Cosmetic Purposes Research Articles

A Mini Review: The Application of Eupatorium Plants as Potential Cosmetic Ingredients

The Eupatorium plant has been well used in medication and as a decorative plant. Some studies have reported that this herb has biochemical compounds, such as sesquiterpenes, phenolics, polysaccharides, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Thus, it has pharmacological effects, including antifungal, antibacterial, cytotoxic, and antinociceptive properties, that can be utilized for cosmetic purposes. However, only a few published works have summarized the active compounds and the application of Eupatorium plants as cosmetic agents. Therefore, this article aims to review the application of Eupatorium plants as a potential cosmetic agent. The active compounds of Eupatorium are contained in the whole plant, as well as the stems, leaves, roots, and aerial parts (flower, fruit, and seeds). In terms of cosmetic applications, the activities of Eupathorium are antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, anti-melanin/melanogenesis, anti-acne, and anti-inflammatory. This review aims to contribute to a better understanding for expanding the utilization of this plant for cosmetic purposes by using these active compounds.

Crude Polysaccharide Fraction from Rosa rugosa Thunb. Root—Chemical Characterisation, Enzyme Inhibitory, Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activity

Rosa rugosa Thunb. (Rosaceae) plantations can provide industrial amounts of roots, which contain many biologically active metabolites. Here, we report the first studies of the chemical composition and pharmacological potential of a crude polysaccharide fraction obtained from R. rugosa roots (CPL-Rx). It was found that the roots contained water-soluble and -insoluble sugars, including a large amount of β-glucans (12.95 ± 0.30 g/100 g). The water-soluble fraction was found to be mostly composed of sugars (28.94 ± 0.01%), uronic acids (2.61 ± 0.41%), and polyphenols (4.55 ± 0.12%). High-performance capillary electrophoresis analysis showed that glucose was the prevalent monosaccharide (64.31%), followed by a smaller amount of galactose (11.77%), fructose (11.36%), and arabinose (4.27%). SDS-PAGE followed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry revealed the presence of unbound protein identified as protein plastid transcriptionally active 14-Like. CPL-Rx was found to inhibit the activity of pro-inflammatory enzymes (cyclooxygenase and hyaluronidase) and to have antioxidant potential in the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay (0.302 ± 0.01 mmol Trolox/g), DPPH radical scavenging effect (EC50 3.92 ± 0.12 mg/mg DPPH•) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay (0.134 ± 0.10 mmol Trolox/g). It also exerted a slight antiproliferative effect on SW480 (colon) and A549 (lung) cancer cell lines. Our research provides the first insights into the composition and pharmacological application of crude polysaccharides from rugosa rose roots. It suggests that CPL-Rx may potentially be used for cosmetic and bio-medical purposes, especially as an antihyaluronidase or chemopreventive agent.

Radiation hazard assessments of natural radioactivity in clay-based cosmetic products in Malaysia

Natural sources such as clays, plant extracts, and raw materials containing naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) have been used as ingredients for medicinal and cosmetic purposes since ancient times. Nowadays, a variety of commercially available cosmetics products used clay minerals containing NORMs as the main formulation, which poses unknown radiation risks to the consumer. In this study, 11 samples of clay-based cosmetic products were used to conduct dose assessments on members of the public for various usage scenarios to evaluate the external exposure dose. Gamma-ray spectroscopy was utilised to measure the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in the sample. Meanwhile, doses to skin and other organs from these cosmetic products were modelled using Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations and the MIRD5 mathematical phantom, incorporating dose conversion factors (DCFs). The results revealed that the activity concentration for 238U, 232Th, and 40K ranged from 0.1 – 1.3, 0.06–15.6, and 0.22–6.9 Bq g−1, respectively, which were lower than the reference provided by the international regulation. The analysis for heavy metals showed that sample 9 contained a high amount of Cd, which gave an immediate alert to that particular product. Furthermore, the effective doses in the skin estimated in this study with the range of 2.7–240 μSv y−1, were significantly lower than the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) reference limit of 50 mSv per year for members of the general public. Based on the few μSv of effective dose exposure, it is sufficient to conclude that the dose from these products poses no radiological risk to the user. The addition of NORMs in cosmetic products should be done with caution because higher concentrations can raise the dose.

