Tous Actualités
Suivre
Abonner Merck Healthcare Germany GmbH

Merck Healthcare Germany GmbH

Merck at In-Cosmetics 2001 in Dusseldorf/Germany

Dusseldorf and Darmstadt/Germany (ots)

Innovation in Cosmetics: Merck launches Emblica, a new plant-derived,
free-radical-fighting ingredient for skin-care products
At the occasion of the
international trade show In-Cosmetics 2001, being held in
Dusseldorf/Germany from April 24-26, Merck KGaA today announced that
it will launch Emblica, a patented combination of active ingredients
extracted from the fruit of Phyllanthus emblica.
Emblica is one of Merck's innovative market introductions for the
international cosmetics industry. The plant-derived ingredient
possesses all the properties that make it ideal for capturing free
radicals while at the same time preventing further metal-induced
oxidation. Both free radicals and oxidation are blamed for speeding
the skin-aging process.
Phyllantus emblica is a plant with important healing properties
and has been used for generations for this purpose in the Indian life
science Ayurveda for the treatment of numerous diseases and
disabilities. Emblica is extracted from the fruit of Phyllanthus
emblica using a gentle water-based process. A specially validated
process ensures a high concentration of active components in the
final preparation.
"Customers are actively looking for new innovative cosmetic
substances for anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, skin protection and care
claims in general. Merck's strategy in cosmetics is to focus on new
active ingredients that are well defined, documented and derived from
Nature", said Klaus Bischoff, head of Merck's global Cosmetics
business.
"Emblica is a perfect example of this strategy," Bischoff added.
The ingredient is recommended for skin care and skin protection,
particularly in anti-aging and sunscreen formulations.
The principal components of Emblica are the low molecular-weight
tannins Emblicanin A and Emblicanin B. Emblica forms complexes with
the iron and copper that are present in the skin. This chelating
process prevents the formation of hydroxy radicals that would
otherwise cause damage to the skin. This particular property
differentiates Emblica from other established antioxidants such as
Vitamins C and E which, when present in certain concentrations,
promote the reduction of metal ions and, thus, the formation of
radicals.
The essential advantages of Emblica are its stability and efficacy
over a long period of time. While the effect of most antioxidants
decreases rather rapidly, the individual components of Emblica
continue to be effective in a cascade fashion. The sequential effects
of such a cascade thus guarantee long-term and high level
antioxidative protection.
RonaCare Ectoin uses natural substance to protect skin, retain
moisture, prevent premature aging
RonaCare Ectoin, which also is being presented at In-Cosmetics
2001, is another new cosmetic ingredient from Merck that uses natural
means to achieve long-term protection of skin cells. Ectoin has been
discovered in a special type of bacteria, enabling them to withstand
damaging environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, dryness
and UV radiation. RonaCare Ectoin was first introduced to the market
by Merck at the International Cosmetic Congress IFSCC 2000 in Berlin.
Micro-organisms, which produce Ectoin for their own protection,
have existed in extreme and hostile environments for thousands of
years. They live quite happily in salt lakes, saturated rock salt
solutions, the bitter cold and the intense heat of the desert. Ectoin
guarantees their survival in all of these hostile settings.
Now these natural survival benefits of the bacteria are being
utilized by Merck for human skin with the new cosmetic active
ingredient. Major international cosmetic makers have already
expressed their intention to use RonaCare Ectoin in creams and other
skincare products, as well as shampoos and lipsticks.
"Ectoin protects the skin from being damaged by stress factors
like heat, cold and harmful chemicals in the environment by
supporting the repair and protective mechanisms of the cells," said
Merck researcher Dr Joachim Buenger. Furthermore, the new cosmetic
raw material regulates the natural moisture of the cells, thereby
preventing them from drying out. The result: the skin remains moist
and supple for a longer period of time.
Merck has been developing the new active ingredient in
co-operation with Bitop GmbH, a biotechnology company based in
Witten, Germany, which holds the patent for the production process.
Large-scale biotech manufacturing of the substance is done at Merck's
Darmstadt production site.
Emblica(tm) and RonaCare(tm) Ectoin are trademarks of Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt.
Headquartered in Darmstadt/Germany, the Merck Group generates
annual sales of EUR 6,7 billion in the fields of Pharmaceuticals,
Specialty Chemicals, Lab Products and Lab Distribution. Founded in
1668, the Merck Group is represented today by more than 200 operating
companies in 52 countries and employs 33,500 people world-wide. The
company groups its operating activities under Merck KGaA, in which E.
Merck, as a general partner, holds the Merck family's 74 percent
equity interest in Merck KGaA. The Merck Group strongly believes that
promotion of its employees' self-initiative and self-responsibility,
application-oriented research and development and close customer
relationships in the markets are the keys to long-term corporate
success.

Contact:

Phyllis Carter
Phone +49 6151 72 7144
Fax +49 6151 72 7707
E-mail: phyllis.carter@merck.de
Merck KGaA Darmstadt
Germany

Merck KGaA Darmstadt
Frankfurter Strasse 250
D-64293 Darmstadt
E-Mail: pressestelle@merck.de
Internet: http ://www.merck.de