Cosmetic Additives Research Articles

Spectrophotometric Determination of 4-n-butylresorcinol in Cosmetics by Decolorization of Oxidized 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine

Background: 4-n-butylresorcinol (4nBR) was widely used in the treatment of chloasma and skin whitening cosmetics. As a decolorizing agent, it can effectively control the activity of tyrosinase. Market regulatory authorities require truthful labeling of ingredients in cosmetics. Therefore, the quantitative determination of 4nBR is of great practical significance. Hypothesis: At present, the main detection method of 4nBR reported in the literature is HPLC. Compared with the HPLC method, optical methods offer several advantages, including low cost, and simplicity, which make them suitable for on-field detection applications. A convenient spectrophotometric method was established for 4nBR detection. Methods: Fe3+ can oxidize the common colorless chromogenic substrate 3,3',5,5'- tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to blue oxTMB. Based on the fact that 4-n-butyl resorcinol (4nBR) can reduce oxTMB, a convenient and rapid spectrophotometric method for the determination of 4nBR was proposed. Results: Under the optimum conditions, the absorbance at 652 nm has a good linear relationship with the concentration of 4nBR in the range of 1.2 - 16 μM. The linear equation for the detection of 4nBR was ΔA = 0.0546 c (μM) - 0.0026 (r2=0.9962), and the detection limit was 0.33 μM. The accuracy of this method is comparable to that of HPLC. Conclusion: This method has good selectivity for 4nBR and good anti-interference ability for common additives in cosmetics. The proposed method can be applied to the determination of 4nBR in thereal samples. other: Optical methods offer several advantages, including low cost, simplicity, which make them suitable for on-field detection application.

Senescence Rejuvenation through Reduction in Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Generation by Polygonum cuspidatum Extract: In Vitro Evidence.

Oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the major causes of senescence. Strategies to reduce ROS are known to be important factors in reversing senescence, but effective strategies have not been found. In this study, we screened substances commonly used as cosmetic additives to find substances with antioxidant effects. Polygonum cuspidatum (P. cuspidatum) extract significantly reduced ROS levels in senescent cells. A novel mechanism was discovered in which P. cuspidatum extract reduced ROS, a byproduct of inefficient oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), by increasing OXPHOS efficiency. The reduction in ROS by P. cuspidatum extract restored senescence-associated phenotypes and enhanced skin protection. Then, we identified polydatin as the active ingredient of P. cuspidatum extract that exhibited antioxidant effects. Polydatin, which contains stilbenoid polyphenols that act as singlet oxygen scavengers through redox reactions, increased OXPHOS efficiency and subsequently restored senescence-associated phenotypes. In summary, our data confirmed the effects of P. cuspidatum extract on senescence rejuvenation and skin protection through ROS reduction. This novel finding may be used as a treatment in senescence rejuvenation in clinical and cosmetic fields.

De novo biosynthesis of anthocyanins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using metabolic pathway synthases from blueberry

BackgroundAnthocyanins are water-soluble flavonoids in plants, which give plants bright colors and are widely used as food coloring agents, nutrients, and cosmetic additives. There are several limitations for traditional techniques of collecting anthocyanins from plant tissues, including species, origin, season, and technology. The benefits of using engineering microbial production of natural products include ease of use, controllability, and high efficiency.ResultsIn this study, ten genes encoding enzymes involved in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway were successfully cloned from anthocyanin-rich plant materials blueberry fruit and purple round eggplant rind. The Yeast Fab Assembly technology was utilized to construct the transcriptional units of these genes under different promoters. The transcriptional units of PAL and C4H, 4CL and CHS were fused and inserted into Chr. XVI and IV of yeast strain JDY52 respectively using homologous recombination to gain Strain A. The fragments containing the transcriptional units of CHI and F3H, F3’H and DFR were inserted into Chr. III and XVI to gain Strain B1. Strain B2 has the transcriptional units of ANS and 3GT in Chr. IV. Several anthocyanidins, including cyanidin, peonidin, pelargonidin, petunidin, and malvidin, were detected by LC-MS/MS following the predicted outcomes of the de novo biosynthesis of anthocyanins in S. cerevisiae using a multi-strain co-culture technique.ConclusionsWe propose a novel concept for advancing the heterologous de novo anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, as well as fundamental information and a theoretical framework for the ensuing optimization of the microbial synthesis of anthocyanins.

