Natural product-based excipients for topical green formulations

Author(s)

Silverio, Luiza Aparecida Luna ; Coco, Julia Cedran ; de Macedo, Lucas Malvezzi ; dos Santos, Erica Mendes ; Sueiro, Ana Claudia ; Ataide, Janaina Artem ; Tavares, Guilherme Diniz ; Paiva-santos, Ana Claudia ; Mazzola, Priscila Gava

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY; v. 33, p. 18-pg., 2023-06-03.

Abstract

The industry has been paying more attention to the quality of excipients since they play a funda-mental role in the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of pharmaceutical products. However, in the case of topical products synthetic compounds have been a concern for consumers, since they can lead to sensitization reactions, disturbance of the microbiota, and impairment in the skin barrier function. Consequently, the pharmaceutical industry has been looking for safer, cheaper, more ef-fective, and more eco-friendly alternatives, and so natural raw materials (or natural ingredients) are good candidates to meet this demand. This narrative review aims to present studies that use natural excipients and describe their advantages, disadvantages and overall performance. In topi-cal formulations, natural ingredients can be found in the form of emulsifiers, emollients, preserv-atives, gelling agents, humectants, and permeation enhancers. The studies show that they fulfill their role in formulations, demonstrating rheological and stable characteristics, as well as not be-ing toxic to skin cells and the microbiota. Moreover, many natural raw materials are biodegrad-able, being less harmful to the environment. More studies are still needed to effectively replace synthetic excipients with natural ones, while maintaining quality control. These raw materials present themselves as a potential alternative and there are vast resources still little explored, and those already used are highly effective and safe. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/06475-4 - Development of pharmaceutical formulation for burns' healing
• Grantee: Janaína Artem Ataide
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/07707-6 - Development of formulation for burns: analgesia, infection control and healing
• Grantee: Priscila Gava Mazzola
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/00319-3 - Nanostructures enriched with vegetable oils for optimization of formulation with model drugs
• Grantee: Julia Cedran Coco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 20/11333-4 - Development of a polysaccharide membrane containing extract from the shell of Spondias mombin L. for the treatment of Pressure Ulcers
• Grantee: Érica Mendes dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate