Propanediol (and) Caprylic Acid (and) Xylitol as a New Single Topical Active Ingredient against Acne: In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy Assays

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 26; no. 21; p. 6704
• Main Authors: Mussi, Lilian, Baby, André Rolim, Camargo Junior, Flavio Bueno, Padovani, Giovana, Sufi, Bianca da Silva, Magalhães, Wagner Vidal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 05-11-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: 5-alpha reductase; Acne; Acne Vulgaris - drug therapy; Acne Vulgaris - etiology; Androgens; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial activity; Antimicrobial agents; Caprylates - administration & dosage; Caprylates - chemistry; caprylic acid; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials as Topic; Complications; Dermatitis; Disease Management; Disease Susceptibility; Gene expression; Hormones; Humans; In vivo methods and tests; Inflammation; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microbiota; Minimum inhibitory concentration; Octanoic acid; porphyrin; Porphyrins; propanediol; Propylene Glycols - chemistry; Quality of life; Reductases; Skin; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Synergistic effect; Testosterone; Treatment Outcome; Xylitol; Xylitol - administration & dosage; Xylitol - chemistry; 5-alpha reductase; caprylic acid; porphyrin; acne; propanediol; sebum control; xylitol; efficacy
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216704

In addition to dermatological complications, acne can affect the quality of life of individuals in numerous ways, such as employment, social habits and body dissatisfaction. According to our expertise, caprylic acid and propanediol would not have a direct action on
. Despite this, we investigated the existence of a synergistic effect among xylitol, caprylic acid and propanediol as a mixture of compounds representing a single topical active ingredient that could benefit the treatment against acne. In vitro and in vivo assays were performed to challenge and to prove the efficacy of propanediol, xylitol and caprylic acid (PXCA) against acne. PXCA had its MIC challenged against
(formerly
) and
, resulting in concentrations of 0.125% and 0.25%, respectively, and it also developed antimicrobial activity against
(time-kill test). PXCA was able to reduce the 5-alpha reductase expression in 24% (
< 0.01) in comparison with the testosterone group. By the end of 28 days of treatment, the compound reduced the skin oiliness, porphyrin amount and the quantity of inflammatory lesions in participants. According to the dermatologist evaluation, PXCA improved the skin's general appearance, acne presence and size.