Turkish University files patent on soothing salt-liquorice blend
Writing in the international patent, researchers from Turkey’s Sivas Cumhuriyet University detailed a novel compound blend of strontium salts and liquorice plant extracts that worked in combination to provide anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant and anti-allergic effects.
The blend, they said, could be incorporated into a range of formulas, including post-shaving creams, nappy rash products, sun block and after-sun lotions, but also incorporated into specialised topical dermatology treatments for skin diseases like psoriasis and eczema.
Safe for long-term skin treatment
“The aim of the invention is to provide novel compounds suitable for topical application which have very little or no side effects when used for a long period of time,” the researchers wrote.
Common topical treatments for inflammation-related skin diseases often contained corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors, the researchers said, both of which could have “important side effects” when used over a long period. It was therefore important to find “novel compounds” suitable for long-term use in such treatments.
The patent outlined that the strontium salt-liquorice blend was safe to use over a long period, without side effects.
“Symptomatic healing and treatment can be provided for all inflammatory dermatosis cases that are formed due to irritation or via allergic immunologic channels by means of the dermatologic and cosmetologic formulation that shall be developed by means of this combination,” the researchers wrote.
The compounds, in combination, provided anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic features by blocking Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) alpha, an inflammatory cytokine or protein produced during acute inflammation, and by inhibiting Substance P, a compound thought to be involved in the synaptic transmission of pain.
A powerful adjuvant blend
The researchers observed that strontium chloride, when applied alone at a concentration of 6%, relieved severe burning-prickling sensations and serious irritation post-shaving after just two minutes; redness also disappeared after 20 minutes. Similarly, when applied to a first degree burn from hot water, the burning sensation disappeared within one minute and redness receded in an hour. Burning-prickling sensations associated with longer-term skin inflammation (intertrigo) was also instantly relieved.
“This observation gives us the idea that strontium chloride could be used on the skin, especially at a concentration of 6% in order to treat and control the subjective and clinical findings of irritation that has developed physically or chemically on the skin,” the researchers said.
Research showed strontium salts worked to relieve such conditions because the compound “systematically blocked” TNF alpha. Previous research also indicated the salts reduced or prevented the release of Substance P.
Liquorice plant also suppressed the TNF mediated intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-I) and the TNF mediated binding to HaCAT cells of monocytes, thanks to its concentration of glycyrrhizinic acid, the researchers said.
“Due to this reason, the potential of both molecule combinations to increase this efficiency is high. Antipruritic effects have been shown via the anti-inflammatory effect of liquorice. We know that the primary effect of strontium is to prevent calcium ingestion in a cell and again we also know that strontium has an itching preventing effect connected to histamine. Due to this reason, it is possible for these two compounds to provide a more potent antipruritic effect by means of different effect mechanisms.”
A psoriasis model in rats confirmed the combined power of the compounds: a blend of 5% strontium and 2% liquorice was associated with “significant inflammation reduction”, compared to a placebo and individual treatment groups.
Source:WIPO International Patent No. 132850
Published on: July 4, 2019. Filed on: December 28, 2018.
Title: “Dermatologic and cosmetologic treatment compounds showing antiinflammatory and antipruritic characteristics having adjuvant interaction strontium salts and licorice combinations”
Inventor: M. Akyol – Sivas Cumhuriyet University
