Cornus mas L. extract as a multifunctional material for manufacturing cosmetic emulsions.

Dogwood fruits are a valuable source of active ingredients, such as phenolic compounds, vitamin C, iridoids, flavonoids and anthocyanins. Plant extracts and substances derived from latin Cornus mas L. exhibit not only strong antibacterial but also antioxidant and tonicity properties, effectively preventing the development of inflammation in living organisms. In the present study, we attempted to obtain the innovative, multi-functional plant extract from the fruit of dogwood (Cornus mas L.). During the extraction process a mixture of water, glycerol, and vegetable oil were used as an extractant. The usage of such mixtures of solvents enabled us to extract a variety of active substances, soluble in both water and oils. The obtained extracts were analyzed for their physicochemical and biochemical properties, in order to apply the extract in a body nutrient lotion. The results clearly showed that such extract could be an innovative and multi-functional raw material used in cosmetics industry.

Swimming pool attendance and respiratory symptoms and allergies among Dutch children.

OBJECTIVES: To describe associations among swimming, respiratory health, allergen sensitisation and Clara cell protein 16 (CC16) levels in Dutch schoolchildren. Trichloramine levels in swimming pool air were determined to assess potential exposure levels. METHODS: Respiratory health and pool attendance information was collected from 2359 children, aged 6-13 years. Serum from 419 children was tested for allergen sensitisation and CC16 levels. Trichloramine levels were assessed in nine swimming facilities. RESULTS: Trichloramine levels ranged from 0.03 to 0.78 mg/m3 (average 0.21 mg/m3). Reported swimming pool attendance and trichloramine exposure were both not associated with asthma, wheezing, rhinitis or CC16 levels. Birch and house dust mite sensitisation were associated with recent indoor swimming (OR>1.86), but not after considering recent swimming frequency multiplied by trichloramine levels. Sensitisation to house dust mites was associated with frequent baby swimming (ORs=1.75; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.79). Furthermore, sensitisation was associated with lower serum CC16 levels. CC16 levels were associated with average trichloramine concentrations in pools; however, not after considering swimming frequency multiplied by trichloramine levels. CONCLUSIONS: Measured trichloramine levels were comparable with other studies but lower than in an earlier Dutch study. Swimming pool attendance was not associated with respiratory symptoms. The association between sensitisation and swimming during the first 2 years of life suggests that early-life exposures might be important, although this needs further study. The interpretation of transient and chronic changes of CC16 and other inflammatory markers in relation to the pool environment and health impacts warrants further investigation. Detailed comparisons with other studies are limited as few studies have measured trichloramine levels.

The regulatory use of the Local Lymph Node Assay for the notification of new chemicals in Europe.

The regulatory use of the Local Lymph Node Assay (LLNA) for new chemicals registration was monitored by screening the New Chemicals Database (NCD), which was managed by the former European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) at the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC). The NCD centralised information for chemicals notified after 1981, where toxicological information has been generated predominantly according to approved test methods. The database was searched to extract notifications for which the information for skin sensitisation labelling was based on results derived with the LLNA. The details of these records were extracted and pooled, and evaluated with regard to the extent of use of the LLNA over time, as well as for analysing the information retrieved on critical aspects of the procedure e.g. strain and amount of animals used, lymph node processing, solvent and doses selected, stimulation indices, and for assessing their level of compliance to the OECD Test Guideline 429. In addition the accuracy of the reduced LLNA when applied to new chemicals was investigated.

Transdermal delivery of an anti-cancer drug via w/o emulsions based on alkyl polyglycosides and lecithin: design, characterization, and in vivo evaluation of the possible irritation potential in rats.

The purpose of this work was to develop w/o emulsions that could be safely used to promote transdermal delivery of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Two pseudo-ternary phase diagrams comprising oleoyl-macrogol glycerides, water, and a surfactant/co-surfactant (S/CoS) mixture of lecithin, ethanol, and either coco glucoside or decyl glucoside were investigated for their potential to develop promising 5-FU emulsions. Six systems were selected and subjected to thermodynamic stability tests; heat-cool cycles, centrifugation, and finally freeze-thaw cycles. All systems passed the challenges and were characterized for transmission electron microscopy, droplet size, rheological behavior, pH, and transdermal permeation through newly born mice skin in Franz diffusion cells. The systems had spherical droplets ranging in diameter from 1.81 to 2.97 µm, pH values ranging from 7.50 to 8.49 and possessed Newtonian flow. A significant (P<0.05) increase in 5-FU permeability parameters as steady-state flux, permeability coefficient was achieved with formula B5 comprising water (5% w/w), S/CoS mixture of lecithin/ethanol/decyl glucoside (14.67:12.15:18.18% w/w, respectively) and oleoyl-macrogol glycerides (50% w/w). When applied to shaved rat skin, this system was well tolerated with only moderate skin irritation that was recovered within 12 h. Indeed, minor histopathologic changes were observed after 5-day treatment. Further studies should be carried out, in the future, to investigate the potentiality of this promising system to promote transdermal delivery of 5-FU through human skin.

