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Personal Care

Phynova is developing several active ingredients for use in the cosmetic market. 

PhynoRadiance™
PhynoRadiance™ is a plant extract with potent activity as an α-glucosidase inhibitor. α-Glucosidases are enzymes that play crucial roles in both the breakdown of carbohydrates in the gut and in the formation of the enzyme tyrosinase, which is vital in the skin for the formation and deposition of melanin pigment. Inhibition of tyrosinase formation may lead to reduced age-related melanin pigmentation and therefore resultant skin lightening.  Although melanin is indispensible for the absorption of free radicals generated in cells, and plays an important role in blocking various types of radiation (such as UV), the increased production and accumulation in the skin characterizes a large number of skin diseases, including acquired hyperpigmentation.  The use of inhibitors of melanogenesis as skin lighteners is well documented but many are of limited effectiveness, difficult to formulate, and may cause side effects after long term use. Recent attention has switched to the potential of natural products as cosmetics and PhynoRadiance’s™ action as a natural α-glucosidase inhibitor makes it an excellent candidate as a skin lightening agent.

Various activity studies conducted by Phynova has shown that PhynoRadiance™ has substantial activity against α-glucosidase with an IC50 of 13ug/ml.  Tests carried out comparing PhynoRadiance™ directly with deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) and arbutin (both noted α-glucosidase inhibitors) showed that PhynoRadiance™ had a different mechanism of action from arbutin and that the anti-melanogenesis activity was linked to the inhibition of early tyrosinase formation.  Inhibition of cellular melanin formation in tests directly comparing PhynoRadiance™ with DNJ and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (VC-PMG), another popular skin lightener, showed superior activity to the widely used VC-PMG, with no cytotoxicity observed.  PhynoRadiance™ was shown to exhibit similar potency to purified DNJ despite having a low DNJ content– indicating that within PhynoRadiance™ DNJ is working in synergy with other active compounds to inhibit melanin formation.

PhynoRadiance™ is water soluble and easily formulated into a cream.  Phynova is currently promoting and marketing PhynoRadiance™ for worldwide use in the cosmetic industry.

In cultured melanoma cells, PhynoRadiance™ exhibited more potent inhibitory effects on melonin synthesis than that of arbutin and kojic acid.

 

Direct and indirect effects of DNJ, arbutin and PhynoRadiance™ (PhyRad) on tyrosinase enzymatic activity in B16 melanoma cells. Results indicate that whilst arbutin directly inhibits tyrosinase, DNJ and PhyRad indirectly inhibit tyrosinase activity, most likely due to action on immature tyrosinase. Note: Compared with the control * P<0.05