Re-evaluating the Relationship between Cosmetic Products and Cancer: An Investigative Review of Paradigms

Abstract: Cosmetics are items that are used to glorify or change facial looks and appearance as well as provide fragrance to the body. Their main aim is to cleanse, beautify, facilitate attractiveness, and change physical looks. Women use many different beauty products, such as skin care, hair, perfume, oral hygiene, and nail care items, which may include harmful substances that are threatening to their health. The controversy around cosmetics and beauty products promoting cancer threat has grown over the previous few years. According to data from the European Cancer Registries, postmenopausal and very young women are now seeing an increase in the occurrence of breast cancer, which is the more frequent form of cancer in women. Genetic predisposition, long-term hormone replacement treatment, and various environmental variables, including air pollution, agrochemicals, alcohol, and specific consumer goods like cosmetic additives, are some of the causes of breast cancer. Additionally, the USFDA made all adverse event reports, including those involving concerns about cosmetics, publicly accessible via the Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS) of the Centre for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in 2016. In this period of modernization, CAERS is of limited use since there is a lack of different supporting data, such as demographic information, medical history, or linked product usage, and because the existing data is vulnerable to severe reporting bias. Despite the system's potential to protect the public's health, the database's future usefulness will depend on a wide range of reporting participants, more thorough reporting, and concurrent investments in regulatory science and enhanced molecular techniques.

Phytochemical and Pharmacological Study of Thymus Vulgaris : A Review

The thymus vulgaris is a kind of flowering plant native to southern Europe, ranging from the western part of the Mediterranean to southern Italy. It is additionally referred to as gardening thyme, German thyme, ordinary thyme, or simply thyme. The Lamiaceae family of mints includes it. Because it can be used in so many different products—including additives for food, medicines, and cosmetics—thyme is incredibly significant. Thyme leaves are used as aromatic spices, either dried or fresh, in various cooking applications, including stews, soups, sauces, and fish and meat dinners, as well as for flavouring liqueurs and herbal beverage preparations. This is because of the leaves' strong aroma. Bitter, diuretic, antioxidant, antirheumatic, disinfectant, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, heart, and expectorant properties are a few of thymus's therapeutic advantages, a noteworthy medicinal herb that comes strongly suggested. In addition, the plant helps with digestive problems, diabetes, chest infections, coughs, and colds. Flavonoids have promising properties as both antioxidants and antifungal agents. The current review article provides in-depth details on the thymus plant's pharmacological properties and variety of phytochemical.

Ultra-processing should be understood as a holistic issue, from food matrix, to dietary patterns, food scoring, and food systems.

The ultra-processed food (UPF) concept first emerged 15 years ago, and is now studied worldwide in different contexts, for example, human health, food behavior, socio-economic, food consumption, food scoring, and food system sustainability. Briefly, UPFs are defined as containing at least one marker of ultra-processing (MUP). MUPs are (1) cosmetic additives, (2) aromas, (3) some highly processed carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and/or fiber, and (4) drastic processes directly applied to food such as extrusion cooking or puffing. The first three categories of MUPs are on the food packaging in the list of ingredients, and are extracted, then purified, from raw foods or coming from artificial syntheses, leading to a-matrix/a-cellular compounds. Therefore, the core paradigm to define MUP is extreme food matrix degradation, and for UPF, matrix artificialization. Besides, UPFs are more than just junk food, encompassing numerous industrialized foods, falsely presented as healthy, for example, animal-based food analogs, but also organic, vegan, gluten-free, micronutrient-enriched, and/or light foods. In this way, UPFs are "high-quality junk foods." Otherwise, UPF being a holistic and indivisible concept by essence, we propose in this review to analyze ultra-processing at four holistic levels corresponding to four important scientific issues: the food matrix, the dietary pattern, food system, and food scoring. We reached the main conclusion that UPFs should be first studied with a holistic and scientifically based approach, not a reductionist one. Otherwise, we take the risk of performing greenwashing and create still more new health threats at a global level.