Mechanical Design and Kinematic Analysis of a Hand Prosthesis from Computerized Tomography Images

Advancement of technology brought along many prostheses design and developments. The main purpose of prostheses are to improve the life standard of people with limb loss. There are many types of prostheses that were developed in recent years. Prostheses can compensate many limb losses, upper body prostheses can be for not only finger losses but also full arm losses. Finger losses are the most common limb losses. Finger prostheses are imitating the functionality of human fingers. However most of the finger prostheses are only for cosmetic purposes and non-functional. On the other hand, the most of the functional prostheses are not perfectly fit to the users and are not designed personalised. Another big problem, some prostheses need a surgical operation to apply. The main purpose of this study is to design a finger prosthesis that is a perfect fit to user (personalised), easy to apply (does not required surgical operation), accessible (easy to manufacture) and sustainable. In this study, finger prosthesis was modelled based on human hand skeleton structure from computerized tomography (CT) images. Index finger distal and middle phalanges bones were removed from the hand model to simulate finger losses. Finger prosthesis was created on the modelled skeleton structure. Hand skeleton model and newly designed prosthesis were assembled by using CAD software. The designed prosthesis movement capability was examined, parts size and connections were optimised. Gripping ability of the designed prosthesis were analysed by kinematic analyses and a new mathematic model was developed. Created mathematic model can be use at other user’s prosthesis, in this way analyses are not required for new designs, user parameters and measurements are enough to future designs manufacturs. Joint rotation rates were set to grip 40 mm diameter cylinder. The gripping ability of the newly designed finger prosthesis was analysed. Mechanical structure and movement abilities of the prosthesis were confirmed by experiments and measurements. Gripping tests are show that, designed and optimised prosthesis capable to grip perfectly 38-42 mm diameter cylinder. Smaller object also can be moved using prosthesis finger tips.

Drug Persuaded Growing Defects of Teeth

The purpose of this research was to determine the impact that regularly prescribed drugs have on dental tissues. Certain drugs can cause sensitivity in dental tissues if they are used by pregnant women for an extended period. This research focused on a small set of drugs, such as aspirin, estrogen, and lithium that have been shown to have adverse effects on human tissue throughout the developing stages of pregnancy. Only female rabbits participated in the study. The animals in the experiment were split into four groups, and each group had (n=7) subjects. Three of them were for the study of drug treatments and the fourth one was taken as a control. They were administered drugs in predetermined doses based on their weights up until they gave birth. These rabbits were bred specifically to be utilized in scientific studies. Variations in tooth size, mineral content, and composition of enamel (the hard, protective layer of dental tissue), and ultrastructural changes in enamel surfaces were among the variables examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). At the age of three months, researchers analyzed the teeth to look for signs of congenital abnormalities that may have begun in utero. Six hundred seventy-two samples were analyzed using volumetric methods prior to tooth extraction. After the teeth were removed, 336 samples were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to determine the mineral composition and examine the surface structure of the enamel (SEM-EDX). The chemical analyses and volumetric measurements showed a huge range of variance among samples between the control and experimental groups. The incisors and the premolars were found to be teeth with aesthetic and functional flaws. It was observed that the incisors and molars were aesthetically and functionally compromised teeth. However, this research has the potential to link long-term drug usage with dental drugs. It may also help future researchers focus on the role of drug-related factors in disease development. In dentistry, it could be useful for cosmetic and practical purposes. The results of the study were supposed to reveal which drugs should be avoided or used with caution during pregnancy and provide new avenues for further study. Keywords: drug persuaded, growing defects, teeth

Use of Illegal Foreign Substances for Cosmetic Purposes. An Increasing Global Problem.

Use of Illegal Foreign Substances for Cosmetic Purposes. An Increasing Global Problem.

Fordyce Angiokeratoma: Comparison of Cryotherapy and Electrocauterization Treatments

Fordyce angiokeratoma is a benign lesion commonly developing on the scrotal skin. The incidence increases with age. About half of these lesions may be symptomatic and frequently cause itching and bleeding. Although the treatment is not always considered necessary, several treatment methods are used for symptomatic cases, especially for cosmetic purposes. Treatment options include surgical excision, laser ablation, electrocoagulation, cryotherapy, and sclerotherapy. The most widely used methods are electrocoagulation and cryotherapy. Although these two methods are similarly effective and safe, there are differences in means of patient comfort and cosmetic outcomes. Patient comfort can be defined as pain management during the procedure and the healing period. Bleeding and wound infection are other parameters that may decrease patient comfort. Patients would prefer treatment methods with less or no pain and shorter recovery periods, healthcare providers, and insurance. The cosmetic result is another critical issue, especially for patients with multiple lesions. Treatment methods avoiding genital scars are more likely to meet the aesthetic demands of the patients.

