Arborcide® OC
Background
Public opinion, increasingly strict chemical inventories, sensitization, and the potential for microbial resistance are just some of the factors driving the movement towards natural alternatives to product preservation. Fortunately, nature has provided us with a multitude of solutions.
Science
Active Micro Technologies has an ongoing pursuit of harnessing the natural mechanisms utilized by both plants and microorganisms to give themselves a competitive advantage over other organisms and for protecting themselves from their environment. In the case of Arborcide®OC, AMT has capitalized on the ability of Leuconostoc spp. to restrict competition from other microorganisms typically found in its environment. Leuconostoc kimchii is one of 15 species of microorganisms typically associated with the production of the Korean dietary staple known as kimchi, a type of fermented cabbage. The process of fermentation has been used for centuries to preserve food. AMT has employed this principle in the development of Arborcide®OC. This ferment filtrate contains intact, non-viable microorganisms and has shown a wide range of utility as a skin conditioner and antimicrobial agent for cosmetic and personal care product formulations.
Benefits
Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) were determined using a standard growth media dilution method. A variety of bacterial and fungal cultures were tested to evaluate the ability of Arborcide®OC to protect against microbial contamination. The results indicate that Arborcide®OC can provide effective protection for cosmetic systems.
Challenge testing reveals that 2% Arborcide®OC in a cream base is able to successfully inhibit microbial growth. Samples were inoculated with E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, A. brasiliensis and C. albicans. Following 28 days of incubation samples were then re-inoculated for an additional 28 days.
Use Recommendations
As with all biological materials some attention must paid to the conditions under which Arborcide®OC is used. Applications to date have shown that the material is stable up to a temperature of 60oC. Additionally, our testing has shown that Arborcide®OC remains active between a pH of 3 and 8. For many cosmetic formulations Arborcide®OC can function as a natural alternative to synthetic preservatives. Its ability to serve as both a skin conditioner and an antimicrobial agent make it a logical choice for potential applications when addressing problem skin and scalp conditions.
