REVIEW ON SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF A COSMETIC PRODUCT

Cosmetics can be defined as, substances which are intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body's structure or functions†according to USFDA. This review encompasses a brief description of the process of safety assessment of a cosmetic product. There is no significant systemic absorption of cosmetics by penetration through skin, but some products are intended to apply on the mucous membranes or skin surrounding the mucous membranes which may result in significant systemic absorption on continuous use. Serious health hazards have not been observed mostly, but in some cases, lead to severe reactions like, allergy, irritation, comedogenicity, genotoxicity, photosensitivity etc. At the same time, long terms effects of usage of cosmetics are still unknown as the products are used repeatedly over a long period of time. Hence, safety evaluation of a cosmetic product is the most prominent step before release of the product into the market. There are no specific safety regulations for cosmetics, but the safety of the product is the responsibility of the manufacturer. The article explains about different organizations that are responsible for the safety of the cosmetic products before they are released into the market in different countries and also about the Product Information File (PIF). The safety of a cosmetic product both at industrial level and finished product level are explained. The different tests deployed for the safety assessment of a cosmetic product are also explained

Urinary trypsinogen-2 dipstick test for point-of-care screening of acute pancreatitis

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with high mortality in its severe form. Conventional laboratory tests used in its diagnosis are fraught with multiple shortcomings. Early institution of intravenous fluid resuscitation can reduce morbidity and mortality. Measurement of urinary trypsinogen-2 using a bedside urine dipstick test may prove useful in early identification of AP.Methods: Patients with symptoms consistent with AP, attending the emergency department, at a tertiary care hospital in southern India, between November 2014 and November 2016, were included in a prospective observational study. The patients underwent routine investigations and additionally were tested with a urinary trypsinogen-2 dipstick test (UTT). The diagnostic performance and the time to reporting of the different investigations were compared with those of UTT. Final diagnosis of AP, made by clinicians, served as the standard.Results: The sensitivities of serum amylase, serum lipase, UTT, ultrasonography (USG) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) were 97.1%, 94.1%, 92.7%, 98.3% and 100%, respectively. The respective specificities were 92.4%, 98.5%, 98.5%, 100% and 100%. The average time required to obtain the test report was about half hour from admission in case of UTT, compared to about 3 hours for serum amylase/lipase, 4 hours for USG and 6 hours for CECT.Conclusions: The results indicate that UTT test, due to its high performance indices, simplicity and faster availability of reports, can serve as an ideal screening test for AP and help in early institution of treatment

Fungi isolated from Rhizosphere-I

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Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of heterocyclic triazole derived Schiff base ligands comprising Mn(II) complexes: Implications of their DNA/protein binding docking and anticancer activity studies

797-805Schiff base ligands comprising heterocyclic moieties deserve distinct consideration because of their excellent chemotherapeutic and antioxidant properties as biologically active agents. In present investigation, two novel heterocyclic triazole derived Schiff base ligands have been synthesized using 3-chlorobenzaldehyde (L1), 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (L2) with 1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine backbone that are biologically active. Mn(II) complexes have been synthesized by combing ligands in 1:2 molar ratio (metal:ligand), their structure and bonding nature are recognised by respective physical, spectral and analytical data. The ligands (L1 & L2) and their metal complexes are characterized by elemental analyses, electronic, FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR and EPR spectroscopy techinques. Antimicrobial activity of the synthesized L1, L2 and their metal complexes are tested against Bacillus subtilis (Gram-positive, catalase-positive bacterium) as well as Fungi namely Phylium Aphanidematum, Macrophomina phasiolina, Fusarium oxysporum. Both the ligands and metal complexes exhibit excellent antimicrobial activity under low inhibitory concentration such MIC ≤ 250 μg/mL. Upon co-ordination, antimicrobial properties have been enhanced by 21%. The anticancer activity of the synthesized complex has been investigated against human tumour cell lines (Breast cancer MCF-7 cells) demonstrated that L1M complex displays potent inhibition against MCF-7. Using this molecular docking study, we can predict the complex–biomolecular interaction and it plays vital role in the drug discovery and also it is a step by step process which is used to place synthesised compounds into the binding sites of the DNA molecule. Further, Molecular DNA docking results demonstrated encouraging responses, thereby opening up new avenues for the application of the synthesized inorganic triazole derivative complexes as leads for the development of novel anti-cancer drugs

