Immunopharmacology and immunopathology of peptides and proteins in personal products

ABSTRACT

The beneficial effects promoted from the use of biomolecular substances into the formulations of personal care products are considered useful ingredients in cosmetic and therapeutic applications. Innovations in cosmetics are based on new bioactive formulations such as vitamins, oils, peptides, and protein hydrolysates. In skin care, the monomeric amino acids such as serine, threonine, alanine are common ingredients in cosmetics as they function as natural moisturizing factors which act as water-binding molecules. Amino acids and their salts e.g., arginine, glycine, etc. are also used as hair- and skin-conditioning agents in cosmetic formulations. The peptides are composed of short chain of amino acids and are used in cosmetics due to their numerous pathophysiological properties including anti-aging. There is growing interest in bioactive peptides in products for stimulating collagen and elastin synthesis in skin and improve surface healing. The main benefit of using proteins in cosmeceuticals is to improve the hydration of skin. Proteins increase the dehydration in the skin which helps to reduce wrinkles and improves the functions of the skin barrier. This review article describes the peptides, proteins that are most frequently used in cosmeceuticals and their potential benefits and practical use in cosmetic science and skincare.

KEYWORDS:

• Cosmetics
• peptides
• polypeptides
• proteins
• personal care products

Acknowledgments

This review article is dedicated to the memory of my late beloved father. A great and down to earth gentleman, he was the most loved father and husband and above all the finest human being. HA wishes to that thank those authors from whose work the various data/tables/figures have been used and adapted. HA also regrets if inadvertently some authors have not been cited in this review article. The various cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies (e.g., BASF,260 Evonik Industries, Clariant, Rhodia, Procter & Gamble, L’Oreal,Unilever, Beiersdorf, Colgate-Palmolive, PharmaSpecial, Galena,Biotec, lipotec, Silab, etc.) are licensed and copyright owners of theproducts mentioned in the review article that are available in themarket and are thereby acknowledged.

Conflict of interest

The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.