Formulation and Evaluation of Polyherbal Face Pack

Various skin problems such as wrinkles, pimples, acne, and dark circles can all be reduced with the use of herbal face packs. Additionally, they are helpful in improving the fairness and smoothness of the skin. The face packs from natural origin do contain some important ingredients such as vitamins, which are beneficial for skin's health. They act on skin by increasing blood circulation within the veins of the face. The objective of this work is to formulate and evaluate a polyherbal face pack for cosmetic purpose containing herbal ingredients such as, hibiscus, sandalwood, multani mitti, orange peel powder, turmeric and neem. All the ingredients were procured from the local market and were dried, powdered, and formulation was prepared and evaluated.
 Keywords: Herbal, Facepack, Sandlewood, Turmeric, Neem.

Sensitive ex vivo human skin transdermal assay testing method with mass spectrometric analysis for cosmetics application.

Cosmetics manufacturers are focused on cosmetic delivery systems into the skin, but the level of diffusion of the systems in the skin tissues is not well understood. The current methods, such as Franz diffusion, assess analyte diffusion in the whole skin or artificial membranes, which has limitations for understanding skin delivery systems. Our study aimed to create a transdermal delivery method which is based on dermal-epidermal separation of human skin, allowing us to assess each layer of skin separately for its efficacy. During the experiment, resveratrol was used as the target analyte by applying it to the skin and then separating it into dermis and epidermis. Each layer is treated individually and subjected to a high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis to detect resveratrol levels. As a result, the efficiency of resveratrol diffusion in the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin can be evaluated. We found that resveratrol was detected in both the dermal and epidermal layers using our method. Hence, we developed a sensitive method for transdermal delivery testing that can be used to evaluate skin delivery systems for cosmetic or pharmaceutical purposes.

Contact Lens Prescribing Patterns in a University Clinic in Trinidad and Tobago.

The study assessed the contact lens prescribing patterns and associated factors in a university optometry clinic in Trinidad and Tobago. The data relating to habitual or new contact lens (CL) prescribing patterns among wearers over a two-year period were reviewed. Pearson’s chi-squared test and logistic regression models were used to analyze the findings. The Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was used to examine the model calibration. A total of 243 CL fits were analyzed, and the Homeshow–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test indicated a good fit (χ2 (7) = 7.296, p = 0.399). The mean age of lens wearers was 29.6 ± 12.4 (mean ± SD); the majority, 155 (63.8 %) of whom, were 21 to 40 years old. Most lenses were fitted on females (64.2% of fits overall) and about half of the wearers (n = 122, 50.2%) were prescribed lenses for cosmetic purposes. Conventional soft CL were the most prescribed modality of wear, accounting for 129 (53.1%) of the fits. Age from 21 to 40 years was the predictor of lens type prescribed, and those in that age range were four times more likely to be prescribed soft lenses compared to other ages. The patterns of CL prescribing in a university optometry clinic in Trinidad and Tobago are similar to the global market trends with slight variations.

Side effects associated with misuse of topical corticosteroids (tcs) sold over the counter in litein town, Kericho county

The aim of the study was to determine the side effects associated with the misuse of topical corticosteroids in Litein Town, Kericho County. A convenient random sample of 57 respondents was selected for the study. Self-developed structured questionnaire was used in data collection. In this study, figures were used to present data. The latest version of the SPSS data analysis tool was used to derive frequencies and percentages from the demographic information provided the use of corticosteroids and side effects associated with the use of corticosteroids. Common side effects related to the misuse of TCS include reduced immunity, change in skin pigmentation, thinning of skin, itching and abnormal drying. TCS are readily bought from community pharmacies for treatment and cosmetic purposes. Various brands are available in the market, with clozole cream as the most commonly known. The majority buy TCS for treatment purposes, while others for cosmetic purposes. Common side effects include drying, itching, change in pigmentation and dryness. This study recommends that necessary measures are to be put in place to improve the outcome of patients undergoing treatment for dermatological conditions using TCS through occasional monitoring of the patient. In addition, formulating scientists should work on formulating TCS with good anti-inflammatory effects and minimal adverse effects. This will ensure good compliance among patients.