Filled Ethylene-propylene Diene Terpolymer Elastomer as ThermalInsulator for Case-bonded Solid Rocket Motors

Ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM)-based insulation system is being globallyused for case-bonded solid rocket motors. A study was undertaken using EPDM as base polymer,blended with hypalon and liquid EPDM and filled with fibrous and non-fibrous fillers. Theseformulations were evaluated as rocket motor insulation system. The basic objective of the studywas to develop an insulation system based on EPDM for case-bonded applications. A series ofrocket motor insulator compositions based on EPDM, filled with particulate and fibrous fillerslike precipitated silica, fumed silica, aramid, and carbon fibres have been studied for mechanical,rheological, thermal, and interface properties. Compositions based on particulate fillers wereoptimised for the filler content. Comparatively, fumed silica was found to be superior as fillerin terms of mechanical and interface properties. Addition of fibrous filler (5 parts) improved thepeel strength, and reduced the thermal conductivity and erosion rate. All the compositions wereevaluated for sulphur and peroxide curing. Superior mechanical properties were achieved forsulphur-cured products, whereas peroxide-cured products exhibited an excellent ageing resistance.Rocket motors were insulated with optimised composition and propellant cast, and the motorswere evaluated by conducting static test in end-burning mode.Defence Science Journal, 2008, 58(1), pp.94-102, DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.58.162

Optimization of factors influencing osmotic dehydration of aonla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) segments in salt solution using response surface methodology

Optimization of process parameters is a critical requirement in food processing and food product industries for the development of highly acceptable product. Quantification of mass transfer kinetics under different processing conditions is essential step for optimizing the osmotic dehydration process. A Box-Behnken Design (BBD), adopted from response surface methodology (RSM) approach was used for evaluating and quantifying the moisture loss and solids gain kinetics of aonla segments in salt solution during the osmotic dehydration process. The independent variables were fixed at three levels (salt concentration- 2, 4, 6%; processtemperature - 45, 50, 55 OC and process time - 60, 120, 180 minutes). The process responses were water loss percentage (WL%) and solids gain percentage (SG%). Validation experiments were conducted at optimum conditions to verify predictions and adequacy of the models. The optimum conditions predicted were 5.02% salt concentration, 54.8 OC temperature and 60.64 minutes process time to attain a desired effect of maximum water loss (6.42%) and minimum solid gain (1.09%) in osmotic dehydration of aonla in salt medium

Comparative effect of different sugars instigating non-enzymatic browning and Maillard reaction products in guava fruit leather

Browning is a major quality deterioration process affecting both visual colour and nutritional value of guava leather. The aim of the study was to determine the role of different sugars viz., sucrose, fructose, glucose and sorbitol in non-enzymatic browning and antioxidant activity of guava fruit leather. The total free amino acids, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activities were at significantly lower levels in glucose and fructose treated guava leather, while the sorbitol added samples had all of above parameters at the highest level; while a reverse trend was observed in browning index and non-enzymatic browning. Among the browning intermediate products, Hydroxymethylfurfural was present at higher concentration (12.80-32.32 ng/g) than furfural (0.29-0.95 ng/g) in guava leather samples. Among the treatments, hydroxymethylfurfural was found lowest in sorbitol (12.8 ng/g) and highest in fructose (32.3 ng/g). In brief, this paper describes a novel effort in bringing the in-vitro studies related to sugars and total free amino acids, influencing the biochemical and nutritional attributes which are responsible for browning in guava fruit leather

Influence of a paint coating on the corrosion of hull plates made of mild steel in natural seawater

The corrosion resistance of mild steel (used to make hull plates in ship technology) in seawater before paint coating (Nippon paint, weatherbond advance) and after paint coating has been measured by electrochemical studies such as Polarisation study and AC impedance spectra. It is observed that after paint coating, the corrosion resistance of mild steel hull plates increases. Polarization study reveals that after paint coating, the linear polarization resistance increases and corrosion current decreases. AC impedance spectra reveal that in the presence of paint coating charge transfer resistance value increases, impedance value increases, phase angle increases and double layer capacitance value decreases. © 2022 Authors