte differentiation, lipid production, antioxidant, hyaluronic acid production, expression of aquaporin 3 and sodium-hydrogen exchanger 1. In this review, we summarize the benefits of topical natural ingredients in epidermal permeability barrier in normal skin with or without acute barrier disruption and the underlying mechanisms.

Evaluation of the Quality of Bath Cosmetics in Powder Form Depending on the Selection of Fillers

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of hydrophilic microcrystalline cellulose, hydrophobic talc and mixtures of cellulose and talc when used as fillers in powdered bath cosmetics. A number of model formulations were developed that contained fillers in different compositions. Prototypical formulations were prepared and evaluated for their functional properties and skin-drying effect. An increase in the concentration of talc was found to reduce the ability of the formulations to emulsify fatty soils and, consequently, decrease the skin-drying effect after washing. Another result of the study is that a high content of talc does not significantly impair the foaming ability, and the presence of talc improves the stability of generated foam.

Correlations between the Type of Aggregates in the Bulk Phase and the Functionality and Safety of All-Purpose Cleaners

The article shows that the type and concentration of inorganic salt can be translated into the structure of the bulk phase and the performance properties of ecological all-purpose cleaners (APC). A base APC formulation was developed. Thereafter, two types of salt (sodium chloride and magnesium chloride) were added at various concentrations to obtain different structures in the bulk phase. The salt addition resulted in the formation of spherical micelles and-upon addition of more electrolyte-of aggregates having a lamellar structure. The formulations had constant viscosities (ab. 500 mPa·s), comparable to those of commercial products. Essential physical-chemical and performance properties of the four formulations varying in salt types and concentrations were evaluated. It was found that the addition of magnesium salt resulted in more favorable characteristics due to the surface activity of the formulations, which translated into adequately high wettability of the investigated hydrophobic surfaces, and their ability to emulsify fat. A decreasing relationship was observed in foaming properties: higher salt concentrations lead to worse foaming properties and foam stability of the solutions. For the magnesium chloride composition, the effect was significantly more pronounced, as compared to the sodium chloride-based formulations. As far as safety of use is concerned, the formulations in which magnesium salt was used caused a much lesser irritation compared with the other investigated formulations. The zein value was observed to decrease with increasing concentrations of the given type of salt in the composition.

Evaluation of Ethoxylated Rapeseed Oil Fatty Acids Methyl Esters as Nonionic Co-Surfactants in Hand Dishwashing Liquids

The effect of ethoxylated rapeseed oil fatty acid methyl esters (ROFAME) on the viscosity, functional properties and skin compatibility of hand dishwashing liquids was analyzed. It was found that, over the test range, both the degree of ethoxylation and concentration in the formulation were essential for the properties of the evaluated products. Among others, this was due to the fact that ROFAME had the favorable effect of modifying the viscosity of these formulations to an acceptable range. The relationship between the concentration and degree of polyaddition of ROFAME on the detergent and foaming properties of the complete formulation was presented, showing their increase in comparison to the reference dishwashing liquid without ROFAME. With respect to the parameters relating to the skin irritant, the degree of skin dryness after dishwashing with the auxiliary surfactants was lower.

Medicinal plants as therapeutic options for topical treatment in canine dermatology? A systematic review

Background

Medicinal plants have been used traditionally since centuries for wound care and treatment of skin diseases both in human and animals. Skin diseases are one of the most common reasons for owners to take their dog to the veterinarian. The demands for treatment and prophylaxis of these diseases are broad. A wide range of bacteria including antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be involved, making the treatment challenging and bear an anthropo-zoonotic potential. The aim of this review is to systematically evaluate based on recent scientific literature, the potential of four medicinal plants to enrich the therapeutic options in pyoderma, canine atopic dermatitis, otitis externa, wounds and dermatophytosis in dogs.

Results

Based on four books and a survey among veterinarians specialized in phytotherapy, four medicinal plants were chosen as the subject of this systematic review: Calendula officinalis L. (Marigold), Hypericum perforatum L. agg. (St. John’s Wort), Matricaria chamomilla L. (syn. Matricaria recutita L., Chamomile) and Salvia officinalis L. (Sage). According to the PRISMA statement through literature research on two online databases a total of 8295 publications was screened and narrowed down to a final 138 publications for which full-text documents were analyzed for its content resulting in a total of 145 references (21 clinical, 24 in vivo and 100 in vitro references).

