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Article: Kosmetikos*: MUFA PUFA.(mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids in cosmetics)(Statistical Data Included)
- Article from:
- Global Cosmetic Industry
- Article date:
- October 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Advanstar Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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"I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" 1
Alpha (a) Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), Beta (b) Hydroxy Acids (BHAs), and V-6 PUFA are all common cosmetic additives. Lactic acid, the prototypical AHA, has the structure
CH3CHCOOH ? OH
The action part of the molecule is carboxylic acid, -COOH. The carbons extending away from the functional group are designated a, b, g etc. Beta hydroxy acids have the -OH group one carbon further removed from the carboxylic end than AHAs. The other end of the molecule is similarly named for the last letter of the Greek alphabet, omega (V). Thus V-6 PUFA starts counting 6 carbons from the methoxy end:
H3C...