Chitosan
Chitosan is the second most abundant natural biopolymer in the world, but only recently have scientists discovered the healing, antifungal and antibacterial properties of chitosan. Scientists in the Department of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School have found that chitosan beneficially influences all five stages of skin healing; hemostasis, inflammation, migration, proliferation and maturation. Unlike other synthetic medicines and antibiotics, chitosan is safe and biodegradable. Chitosan’s magical properties are now being used to form wound dressings and even gentle enough to be used on fruits and veggies to reduce the formation of mold. Chitosan has enabled the scientists at Native Nutraceuticals to address a common conundrum with topical skin and nail treatments -- how to keep molecules that are small enough to penetrate the skin or nail from being rubbed or washed away. The Chitosan forms a matrix on your skin and nails that does not easily rub or wash away. This thin film is not only antifungal and healing in itself, but it also binds to active ingredients like acetic or undecylenic acid. Though these ingredients can be harsh to your skin in high concentration, they are neutralized and safe when bound to the chitosan biopolymer. These active ingredients are slowly released, like blossoms from a tree, and are protected as they make their way through your nail or skin to kill fungus and bacteria and activate healthy skin growth. Chitosan acts not only as a healing agent, but as a barrier to keep in the active properties of our ingredients.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil, often referred to by its botanical name Melaleuca alternifolia oil, is an essential oil steam-distilled from the leaves of the Australian native tea tree. Its potency against various microorganisms, particularly fungi, is primarily attributed to a diverse array of chemical components, with terpinen-4-ol being the most significant active ingredient. Terpinen-4-ol typically constitutes 35-48% of the oil's composition, and its concentration is a key factor in the oil's antimicrobial efficacy. The antifungal activity of Tea Tree Oil against dermatophytes (the fungi responsible for common skin and nail infections like athlete's foot, ringworm, and nail fungus) is well-documented in laboratory settings. Its mechanism of action is multifaceted:
- Membrane Disruption: Tea Tree Oil, and especially terpinen-4-ol, exerts its fungicidal effect by disrupting the structural and functional integrity of the fungal cell membrane. It's believed that the lipophilic (fat-loving) nature of its components allows them to partition into the fungal cell membrane, altering its permeability. This leads to the leakage of vital intracellular components, such as electrolytes, nucleic acids, and proteins, compromising the cell's ability to maintain its internal environment.
- Inhibition of Respiration: Studies show that Tea Tree Oil can inhibit glucose-induced medium acidification in fungal cells, which implies an interference with membrane-associated functions, including the activity of membrane ATPases crucial for expelling protons and maintaining cellular energy. This disruption ultimately inhibits cellular respiration.
- Inhibition of Morphogenesis: For certain fungi like Candida albicans, Tea Tree Oil has been shown to inhibit the formation of germ tubes or the transformation of blastospores into invasive mycelial forms. This disrupts the fungal life cycle and its ability to cause infection.
Oregano Oil
Oregano oil, typically extracted from the leaves and flowers of the Origanum vulgare plant. Its potent antimicrobial and antifungal properties are largely due to its high concentration of phenolic compounds, primarily carvacrol and thymol. These two constituents are often present in significant amounts acting as the primary drivers of its remarkable ability to combat fungal pathogens. In laboratory settings, oregano oil has consistently demonstrated exceptional antifungal activity, ranking among the most potent essential oils against a broad spectrum of fungi. This includes common dermatophytes responsible for skin and nail infections (such as Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes) as well as yeasts like Candida albicans. Its fungicidal efficacy in the lab is attributed to several mechanisms:
- Severe Cell Membrane Disruption: Carvacrol and thymol are lipophilic phenols that can rapidly and profoundly compromise the integrity of the fungal cell membrane. They insert themselves into the membrane's lipid bilayer, increasing its permeability. This leads to massive leakage of vital intracellular components (e.g., ATP, ions, nucleic acids, and amino acids), effectively short-circuiting the cell's ability to function and maintain its internal environment.
- Inhibition of Ergosterol Synthesis: Some research suggests that oregano oil, specifically carvacrol, can interfere with the biosynthesis of ergosterol, a crucial component of fungal cell membranes that serves a similar role to cholesterol in human cells. By disrupting ergosterol production, the membrane becomes unstable and non-functional, leading to cell death.
- Metabolic Disruption: The active compounds can also interfere with various metabolic processes within the fungal cell, hindering growth and reproduction.
Undecylenic Acid and Castor Oil
Undecylenic acid is a naturally derived anti-fungal molecule approved by the FDA for topically treating toenail fungus, athlete's foot, jock itch and other diseases caused by fungus. Undecylenic acid is derived from castor oil, one of the world's oldest herbal medicines. Castor oil is derived from the beans of the castor plant that grows in the rich soils of the tropical regions. The undecylenic acid derived from castor oil, aside from killing fungus and bacteria, has also been found to reduce the itching and inflammation that commonly occurs with fungal infections. Though very active, the problem with undecylenic acid is that it is small and easily worn away before it actually penetrates your skin to perform its action. Consequently, at Native Nutraceuticals we team it together with chitosan which holds and slowly releases the undecylenic acid into the skin or nails.
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