The association between ultra-processed food and common pregnancy adverse outcomes: a dose-response systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesGiven the increasing incidence of negative outcomes during pregnancy, our research team conducted a dose-response systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumption and common adverse pregnancy outcomes including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preeclampsia (PE), preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA) infants. UPFs are described as formulations of food substances often modified by chemical processes and then assembled into ready-to-consume hyper-palatable food and drink products using flavors, colors, emulsifiers, and other cosmetic additives. Examples include savory snacks, reconstituted meat products, frozen meals that have already been made, and soft drinks.MethodsA comprehensive search was performed using the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases up to December 2023. We pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random-effects model.ResultsOur analysis (encompassing 54 studies with 552,686 individuals) revealed a significant association between UPFs intake and increased risks of GDM (RR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.27; I2 = 77.5%; p < 0.001; studies = 44; number of participants = 180,824), PE (RR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.59; I2 = 80.0%; p = 0.025; studies = 12; number of participants = 54,955), while no significant relationships were found for PTB, LBW and SGA infants. Importantly, a 100 g increment in UPFs intake was related to a 27% increase in GDM risk (RR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.51; I2 = 81.0%; p = 0.007; studies = 9; number of participants = 39,812). The non-linear dose-response analysis further indicated a positive, non-linear relationship between UPFs intake and GDM risk Pnonlinearity = 0.034, Pdose-response = 0.034), although no such relationship was observed for PE (Pnonlinearity = 0.696, Pdose-response = 0.812).ConclusionIn summary, both prior to and during pregnancy, chronic and excessive intake of UPFs is associated with an increased risk of GDM and PE. However, further observational studies, particularly among diverse ethnic groups with precise UPFs consumption measurement tools, are imperative for a more comprehensive understanding.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals in children's and their parents' urine: Is the exposure related to the Chinese and Western lifestyle?

Children are known to be more vulnerable to exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) compared to adults, but evaluating the exposure pathways can be challenging. This research employed target and non-target analysis (NTA) to examine the exposure characteristics of EDCs in spot urine samples collected from 46 children's (aged 3–12 years) and their parents in Hong Kong (Chinese/Western lifestyle) and Guangzhou (mainly Chinese lifestyle). The results revealed that the geometric mean concentrations of phthalate esters metabolites (mPAEs) and bisphenols (BPs) in children's urine were 127.3 μg/gcrea and 2.5 μg/gcrea in Guangzhou, and 93.7 μg/gcrea and 2.9 μg/gcrea in Hong Kong, respectively, which were consistent with global levels. NTA identified a total of 1069 compounds, including 106 EDCs, commonly detected in food, cosmetics, and drugs. Notable regional differences were observed between Guangzhou and Hong Kong with potential sources of EDCs including dietary and cosmetic additives, toys, flooring and dust, as well as differences in lifestyles, diet, and living environment. However, age was found to significantly impact EDC exposure. The quantified EDCs (mPAEs and BPs) posed possible health risks to 60% of the children. Moreover, the presence of caffeine in children's urine, which exhibited higher detection rates in children from Hong Kong (95.6%) and Guangzhou (44.4%), warrants further attention. The sources of EDCs exposure in these regions need to be fully confirmed.

Argentinian Rose Petals as a Source of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Compounds.

The total phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents were evaluated in 11 cultivars of Argentinian roses of different colors. HPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS was used to identify the components where ellagic and quinic acids, quercetin, and kaempferol glycosylated derivatives were found. The phenolic contents ranged from 78.8 ± 3.2 to 203.4 ± 3.1 mg GAE/g dw, the flavonoid content ranged from 19.1 ± 3.8 to 125.9 ± 6.5 mg QE/g dw, and the anthocyanin content ranged from less than 0.01 to 5.8 ± 0.1 mg CE/g dw. The dark red cultivars exhibited the greatest levels of the analyzed compounds and of the antioxidant activities, even higher than those of certain plants known for their high phenolic contents and antioxidant activity. Moreover, the addition of these extracts decreased the population of L. innocua and P. aeruginosa to undetectable levels 24 h after inoculation. Rose petal extracts, mainly those with a dark red color, can be used as natural additives in food, feed, and cosmetics, as they contain a high proportion of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.

