Dexpanthenol: Skin's "sweet Guardian"

Introduction

Hidden in the wondrous world of cosmetics is a "sweet guardian" called dexpanthenol. With its unique biological activity and wide application fields, it plays an important role in many industries such as skin care, medicine, and food. This article will take you to appreciate its magical charm and uncover its mystery as a "sweet guardian".

Peculiarity

Dexpanthenol, also known as D-panthenol or provitamin B5, is a colorless, viscous, slightly bitter liquid with hygroscopic properties. Its chemical formula is C₉H₁₉NO₄ and its molecular weight is 205.25. Dexpanthenol is the bioactive alcohol of pantothenic acid, which can be converted into pantothenic acid in the human body, and then participate in the synthesis of coenzyme A, and promote the metabolism of protein, fat, and sugar. In addition, it also has the role of protecting the skin and mucous membranes, known as the "sweet guardian" of the skin.

Physiological effects

Dexpanthenol has many physiological effects in vivo. First, it is involved in the synthesis of coenzyme A, which is essential for cellular metabolic processes. Secondly, it can penetrate deep into the skin, providing a long-lasting moisturizing effect for the skin and improving the skin's shine and elasticity. In addition, it promotes skin repair and regeneration, reduces skin inflammation and irritation, and makes the skin healthier, smoother, and more elastic.¹

Application fields

(1) Cosmetic pre-collection

It is especially widely used in the field of cosmetics. It can be used as a moisturizer, moisturizer, repair agent, and other ingredients added to a variety of cosmetics, such as creams, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, and so on. Dexpanthenol can penetrate deep into the skin to provide deep nourishment and repair, making the skin healthier, smoother, and more elastic.

(2) The field of medicine

It also has important application value in the field of medicine. It can be used as a supplement of the B vitamin group to treat and prevent vitamin B5 deficiency. In addition, dexpanthenol also has the effect of promoting wound healing and can be used to treat skin injuries such as burns and wounds.

(3) Food field

It is often used as a nutritional fortifier in the food industry, and added to food can improve the nutritional value of food. At the same time, it can also be used as a moisturizer and stabilizer for food, improving the taste and shelf life of food.²

The "sweet" secret of dexpanthenol

The reason why it is called "sweet Guardian" is not only because it has excellent moisturizing and repairing effects in the skin care field, but also because its source and manufacturing process are full of sweet breath. It is usually produced by microbial fermentation, and this natural and environmentally friendly production method makes it more pure and safe. In addition, it can be combined with a variety of natural ingredients, such as honey, plant extracts, etc., to create a series of sweet, moisturizing skin care products.³

Synthesis method

There are two main methods for its synthesis: biological fermentation and chemical synthesis.

Biological fermentation method: The biological fermentation method is the use of microbial fermentation to produce it. The method uses sugars and amino acids as raw materials, ferments under the action of specific microorganisms, and finally obtains dexpanthenol. Biological fermentation is the main method of production at present because of its wide source of raw materials, simple process, and low cost.⁴

Chemical synthesis method: Chemical synthesis method is the method of synthesizing it by chemical reaction. This method usually requires the use of toxic and harmful chemical reagents and high temperature and pressure conditions, and the reaction process is complex, and the yield and purity are low. Therefore, the chemical synthesis method is rarely used in actual production.⁵

Prospects of dexpanthenol

As people's pursuit of health and beauty continues to improve, its application areas will continue to expand. In the future, its research will pay more attention to the in-depth exploration of its biological activity mechanism and the development of new application fields. At the same time, with the progress of science and technology and the improvement of environmental awareness, its production mode will also be more environmentally friendly and efficient. It is believed that shortly, "Sweet Guardian" will show its magical charm in more fields.

References

[1].Stozkowska, W.; Piekos, R., Investigation of some topical formulations containing dexpanthenol. Acta Pol Pharm 2004, 61 (6), 433-437.

[2].Stettler, H.; de Salvo, R.; Olsavszky, R.; Nanu, E. A.; Dumitru, V.; Trapp, S., Performance and tolerability of a new topical dexpanthenol-containing emollient line in subjects with dry skin: Results from three randomized studies. Cosmetics 2021, 8 (1), 18.

[3].Heise, R.; Skazik, C.; Marquardt, Y.; Czaja, K.; Sebastian, K.; Kurschat, P.; Gan, L.; Denecke, B.; Ekanayake-Bohlig, S.; Wilhelm, K.-P., Dexpanthenol modulates gene expression in skin wound healing in vivo. Skin pharmacology and physiology 2012, 25 (5), 241-248.

[4].Proksch, E.; de Bony, R.; Trapp, S.; Boudon, S., Topical use of dexpanthenol: a 70th anniversary article. Journal of Dermatological Treatment 2017, 28 (8), 766-773.

[5].Biro, K.; Tha?i, D.; Ochsendorf, F. R.; Kaufmann, R.; Boehncke, W. H., Efficacy of dexpanthenol in skin protection against irritation: a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study. Contact dermatitis 2003, 49 (2), 80-84.

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