The significance of complex polysaccharides in personal care formulations

Abstract

Complex polysaccharides have numerous pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, immunomodulating, anticoagulant and anticancer effects. In personal care products, these biopolymers are used as thickener and stabilizing agents or as moisturizing ingredients that could be beneficial to the skin. Various polysaccharides, such as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), hyaluronic acid (HA), carrageenan, fucose, fucoidan, chitin, chitosan, etc., have applications in cosmeceutical industries. GAGs and HA incorporated in moisturizing creams strengthen the skin barrier by forming a protective layer which prevents transdermal water loss. Therefore, these polysaccharides have been formulated into potential cosmeceuticals and biopharmaceuticals.

Keywords:

• Cosmetic products
• complex polysaccharides
• glycosaminoglycans
• hyaluronic acid
• chitin
• chitosan
• carregeenan

Acknowledgments

This review article is dedicated to the memory of my late beloved father. He was the greatest father and husband, an extraordinary and remarkable gentleman and above all the finest human being. We all miss him so much that life will never be the same again without him. The author wishes to thank Dr. Fahim H. Khan, Aligarh for his insight and suggestions. HA also wishes to that thank those authors from whose work the various data/tables/figures have been adapted and reprinted. The figures have been reprinted and reproduced with permission from authors, publishers or from open access articles with due acknowledgment and citations. The various cosmetic companies such as L’Oreal, Avon, Olay Regenersit, Este’e Lauder, Biomatrix, Bio-Technology General, Diagnostic Inc., Fermentech, Genzyme, Pharmacia, Shiseido Co., etc. are the license holders and copyright owners of the products mentioned in the review article and have also been acknowledged wherever possible whose products are available in the market.