Mohs micrographic surgery versus wide local excision for eyelid melanoma: An analysis of a national database

Although eyelid melanomas represent less than 1% of eyelid neoplasms, they have the worst prognosis. Wide local excision (WLE) and Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) are mainstay treatment options. We conducted a retrospective analysis to assess all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates in patients undergoing WLE or MMS for eyelid melanoma. A retrospective analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry was performed for eyelid melanoma treated with WLE or MMS. Cases were limited to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage T1 primary malignancies. A total of 45 cases of WLE were identified along with 48 cases of MMS for eyelid melanoma. There was no significant difference between subgroups in age group, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status at diagnosis, AJCC N stage, AJCC M stage, melanoma histology, chemotherapy use, and radiotherapy use. Among the cohort, all tumors were unilateral. Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank demonstrated no significant difference between MMS and WLE subgroups with regard to overall survival (P=0.662) and cancer-specific survival (P=0.494). Cox regression adjusting for variables with α<0.10 and found no significant difference in all-cause mortality (HR, 0.923; 95% CI 0.310-2.747; P=0.885) or cancer-specific mortality (HR, 0.518; 95% CI 0.047-5.711; P=0.591) when patients who underwent MMS were compared to those who underwent WLE. While our study is limited by a small number of patients, our analysis demonstrated no significant difference in all-cause or cause-specific survival for patients with eyelid melanoma treated with MMS compared with WLE. In areas requiring preservation of tissue due to cosmetic or functional purposes, MMS is a reasonable surgical approach.

A Comparative Analysis of the Common Injections Performed by Plastic Surgeons: 2012 and 2019.

Background:Plastic surgeons regularly perform injections for both cosmetic and functional purposes. This article examines the most common injections utilized by plastic surgeons under Medicare and how their usage and billing has changed between 2012 and 2019.Methods:Using the earliest and latest data available on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Provider Utilization and Payment Data File, we first determined Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System injection codes most billed to Medicare in 2012 and 2019. The number of services, amount of Medicare beneficiaries, and reimbursement rates were collected and analyzed for each Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System code from the Provider Utilization and Payment Data File for years 2012 and 2019. We compared the change in reimbursement rate for each injection to the rate of inflation in US dollars over the same period.Results:The unadjusted Medicare reimbursement rate for eight included injection types increased an average of 31.63% during the study period. This was not significantly different from the rate of inflation during the same period (+11.33%, P = 0.311). When all Medicare reimbursement data were adjusted for inflation to 2019 dollars, the average percentage change in reimbursement for all included injections in this study increased by 17.58% from 2012 to 2019.Conclusions:The findings from our study suggest that injections administered by plastic surgeons appear to be unique in their general stability in reimbursement rates as compared to rates in other fields. Further research should be performed to better understand the driving factors for usage and reimbursement changes.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Antiaging Activities of Collagen and Its Hydrolysate from Mackerel Scad Skin (Decapterus macarellus).

The skin of mackerel scad fish (Decapterus macarellus) is a new source for pepsin-soluble collagen and its hydrolysate, both of which have never been explored. This study aims to characterize and determine the in vitro antioxidant, antiglycation, and antityrosinase activity of pepsin-soluble collagen (PSC) and hydrolyzed collagen (HC) from mackerel scad skin. PSC was extracted using 0.5 M acetic acid containing 0.1% pepsin for 48 h at 4 °C. The obtained PSC was then hydrolyzed with collagenase type II (6250 U/g) to produce HC. The PSC yield obtained was 6.39 ± 0.97%, with a pH of 6.76 ± 0.18, while the HC yield was 96% from PSC. SDS-PAGE and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis showed the typical features of type I collagen. HC demonstrated high solubility (66.75–100%) throughout the entire pH range (1–10). The PSC and HC from mackerel scad skin showed antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), with IC50 values of 148.55 ± 3.14 ppm and 34.966 ± 0.518 ppm, respectively. In the antiglycation test, PSC had an IC50 value of 239.29 ± 15.67 ppm, while HC had an IC50 of 68.43 ± 0.44 ppm. PSC also exhibited antityrosinase activity, with IC50 values of 234.66 ± 0.185 ppm (on the L-DOPA substrate), while HC had an IC50 value of 79.35 ± 0.5 ppm. Taken together, these results suggest that the skin of mackerel scad fish has potential antiaging properties and can be further developed for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes.

