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Copyright @ Pol J Cosmetol
Pol J Cosmetol 2016, 19(3): 199-205pl  Arthrospira platensis - "green gold" of cosmetologyNatalia Pawłowska 1/, Anna Czajkowska 2/, Anna Bielawska 2/ 1/ Zakład Syntezy i Technologii Środków Leczniczych, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Białymstoku 2/ Samodzielna Pracownia Biotechnologii, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Białymstoku Summary An intensive development of the cosmetics market, means that consumers are increasingly aware of their choices and they are looking for not only strictly beauty products, but also functional. Such products are commonly referred as cosmeceuticals. They include cosmetics, which contain bioactive substances with a beneficial physiological effect. Undoubtedly, the richest source of these compounds is the nature which substances have been used in skin care since ancient times. Nowadays, there has been a strong trend towards the use of natural cosmetics. They contain organic ingredients - plant or mineral extracts and the presence of irritating preservatives, artificial pigments and flavors in these products is reduced to a minimum. Currently, cosmetics enriched by extract of blue-green microalgae belonging to the Arthrospira genus are rapidly gaining importance among consumers. Arthrospira platensis species, called "green gold", plays a crucial role in the production of modern cosmetics lines because of its rich composition of natural, easily penetrable and safe active substances. Efforts to obtain the active chemicals have led to the development of advanced cosmetic formulations with wide spectrum of activity, which enhance natural processes and regeneration of the skin. Moreover, this cyanobacteria is an excellent source of agents with antioxidant and radical scavenging properties and they are successfully introduced to the anti-aging treatments. Key words: cyanobacteria, Arthrospira platensis, cosmeceuticals, γ-linolenic acid, phycocyanin |