A review of the use of beeswax in skincare.

BACKGROUND: Beeswax is a naturally occurring product secreted from worker bees that has varied uses in modern day. In skincare, its function ranges from its role as an occlusive, helping to create a semi-occlusive skin barrier that minimizes transepidermal water loss; as a humectant, locking in hydration; and an emollient to soften and soothe the skin. As a natural substance, its use has been shown to help alleviate symptoms associated with common cutaneous conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis, and overgrowth of normal skin flora. AIMS: In this narrative review, we aim to describe current uses of beeswax in skincare that has been published in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of beeswax related publications was performed by searching the PubMed database studies. RESULTS: A total of five clinical studies were included with three studies on animals and two studies in humans. DISCUSSION: Several studies show the benefits of topical beeswax in supporting the skin barrier. CONCLUSION: Beeswax can be a low-cost, natural ingredient for use in products. Further studies with topical beeswax are warranted.

Design, synthesis, and study of a mycobactin-artemisinin conjugate that has selective and potent activity against tuberculosis and malaria.

Although the antimalarial agent artemisinin itself is not active against tuberculosis, conjugation to a mycobacterial-specific siderophore (microbial iron chelator) analogue induces significant and selective antituberculosis activity, including activity against multi- and extensively drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The conjugate also retains potent antimalarial activity. Physicochemical and whole-cell studies indicated that ferric-to-ferrous reduction of the iron complex of the conjugate initiates the expected bactericidal Fenton-type radical chemistry on the artemisinin component. Thus, this "Trojan horse" approach demonstrates that new pathogen-selective therapeutic agents in which the iron component of the delivery vehicle also participates in triggering the antibiotic activity can be generated. The result is that one appropriate conjugate has potent and selective activity against two of the most deadly diseases in the world.