[Improvement of local lymph node assay for cosmetics safety evaluation].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the local lymph node assay (LLNA) as an alternative method to detect chemicals for both sensitization and irritation. METHODS: The following chemicals: one negative control: 4-Aminobenzoic Acid, three sensitizers: 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), Hexyl cinnamic aldehyde (HCA), 2-Aminophenol (2-APC) and two irritations: potassium hydroxide (KOH), sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) were selected. According to the normal LLNA, groups of female Balb/c mice were treated with test solutions. The thickness of each ear was measured and each auricle was weighed. On the sixth day, the bilateral draining auricular lymph nodes were excised and weighed. The single cell suspensions were prepared, the lymphocyte were counted and the proliferations of lymph cells were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). RESULTS: Significant increase in ear thickness and weight were found in groups of KOH, SLS and DNCB (above 0.5%) (P < 0.05), which could be considered as irritants, whereas irritation were not found in 2-APC and HCA. In the allergic test, three sensitizers showed positive, but different sensitivity were found among each index. HCA, DNCB and 2-APC could all obviously augment the weight of lymph node and the lymphocyte count in different groups (P < 0.05). Conspicuous proliferation of lymphocyte were found in DNCB (all group), HCA (above the middle dose) and 2-APC (high dose) by CCK-8. CONCLUSION: The reformed LLNA using auricle thickness and weighing as observed markers for irritation, and using lymph nodes weighing and proliferation of lymphocyte as observed markers for sensitization, could evaluate both sensitization and irritation at the same time.

The identification of potential aeroallergen/irritant(s) from oilseed rape (Brassica napus spp. oleifera): volatile organic compounds emitted during flowering progression.

Volatile organic compounds emitted by growing intact oilseed rape plants have been detected using an entrainment apparatus enabling volatile headspace analysis by thermal desorption coupled to capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In total, 22 volatile compounds were identified as being emitted during the flowering period. The main constituents were alpha-farnesene (a sesquiterpene); beta-myrcene (a monoterpene); linalool (a monoterpene alcohol) and the 'green leaf' volatile (E)-3-hexen-1-ol acetate. These compounds constituted between 50 and 87% (mean 68%) of the total volatiles emitted in all of the entrainments carried out with flowering oilseed rape plants. The remaining constituents consisted of a range of compounds including other terpenoids, the characteristic 'green leaf' volatile (E)-3-hexen-1-ol, short chain alcohols and ketones, organic sulphides and nitrogen-containing compounds. These were generally present as minor constituents but some plant entrainments revealed that higher relative amounts could be emitted. This was particularly apparent for dimethyl disulphide, 3-methyl-2-pentanone, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, sabinene, isomyrcenol and (E)-3-hexen-1-ol. The possible role of the 22 compounds in respiratory mucosa and conjunctiva irritation associated with airborne releases from oilseed rape is discussed.

Presence of tumor promoters in the seed oil of Jatropha curcas L. from Thailand.

The seed oil of Jatropha curcas L. was shown to contain skin tumor promoters in a two-stage mouse carcinogenesis experiment. By using the irritant test on mouse ear to monitor activity, the "irritant fraction" was partially purified from the methanol extract of the seed oil by column chromatographies on Florisil and Sephadex LH-20. The irritant fraction obtained induced ornithine decarboxylase in mouse skin and inhibited the specific binding of 3H-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate to a particulate fraction of mouse skin. After initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), this "irritant fraction" induced tumors in the skin of 36% of the mice tested in 30 weeks. Tumor incidences in the groups treated with DMBA alone and "irritant fraction" alone were 7% and 13% in week 30, respectively. Since the skin of Thai people comes into direct contact with this seed oil, an epidemiological study on human skin cancer in Thailand is indicated.

The dermatitic properties of black bryony (Tamus communis L.).

The skin irritant properties of both the juice expressed from the ripe berries and the slimy mucilage present in the rhizomes of black bryony (Tamus communis L.) were investigated. The dermatitis produced on human skin after gently rubbing in either the berry juice or the rhizome mucilage was found in both cases to be a result of mechanical irritation, being produced by penetration of the skin by minute needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate. Scanning electron micrographs supporting this conclusion are presented. Chemical investigation of the rhizome mucilage confirmed the presence of histamine. The rôle of histamine in the production of skin irritation following contact with the rhizome mucilage is discussed.