Biotransformation of monoterpenes using Streptomyces strains from the rhizosphere of Inga edulis Martius from in an Amazonian urban forest fragment

To investigate the biocatalytic potential of Amazonian actinomycetes for monoterpenes biotransformation. To carry out the present study, eleven actinomycetes of the genus Streptomyces isolated from inga-cipó (Inga edulis Mart.) rhizospheres were tested for their ability to bioconvert the substrates R-(+)-limonene, S-(-)-limonene, 1S-(-)-α-pinene, and (-)–β–pinene as sole carbon and energy source. According to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, three strains, LabMicra B270, LaBMicrA B310, and LaBMicrA B314, were able to biotransform 1S-(-)-α-pinene after 96 h of growth. However, Streptomyces LaBMicrA B270 was the most promising since it converted after only 72 h all the 1S-(-)-α-pinene mainly into cis-verbenol (74.9±1.24%) and verbenone (18.2±1.20%), compounds that have important biological activities and great industrial interest as additives in foods and cosmetics. These findings can stimulate the development of natural aromas using naturally abundant monoterpenes, ratify the potential of microorganisms from almost unexplored niches such as the Amazonian rhizosphere, and reinforce the importance of preserving those niches.

ROS Scavenging Effect of Selected Isoflavones in Provoked Oxidative Stress Conditions in Human Skin Fibroblasts and Keratinocytes.

Isoflavones, belonging to polyphenolic compounds, show structural similarity to natural estrogens, and in this context, they have been extensively studied. Some of them are also applied as cosmetic additives; however, little is known regarding their effects on skin cells. In this investigation, common isoflavones, including genistein, daidzein, glycitein, formononetin, and biochanin A, as well as coumestrol, were evaluated for antioxidant activity and their impact on human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Antioxidant effects were assessed using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP tests, and the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) was tested in cells with H2O2-provoked oxidative stress. The impact on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) was also explored. As shown by Alamar Blue and neutral red uptake assays, the compounds were not toxic within the tested concentration range, and formononetin and coumestrol even demonstrated a stimulatory effect on cells. Coumestrol and biochanin A demonstrated significant antioxidative potential, leading to a significant decrease in ROS in the cells stimulated by H2O2. Furthermore, they influenced enzyme activity, preventing depletion during induced oxidative stress, and also reduced MDA levels, demonstrating protection against lipid peroxidation. In turn, genistein, daidzein, and glycitein exhibited low antioxidant capacity.

Solvent screening for the extraction of aromatic aldehydes

The aromatic aldehydes vanillin, syringaldehyde, and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde find applicability in a broad field ranging from additives in food, cosmetics, and fragrances to precursors of electrochemically active substances used in organic redox flow batteries. These aldehydes can be obtained by wet oxidation of lignin a macromolecule present in woody biomass followed by the isolation via solvent extraction from the resulting acidic solutions.The present study investigates solvents grouped by esters, ethers, terpenes, and terpenoids, in addition to 1-octanol for their performance in extraction of the aromatic aldehydes vanillin, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and syringaldehyde from an acidic aqueous solution. Solvent extractions are performed at 25 and 50 °C in double-walled tempered separation funnels. The overall extraction efficiency is determined by back-extractions performing a pH-swing at 25 °C. Aldehyde concentrations are measured by HPLC-UV. Karl-Fischer titration and total organic carbon measurements are used to account for the mutual solubility.The best-performing solvent in the case of aldehyde yields at low mutual solubility is given by the ester butyl acetate with extraction efficiencies of 96.53 % for p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and > 95 % and > 93 % for vanillin and syringaldehyde, respectively. The highest overall extraction efficiency among all solvents suitable for alkaline back-extraction is achieved by cyclopentyl methyl ether with 94.73 % for p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 94.04 % for vanillin and 87.91 % for syringaldehyde. The solvents geraniol, 1-octanol, ethyl acetate, and 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran show increased uptake of water with ethyl acetate, and 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran pointing out a high solvent loss with 9.82 vol% and 15.84 vol%, respectively. The terpene p-cymene showed preferable extraction of vanillin and syringaldehyde over p-hydroxybenzaldehyde with mutual solubility below 0.02 vol%, which makes it and interesting candidate for multistage solvent extraction.

