This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial and antioxidative activities of Camellia japonica extracts for cosmetic applications. Antimicrobial effects of C. japonica were determined against Bacillus cereus by methanol extract of new leaf, stem and stem-leaf; Malassezia pachydermatis, by methanol extract of new leaf and stemleaf. A methanol extract of new leaf of C. japonica showed strong antimicrobial effect using paper disc method against most species especially in Staphylococcus aureus. Antioxidative activities of C. japonica seed oils were determined by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. The value of EC 50 of DPPH scavenging activity was 500 mg/mL and that of ABTS scavenging activity was 96.10 mg/mL. C. japonica oil extracts showed lower antioxidative activities than those of gallic acid and α-tocopherol. Electron microscopic observation of damaged virgin hairs of different ages gave a stabilizing effects after C. japonica seed oil treatment. These results indicated that the extracts of stem, leaf and seed of C. japonica could be used as cosmetic ingredient combined with appropriate formula.

Stained and discolored hair will be damaged by the shampooing, daily UV disposal, and the use of hair dryer. Thus many studies about the effect of various natural substances on the re-secure the skin and scalp are recently reported. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of green tea (Camelloia sinensis) seed oil on colored (dyed) and decolored (bleached) hair. The beneficial effects of green tea seed oil are already well known, but little research has been done about the hair treatment and fade-resistant effect. Dyed and bleached hair was pretreated with green tea seed oil to determine the tensile strength and elongation of the hair, to analyze the hair surface using SEM, and to compare the color fade using spectrocolormeter. The results showed that the tensile strength increased with green tea seed oil pretreatment samples for virgin, dyed, and bleached hairs. Elongation showed the reverse results showing the presence of hair treatment effect. The results of the surface pre-treatment in all groups analyzed by SEM, the hair cuticle became sharper, so coating effect were identified with all samples. The value of the L*, a*, b* decreased with washed hairs damaged by UV irradiation and the values were decreased also in dyed and bleached hair. In summary, green tea seed oil prevent reinjury to the heat and UV rays for colored and decolored hairs. Cosmetic practice effects of the oil were identified in the field to be appropriate to the customer's skin and scalp that natural cosmetic oils would like to offer.

Lentils (Lens culinaris) are a nutritious and popular food throughout the world. This review provides an overview of the nutritional and functional properties of lentils. Lentils have high nutritional value: high protein, high fiber, low fat, and a variety of minerals. The addition of lentils to other foods could enhance their health benefits. Additionally, there is no decrease in the amino acid content in lentils when cooked; rather, the amino acids increased and the phytic acids decreased. Lentils are generally known to have biomedical functions including antioxidative, anti-cancer, antiinflammatory, antihypertensive, and thrombolytic properties. The data presented here show that fermentation would increase the amount of bioactive substances in the beans. Therefore, fermentation techniques could be a new approach to produce lentil-based foods. They are also eco-friendly, cost-effective, and feasible processes. This review has suggested a future development of new lentil-related foods using traditional fermentation technology.

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