Fucoidan: Versatile Cosmetic Ingredient. An Overview

Abstract

The growing demand for new cosmetic agents continues to be a significant challenge as well as driving force for good revenue returns to the cosmetic industries. In the present review, we describe fucoidan (a sulfate polysaccharide derived from marine source) and its cosmetic applications. The effects of fucoidan have been shown to protect the skin and hair which includes the reduction of wrinkles, scavenging free radicals, reduction in inflammation and a decrease in allergy and sensitive reaction of the skin. Furthermore, the fucoidan have been reported to improve the skin elasticity, skin elasticity retentive, skin glosses & skin firmness and as well as hair cleaning, hair conditioning, hair protecting: hair glosses, hair stiffness and hair growth. Even, effects of fucoidan have been shown to protect the skin against Ultraviolet (UV) radiation- induced skin damage. Thus the fucoidan has found potential applications in cosmetic industries.