Phytochemical Profiles and Biological Activities of Plant Extracts from Aromatic Plants Cultivated in Cyprus.

Medicinal and aromatic plants' properties, still an interesting research area, are attributed to the presence of various specialized products that possess important pharmacological activities. In the present study, six medicinal/aromatic plants (Sideritis cypria, Origanum dubium, Melissa officinalis, Mentha piperita, Thymus capitatus, and Salvia fruticosa) were evaluated for their phytochemical and nutritive composition, as well as their biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties. The results obtained indicate that M. piperita was rich in proteins and minerals such as N and Mg, while S. cypria accumulated more K, Na, P, and Ca. The highest content of phenols and flavonoids was observed in M. piperita, followed by O. dubium and T. capitatus, which eventually influenced their high antioxidant capacity. NMR screening revealed the presence of (i) triterpenoids and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives in M. officinalis; (ii) terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acid derivatives in S. fruticosa; (iii) flavonoids and phenolic acid derivatives in M. piperita; (iv) phenolic monoterpenes in O. dubium and T. capitatus; and (v) terpenoids, flavones, and phenylethanoid glycosides in S. cypria. The results of the antimicrobial activity showed that the tested samples overall had quite good antimicrobial potential. High antibacterial activity was found in O. dubium and T. capitatus, while O. dubium and S. cypria exhibited great antifungal activities. The studied species also had an important effect on the viability of female-derived and colon cancer cells. In particular, in colon cancer cells, the extracts from T. capitatus, M. officinalis, M. piperita, and S. fruticosa exhibited a stronger effect on cell viability in the more metastatic cell line at significantly lower concentrations, indicating an important therapeutic potential in targeting highly metastatic tumors. This finding is worth further investigation. The present study unveiled interesting phytochemical profiles and biological properties of the six medicinal/aromatic plants, which should be further explored, contributing to green chemistry and the possible creation of natural health products for humans' health/nutrition and additives in cosmetics.

Integrated HS-GC–IMS and UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS-based metabolomics revealed the characteristics and differential volatile and nonvolatile metabolites of different citrus peels

Citrus is an important genus in the Rutaceae family, and citrus peels can be used in both food and herbal medicine. However, the bulk of citrus peels are discarded as waste by the fruit processing industry, causing environmental pollution. This study aimed to provide guidelines for the rational and effective use of citrus peels by elucidating the volatile and nonvolatile metabolites within them using metabolomics based on headspace-gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–Q-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, the antioxidant activities of the citrus peels were evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power. In total, 103 volatile and 53 nonvolatile metabolites were identified and characterized. Alcohols, aldehydes, and terpenes constituted 87.36% of the volatile metabolites, while flavonoids and carboxylic acids accounted for 85.46% of the nonvolatile metabolites. Furthermore, (Z)-2-penten-1-ol, L-pipecolinic acid, and limonin were identified as characteristic components of Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Ponkan (PK), C. reticulata ‘Unshiu’ (CLU), and C. reticulata ‘Wo Gan’ (WG), respectively. Principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis indicated that C. reticulata Blanco ‘Chun Jian’ (CJ), PK, CLU, and C. reticulata ‘Dahongpao’ (DHP) were clustered together. DHP is a traditional Chinese medicine documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, suggesting that the chemical compositions of CJ, PK, and CLU may also have medicinal values similar to those of DHP. Moreover, DHP, PK, C. reticulata ‘Ai Yuan 38′(AY38), CJ, C. reticulata ‘Gan Ping’(GP), and C. reticulata ‘Qing Jian’(QJ) displayed better antioxidant activities, recommending their use as additives in cosmetics and food. Correlation analysis suggested that some polyphenols including tangeritin, nobiletin, skullcapflavone II, genistein, caffeic acid, and isokaempferide were potential antioxidant compounds in citrus peel. The results of this study deepen our understanding of the differences in metabolites and antioxidant activities of different citrus peel varieties and ultimately provide guidance for the full and rational use of citrus peels.