Conclusions

All four plants were proven to have antibacterial and antifungal effects of a rather broad spectrum including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This makes them an interesting new option for the treatment of pyoderma, otitis externa, infected wounds and dermatophytosis. Marigold, St. John’s Wort and Chamomile showed wound-healing properties and are thus promising candidates in line to fill the therapeutic gap in canine wound-healing agents. St. John’s Wort and Chamomile also showed anti-inflammatory and other beneficial effects on healthy skin. Due to the wide range of beneficial effects of these medicinal plants, they should be taken into account for the treatment of dermatologic diseases in dogs at least in future clinical research.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-019-1854-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Reduction of Irritation Potential Caused by Anionic Surfactants in the Use of Various Forms of Collagen Derived from Marine Sources in Cosmetics for Children

Surfactants, which are the basic ingredients in washing cosmetics, can cause skin irritation. In the case of washing cosmetics intended for children, it is necessary to select the composition in such a way as to ensure maximum reduction or even elimination of the irritant effect of the final product. The paper attempts to improve the safety of bath cosmetics for children by introducing: collagen amino acids (150 Da), hydrolysed collagen (12000 Da) and soluble collagen (300 000 Da). Zein value, bovine albumin, and human keratinocyte cell line studies have shown a significant decrease in the irritant potential of the compositions following the introduction of the proposed additives, which is more pronounced with the increase in the molecular weight of marine collagen. An important part of this work is a mechanism proposed by the authors, according to which the addition of the proposed additives can increase safety of the application of cosmetics for children.

Effect of N-dodecyl-N-(propylpiperydinium-3-sulfonate) on Usage Properties of Liquid Soaps for Sensitive Skin

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of N-dodecyl-N-(propylpiperidinium-3-sulfonate) on the physico-chemical and functional properties of liquid soaps for sensitive skin. The studied materials consisted of originally formulated liquid soaps containing amphoteric surfactants including cocamidopropyl betaine and newly synthesized sulfobetaine in the following ratios: 0 : 0, 1 : 1, 0 : 2 and 2 : 0. The aim of study was to examine the effects of the additive on the surface tension of aqueous soap solutions, wetting properties, dynamic viscosity, emulsification of fatty soils, foaming properties, antimicrobial characteristics and skin irritation potential. It is shown that the liquid soaps obtained in the study effectively reduce the surface tension of water – which may indicate good washing properties – and demonstrated desirable wetting properties. The application of N-dodecyl-N-(propylpiperidinium-3-sulfonate) in cosmetic formulations makes it possible to obtain products with the required viscosity, fat emulsification capacity and foaming properties. It needs to be emphasized that sulfobetaines added to the prototypical liquid soaps also demonstrate antibacterial characteristics and reduce the skin irritant effect caused by anionic surfactants.

Interactions between surfactants and the skin - Theory and practice

One of the primary causes of skin irritation is the use of body wash cosmetics and household chemicals, since they are in direct contact with the skin, and they are widely available and frequently used. The main ingredients of products of this type are surfactants, which may have diverse effects on the skin. The skin irritation potential of surfactants is determined by their chemical and physical properties resulting from their structure, and specific interactions with the skin. Surfactants are capable of interacting both with proteins and lipids in the stratum corneum. By penetrating through this layer, surfactants are also able to affect living cells in deeper regions of the skin. Further skin penetration may result in damage to cell membranes and structural components of keratinocytes, releasing proinflammatory mediators. By causing irreversible changes in cell structure, surfactants can often lead to their death. The paper presents a critical review of literature on the effects of surfactants on the skin. Aspects discussed in the paper include the skin irritation potential of surfactants, mechanisms underlying interactions between compounds of this type and the skin which have been proposed over the years, and verified methods of reducing the skin irritation potential of surfactant compounds. Basic research conducted in this field over many years translate into practical applications of surfactants in the cosmetic and household chemical industries. This aspect is also emphasized in the present study.

The effect of chamomile extract obtained in supercritical carbon dioxide conditions on physicochemical and usable properties of pharmaceutical ointments

The study investigated the effect of chamomile extract obtained in supercritical carbon dioxide conditions on the basic properties of pharmaceutical ointments. A total of five formulations were designed and prepared, differing in the weight ratio of sunflower oil to chamomile extract (5:0, 3.5:1.5, 2.5:2.5, 1.5:3.5 and 0:5). An increase in the concentration of chamomile extract was found to be accompanied by a decrease in hardness, adhesive power and flow limit. Based on viscosity measurements it was shown that ointments containing the hydrophobic plant extract under study were prone to larger drops in viscosity under the effect of the set shear rate. It was determined that from the viewpoint of ointment spreadability and application to the skin, the optimum concentration of chamomile extract for the studied formulations should be within the range of 1.5-2.5%. Furthermore, the addition of chamomile extract to ointments was found to give samples a yellow-green color. Green was observed to be the dominant color, and its saturation and shade varied for different formulations.