Cosmoperine™ (*), chemically
known as tetrahydropiperine, is prepared from piperine,
the active principle of black pepper and long pepper. It
can be added to cosmetic products (e.g. lotions, creams,
balms, etc.) to improve skin penetration of the products’
active compounds.
The topical effectiveness of
Cosmoperine™ has been reported. Laboratory studies1
with betamethasone dipropionate (BMDP), a steroidal anti-inflammatory
agent that is commonly used in topical anti-inflammatory
formulations, was absorbed much faster when combined with
Cosmoperine™ as shown in Figure 1. Experiments tested
the transdermal diffusion of BMDP through hydrated skin
mounted on a Franz diffusion cell.
Figure 1. Effect of Cosmoperine™
on the trandsdermal penetration of BMDP.
Cosmoperine™ was also
found to increase the effectiveness of the insecticide Fenvalerate
20E against the tobacco cut worm Spodoptera litura. This
synergistic action is probably linked to the increased cuticular
penetration of the insecticidal compound in the presence
of Cosmoperine™. In this study, Cosmoperine™
(0.5% and 0.25%) was found to significantly increase insect
mortality as compared to the insecticide alone when applied
with 250 ppm a.i. of Fenvalerate 20EC (Figure 2).2
Figure 2. Synergistic effect of CosmoperineTM
on Fenvalerate 20EC action.
(Treatments:
A = 250 ppm Fenvalerate 20EC; B = 0.25% CosmoperineTM +
250 ppm Fenvalerate 20EC; and C = 0.5% CosmoperineTM + 250
ppm Fenvalerate 20EC)
Cosmoperine™ does not
cause skin irritation. (*Patents are pending for use and
composition.)
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