Application of Defined Approaches to Assess Skin Sensitization Potency of Isothiazolinone Compounds.

Introduction: Isothiazolinones (ITs) are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetics and as additives for preservation of consumer and industrial products to control bacteria, fungi, and algae. Although they are effective biocides, they have the potential to produce skin irritation and sensitization, which poses a human health hazard. In this project, we evaluated nonanimal defined approaches (DAs) for skin sensitization that can provide point-of-departure estimates for use in quantitative risk assessment for ITs.

Exploring structure/property relationships to health and environmental hazards of polymeric polyisocyanate prepolymer substances-2. Dermal sensitization potential in the mouse local lymph node assay.

The sensitization potencies of twenty custom-designed monomer-depleted polymeric polyisocyanate prepolymer substances and their associated toluene diisocyanate (TDI), methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) monomer precursors were investigated by means of the mouse Local Lymph Node Assay (LLNA). These polymeric prepolymers were designed to represent the structural features and physical-chemical properties exhibited by a broad range of commercial polymeric polyisocyanate prepolymers that are produced from the reaction of aromatic and aliphatic diisocyanate monomers with aliphatic polyether and polyester polyols. The normalization of LLNA responses to the applied (15-45-135 mM) concentrations showed that the skin sensitization potency of polymeric polyisocyanate prepolymers is at least 300 times less than that of the diisocyanate monomers from which they are derived.

Application of Defined Approaches for Skin Sensitization to Agrochemical Products.

Skin sensitization testing is a regulatory requirement for safety evaluations of pesticides in multiple countries. Globally harmonized test guidelines that include and methods reduce animal use, but no single assay is recommended as a complete replacement for animal tests. Defined approaches (DAs) that integrate data from multiple non-animal methods are accepted; however, the methods that comprise them have been evaluated using monoconstituent substances rather than mixtures or formulations.

Evaluation of skin sensitization induced by four ionic liquids.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are synthetic solvents used as replacements for volatile organic solvents. Human exposure occurs through dermal or oral routes. In rodents, several ILs were reported to induce dermal toxicity, irritation, and sensitization.

Mast cell degranulation and calcium influx are inhibited by an Echinacea purpurea extract and the alkylamide dodeca-2E,4E-dienoic acid isobutylamide.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Native Americans used plants from the genus Echinacea to treat a variety of different inflammatory conditions including swollen gums, sore throats, skin inflammation, and gastrointestinal disorders. Today, various Echinacea spp. preparations are used primarily to treat upper respiratory infections.

Secondary Metabolites from Fungal Endophytes of Suppress Cytokine Secretion by Macrophage-Type Cells.

Botanical extracts of have been widely used for the treatment of upper respiratory infections. We sought to chemically examine fungal endophytes inhabiting , and to identify compounds produced by these endophytes with in vitro cytokine-suppressive activity. Twelve isolates from surface sterilized seeds of were subjected to fractionation and major components were isolated.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of fatty acid amides from Echinacea.

Alkylamides are lipophilic constituents of Echinacea and possess numerous biological activities. Although significant effort has been focused on the study of crude Echinacea extracts, very little is known regarding the activities of the individual constituents that make up these herbal treatments. Herein we explore the SAR of simple alkylamides found in Echinacea extracts with respect to their ability to decrease the production of the pro-inflammatory mediator TNF-α.

Ethanolic Echinacea purpurea Extracts Contain a Mixture of Cytokine-Suppressive and Cytokine-Inducing Compounds, Including Some That Originate from Endophytic Bacteria.

Echinacea preparations, which are used for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory infections, account for 10% of the dietary supplement market in the U.S., with sales totaling more than $100 million annually.