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Copyright @ Pol J Cosmetol
Pol J Cosmetol 2016, 19(3): 182-189pl  Usefulness of Rhodophyta in cosmetologySylwia Bogusz, Ewa Posz, Adam Stebel Katedra i Zakład Botaniki Farmaceutycznej i Zielarstwa, Wydział Farmaceutyczny z Oddziałem Medycyny Laboratoryjnej, Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach Summary Red algae (Rhodophyta) are group of algae inhabiting mostly salt water. They are uni- and multi-cellular species. They owe theirs colours to red phycoerythrin and blue phycocyanin. Red algae are the only natural source of agar and carrageenan. They contain a lot of micro and macroelements, for example calcium, magnesium, iodine. They have also essential unsaturated fatty acids, including γ-linolenic acid which is of a high significance for human body. This acid is very rare in higher plants. Rhodophyta are rich in vitamins (for example vitamin C) which are very useful in cosmetology. They are full of carotenoids, proteins and mycospores like Porphyra-334 and Shinorine. Thanks to their reach composition they strongly act on skin, hair and nails. They are completely safe and do not cause allergy and irritate the skin. That is the reason why they can be used in all types of skin. Red algae are used in beauty products and beauty treatments or even in diet supplements. The article presents the use of 45 species form 24 genera of Rhodophyta in cosmetics. During the investigation it has been noticed that composition of cosmetic products is common given imprecisely, for example "algae extract", "red algae" instead of the names of the species. Some of Rhodophyta which are used in cosmetology are not indexed in the data base of cosmetic components of European Union called CosIng. In production of cosmetics the most common species are Chondrus crispus and Corallina officinalis. Mesophyllum lichenoides, Chondria crassicaulis, Chondracanthus teedei and Grateloupia elliptica are examples of the most rare species used by cosmetics producers. Key words: algae, red algae, cosmetics, cosmetology |