Abstract
Magnesium is an essential element involved in various biochemical processes in the human body. In addition to oral supplementation, topical magnesium application is another conventional form of magnesium delivery for the treatment of skin diseases and muscle inflammation. Cucumber extract is a well-known superfood for human skin. It has been widely used in various skincare product lines because of its known benefits to the skin. The benefit of cucumber extract to the human skin would be significantly enhanced if the cucumber extract was fermented to convert the reducing sugars to beneficial organic acids. In this study, we developed a protocol for lactic acid fermentation of cucumber extract using hydromagnesite as a neutralizing agent. Various lactic acid bacteria were screened for fermentation of cucumber extract. The best fermenting performance was observed with Lactobacillus paracasei, which could convert approximately 13 g/L of reducing sugars (glucose and fructose) to lactic acid and a minor amount of acetic acid within 2 days of incubation. The final fermented cucumber extract contains magnesium in the form of salts of organic acids, which have high absorption ability and bioavailability. The product is a potent ingredient for producing dermal magnesium products.
Highlights
Natural antioxidants extracted from plants and fruits have attracted much attention from scientists and cosmetics manufacturers
This study aimed to develop a potent ingredient for skincare purposes based on the combination of cucumber extract and Mg in a unique product through lactic acid fermentation
The bacterial enumeration of cucumber extract samples pasteurized at various temperatures and times indicated that at least 90 ◦ C for 5 min was required to kill all indigenous bacteria in cucumber extract (Table 2)
Summary
Natural antioxidants extracted from plants and fruits have attracted much attention from scientists and cosmetics manufacturers. Many of these antioxidants have been used in making skincare formulations and have contributed to skin rejuvenation [1]. As a superfood for the skin, cucumber extract has been added to various skin care products, such as toner, lotion, and cream. It contains a significant amount of sugars, such as glucose and fructose [5,6], which do not provide any benefit to the skin. A neutralizing agent is Materials 2019, 12, 1701; doi:10.3390/ma12101701 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials
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