A Review Article on Formulation and Evaluation of Polyherbal Antidandruf Powder Shampoos

The objective of this study is to communicate and evaluate polyhedral shampoo for cosmetic purpose from herbal elements. Dandruff is a public condition affecting the scalp disorder affected by yeast Pittosporum. Dandruff cannot be totally removed but can only be achieved and professionally controlled. Shampoo is a haircare creation used for the eradication of oils, dirt, skin elements, dandruff, ecological contaminants and other pollutant elements that slowly build up in hair. Herbal anti-dandruff shampoos were framed using herbal based elements like Lemon Grass Oil, Neem oil, Henna, Aloe Vera gel and other elements for formulating base shampoo. ment with least side effects has been recognized that ayurvedic preparation is to be auspicious for cosmetic usage too. In the situation of altering food habits, stress level and dependent stratosphere situations, amount of skin and hair diseases are come upon. Preservation of other issue shall not satisfy the indispensable so superfluous management is important that to which is safe. In circumstance of hair syndromes like dandruff problem, appropriate collection of herbal fundamental with their indispensable numbers, dose procedure can be prepared as precipitate shampoo to battle against dandruff this study is focus to formulate a entirely accepted shampoo and its comparative calculation with promoted products. Ingredients and Methods: In contemporary work the research and valuation of the shampoo of lawsonia interims, calendula officinalis Linn, citrus limnonym, citrus ulgaric and santolina trifoliatus, leaf extract and supplementary with two marketed bathes. The extract was absorbed under reduced pressure and weighed for determination of vintage. Withdrawal was completed in selected herbs by different extraction technique.

Possibilities of Using Medicinal Plant Extracts and Salt-Containing Raw Materials from the Aral Region for Cosmetic Purposes.

The aim of this work was to study the possibility of using medicinal plants in combination with salt-containing raw materials from the Aral Sea region for cosmetic purposes. The chemical and mineralogical compositions of salts occurring in this region were studied for pharmacological and cosmetic purposes. The salt-containing raw materials were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microflora of saline-containing raw materials and flora of the Zhaksy-Klych lake were studied. Fifty-six plant species were identified, of which 25% belong to the Asteraceae family, 32% were Poaceae, 22% were Amaranthaceae, and 21% were Tamaricaceae. Using the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, the composition of volatile compounds in such plant species as Artemisia alba L., Achilleamillifolium L., Eleagus commutate Bernh. Ex Rydb., Psoraleadrupacea Bunge, Artemisia cipa O. Vegd., Thymus vulgaris L., Morus alba L., Salvia pratensis L., Glycyrhizaglabra L., Tanacetum vulgare L., Polygonumaviculare L., Alhagipseudoalhagi Gagnebin and Peganumharmala L., chosen on the basis of their herbal components for future cosmetic products, was determined. In total, 187 different volatile compounds were found in the endemic plant species Glycyrrhizaglabra L., of which the following were dominant: 1,7-octadiene-3-, 2,6-dimethyl- with a peak area of 4.71%; caryophyllenes; bicyclo[7.2.0]4,11,11-trimethyl-8-methylene-, [1R-(1R*,4E,9S*)]—3.70%; bicyclo[2.2.1] heptane-2-1,7,7-trimethyl-,(1S)—3.46%; cyclohexanone, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyledene)-; 2-isopropyledene-5—2.97%; menthol; cyclohexanol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-; p-menthane-3-ol; menthol alcohol; and 2-isopropyl-5—2.08%. The remaining compounds were detected in amounts of less than 2.0%. Tests of seven cosmetic compositions developed on the basis of plant extracts and salt-containing raw materials revealed that three samples had a moisturizing effect. Launching the production of cosmetic products in the Aral region will not only reduce social tensions but also significantly improve the environmental situation in the region.

Application of Response Surface Methodologies to Optimize High-Added Value Products Developments: Cosmetic Formulations as an Example.