The potential of native and engineered Clostridia for biomass biorefining.

Since their first industrial application in the acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation in the early 1900s, Clostridia have found large application in biomass biorefining. Overall, their fermentation products include organic acids (e.g., acetate, butyrate, lactate), short chain alcohols (e.g., ethanol, n-butanol, isobutanol), diols (e.g., 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol) and H2 which have several applications such as fuels, building block chemicals, solvents, food and cosmetic additives. Advantageously, several clostridial strains are able to use cheap feedstocks such as lignocellulosic biomass, food waste, glycerol or C1-gases (CO2, CO) which confer them additional potential as key players for the development of processes less dependent from fossil fuels and with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The present review aims to provide a survey of research progress aimed at developing Clostridium-mediated biomass fermentation processes, especially as regards strain improvement by metabolic engineering.

Photoprotective effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Pueraria lobata extracts on UVB-induced photoaging: A study on skin barrier protection.

Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Pueraria lobata exhibit promising potential as cosmetic additives for mitigating skin barrier impairment induced by photoaging. Despite their potential, the precise mechanisms underlying their protective and ameliorative effects remain elusive. This study sought to assess the reparative properties of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Pueraria lobata extracts (LP) on UVB-irradiated human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and explore the therapeutic potential of LP as a skin barrier protection agent. Antioxidant activities were gauged through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays. The expression levels of skin barrier-related markers, encompassing metalloproteinases (MMPs) and hyaluronidase (HYAL) were scrutinized using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR, and Western blotting, with a particular focus on the involvement of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/Smad and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. The study revealed that LP effectively scavenges free radicals, diminishes ROS production in a dose-dependent manner, and significantly attenuates UVB-induced expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 through modulation of the hyaluronan synthase (HAS)2/HYAL1 signaling axis in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Additionally, LP demonstrated enhanced TGF-β signaling activation, fostering procollagen type I synthesis, and concurrently exhibited mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/NF-κB signaling inactivation, thereby mitigating pro-inflammatory cytokine release and alleviating UVB-induced cellular damage. In conclusion, the observed protective effects of LP on skin cellular constituents highlight its substantial biological potential for shielding against UVB-induced skin photoaging, positioning it as a promising candidate for both pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

Ultra-processing markers are more prevalent in plant-based meat products as compared to their meat-based counterparts in a German food market analysis.

To compare ultra-processing markers and nutrient composition in plant-based meat products (PBMP) with equivalent meat-based products (MBP). A total of 282 PBMP and 149 MBP within 18 product categories were assessed. Based on the NOVA classification, 33 ultra-processing markers were identified and six ultra-processing bullet categories were defined, that is flavour, flavour enhancer, sweetener, colour, other cosmetic additives and non-culinary ingredients. The ingredient lists were analysed concerning these ultra-processing markers and ultra-processing bullet categories, as well as nutrient composition, for all PBMP and MBP. Differences between PBMP and MBP were assessed using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests, respectively. Cross-sectional analysis. 282 PBMP and 149 MBP. The percentage of ultra-processed food (UPF) items was significantly higher in PBMP (88 %) as compared to MBP (52 %) (P < 0·0001). The proportion of UPF items was numerically higher in 15 out of 18 product categories with differences in six categories reaching statistical significance (P < 0·05). Flavour, flavour enhancer, colour, other cosmetic additives and non-culinary ingredients were significantly more prevalent in PBMP as compared to MBP (P < 0·0001). Concerning nutrient composition, median energy, total fat, saturated fat and protein content were significantly lower, whereas the amounts of carbohydrate, sugar, fibre and salt were significantly higher in PBMP (P < 0·05). Ultra-processing markers are significantly more prevalent in PBMP as compared to MBP. Since UPF intake has been convincingly linked to metabolic and CVD, substituting MBP with PBMP might have negative net health effects.