In recent years, green and advanced extraction technologies have gained great interest to revalue several food by-products. This by-product revaluation is currently allowing the development of high value-added products, such as functional foods, nutraceuticals, or cosmeceuticals. Among the high valued-added products, cosmeceuticals are innovative cosmetic formulations which have incorporated bioactive natural ingredients providing multiple benefits on skin health. In this context, the extraction techniques are an important step during the elaboration of cosmetic ingredients since they represent the beginning of the formulation process and have a great influence on the quality of the final product. Indeed, these technologies are claimed as efficient methods to retrieve bioactive compounds from natural sources in terms of resource utilization, environmental impact, and costs. This review offers a summary of the most-used green and advanced methodologies to obtain cosmetic ingredients with the maximum performance of these extraction techniques. Response surface methodologies may be applied to enhance the optimization processes, providing a simple way to understand the extraction process as well as to reach the optimum conditions to increase the extraction efficiency. The combination of both assumes an economic improvement to attain high value products that may be applied to develop functional ingredients for cosmetics purposes.

Ethnobotanical and Socio-economic Value of Blighia sapida (K.D. Koenig) in Togo

Aims: In Africa, and particularly in Togo, fruit trees occupy a special place because of their medicinal and food virtues,. This study aimed to identify the different uses of Blighia sapida in Togo.&#x0D; Methodology: investigations were conducted among 300 B. sapida users in nine villages in the prefectures of Tône, Kozah and Haho of Togo. The choice of the study area was based on its representativeness in relation to the geographical distribution of B. sapida; the presence of resource persons with endogenous knowledge, and the existence of markets where B. sapida organs and fruits are traded. Data collection phase took place in households and markets. The questionnaire solicited information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents; the use of this plant species by the populations, the routes of administration or formulations as well as the quantity sold per day.&#x0D; Results: Blighia sapida is used for nutritional, therapeutic and cosmetic purposes with the main route of administration being oral. Respondents were predominantly female over 55 years of age. The supply of the fruits of this plant is by purchase and the average amount sold daily is 2500 F (≈4 €).Conclusion: This study showed that various organs of B. sapida are used by the communities. It is a first step towards the valorization of plant resources.

Association between hair dye use and cancer in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies.

The use of hair dye for cosmetic purposes appears to be increasing worldwide. As 50-80% of women use hair dye throughout their lifetimes, the possible association between hair dye use and cancer is a public health concern. This systematic review was performed by retrieving studies from PubMed, Scopus, WOS, and ProQuest databases. The inclusion criteria were case-control studies evaluating the association between hair dye use and cancer in women. Women with cancer who have used any hair dye were the focus of our study. The present study combined 28 studies, to assess the association between hair dye use and cancer. The pooled odds ratio (OR) of hematopoietic system cancers among those who have generally ever used any type of hair dyes was 1.10 (95% CI:1.01-1.20) in 17 studies. In 11 studies investigating hair dye made before and after 1980 as a risk factor for cancer, the pooled OR for cancer was 1.31(95% CI:1.08-1.59). Likewise, in the 13 studies that evaluated the association of light and dark hair dye with cancer, the risk among those using dark hair dye increased by 9%, compared to non-users (OR=1.09; 95% CI:0.95-1.25). The present study suggests that, although the use of hair dye may increase the risk of cancer among users, a more detailed evaluation is required to assess the type of hair dye use in terms of guidelines and metrics.

Ethnobotany as a parameter for the study of cultural mimicry among Roma people

The nomadic behavior of Roma people has allowed their cultural interaction with peoplefrom different continents. Brazil has received Roma immigrants since its colonization, and there are currently more than 800,000 Roma people among the Brazilian population. This article describes the ethnobotanical knowledge of two Calon families (Alves and Dantas) established in hinterland cities of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. The survey was conducted with 23 informants (≥ 40 years old, 85% of the target audience) selected through the snowball technique and using semi-structured interviews. The plants mentioned were collected, identified and deposited in the IPA and UFP herbaria. The 157 species (85 native) are used for food, condiment, cosmetic, medicinal, ritualistic, technological, veterinary, and other purposes. The useful flora and forms of use are similar to those reported by non-Roma communities living in the same region, showing a kind of mimicry adopted by the Roma people, yet maintaining their cultural identity.