Fifty shades of food colours – Associations with cancer risk in a French cohort

Abstract Background Colour additives are frequently used in foods. A randomised controlled trial showed that some of them resulted in increased hyperactivity in children. Experimental studies suggested the activation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity. Since estimating dietary exposure to colour additives is challenging, no prospective epidemiological study had investigated their association with cancer risk so far. Methods This study included 102,485 French adults from the NutriNet-Santé cohort (78.8% female, 2009-2022). Exposure to food colours was estimated using repeated 24h dietary records linked to comprehensive, brand-specific food composition databases on additives. Associations with incident cancer risk were assessed using multivariable Cox models adjusted for common confounders. Results 3,511 incident cancer cases were diagnosed during the follow-up (including 1,026 breast, 431 prostate, and 279 colorectal cancers). Exposure to total food colour additives was associated with higher overall and breast cancer risks: HR higher vs non-exposure = 1.11 (1.02-1.22) and 1.25 (1.05-1.48), respectively. Positive associations with overall cancer were also observed with carotenoids food additives E160 (HR = 1.15 (1.05-1.25)) and curcumin E100 (HR = 1.10 (1.10-1.20)). Positive associations with breast cancer risk were observed with carotenoid additives (HR = 1.21 (1.04-1.42)) and carmine E120 (HR = 1.27 (1.08-1.49)). Plain caramel E150a was positively associated with colorectal cancer risk (HR = 1.52 (1.08-2.14)). Conclusions In this large cohort, we observed positive associations between the exposure to several types of food colour additives and overall, breast and colorectal cancer risks. Key messages • These findings provide pioneering epidemiological evidence regarding the link between food colours and cancer risk. • Should they be corroborated, these results could have significant public health implications, given the widespread presence of these cosmetic additives in ultra-processed foods.

Layered Double Hydroxides as the Unique Product of Target Ionic Construction for Energy, Chemical, Foods, Cosmetics, Medicine and Ecology Applications.

Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH) is an α-modification of the M-host (M2+ ) hydroxide, in which some part of the M-host cations is replaced by M-guest cations (M3+ or M4+ ). The emerging excess positive charge is compensated by the intercalation of anions into the interlayer space, which also contains water molecules. LDHs exhibit anion exchange properties. Targeted ionic design of LDHs via combining three components (M-host, M-guest cations, intercalated anions) allows the creation of a very wide range of highly efficient electrochemical, electrocatalytic, electrochromic substances, catalysts, ion exchangers, sorbents, color pigments, pharmacological drugs, food, and cosmetic additives. In this review, the structure and areas of application of LDHs are considered from the perspective of the targeted ionic design of a substance for a specific application.

Various Extraction Techniques of Curcumin-A Comprehensive Review.

Curcumin, the active component of the rhizome of Curcuma longa, is a safe substance whose applications are extensively used in medicinal, biological, pharmacological activities, and food cosmetic additives. In the field of medicine, curcuminoids have a greater impact; they have been associated with the suppression of neuropathic pain, depression, angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, diabetes, and diseases of the liver, skin, and pulmonary systems, as well as cardiovascular and nervous systems. These are in high demand and have high market potential and inflated costs. For the aforementioned uses, as well as for basic research, it is crucial to get pure curcumin from plant sources. There is a need for effective extraction and purification techniques that adhere to standards for process efficiency, environmental friendliness, and safety. Scope: This account offers an accurate and thorough explanation of the many techniques used to extract and purify curcumin from plant sources, as well as a look at its various roles in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, medical, and other industries. Curcumin's prospective and commercial roles are also discussed. Key findings: Curcuminoids have been extracted and purified by using a broad range of techniques that are utilized extensively across the world. Extraction of curcuminoids includes both traditional and contemporary approaches, of which a handful include Soxhlet extraction, maceration, solvent extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, and supercritical liquid extraction. The other process called purification can be performed alone or in combination with techniques. The use of column chromatography and semipreparative high-performance liquid chromatography are examples of traditional purification procedures, and other innovative methods include high-speed counter-current chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography.