Fermented Onion in Cosmetics

While onion is usually known for its strong smell, onions and onion juice might not be the first things that come to mind of consumer of skin & hair care products as most people don’t want their face and body smelling like onions. But the vegetable is actually a surprisingly rich source of skin-friendly acids and compounds. The infamous tearjerker might even help soften the skin if applied judiciously and its characteristic smell is masked using fragrance.

Onions are a member of the Allium plant family. This plant family also includes garlic, shallots, leeks, and chives. The onion bulb, which grows at the base of the plant, is the part that’s typically harvested and used for cooking. Red, yellow, and white onions have similar botanical properties. Onions have been used by many cultures as an essential cooking ingredient. This might partially be because onions appear to fight off microbes and parasites in the digestive system.

Onions are also rich in antioxidants, especially in their outer layers. Many people eat onions for their prebiotic properties, which can ease digestion and promote a healthy microbiome in the colon. Onions have a sulphur component as well as nutrients such as selenium and vitamin C.

Here are some of the properties that onion has and its claim for Skin.

Onion can be used in various skin care & hair care products for its various application & activity.

Onions may reduce inflammation and scarring
Onions contain high amounts of antioxidants. These are compounds that help fight inflammation by defending against free radicals.Free radicals are compounds that circulate in the body and can cause cell damage, leading to wrinkling and other early signs of aging. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals so they can’t inflict damage.One of the most well-known antioxidants in onion extract is quercetin. This compound helps fight inflammation and induce healing.
This property makes onion extract popular in topical preparations used to treat scars. A different study from 2018 compared the topical application of onion extract gel to silicone gel, another popular scar treatment. After applying each gel for 12 weeks, the researchers found both were equally effective in treating postsurgical scars.
Most research shows that applying gel containing onion extract to the skin, alone or with other ingredients, for at least 10 weeks improves the appearance of scars. Applying onion extract along with other ingredients for less time doesn't seem to work.
Research has shown that applying a skin cream containing onion extract, gotu kola, and hyaluronic acid for 12 weeks improves the look of stretch marks.

Onions may kill bacteria on skin’s surface
Onion extracts have been shown to inactivate most forms of bacteria. This property can help skin because bacteria can increase inflammation on skin’s surface. Antibacterial properties also come in handy when dealing with active acne breakouts.

Onions may help treat acne
In addition to the properties mentioned above, onions also contain a naturally occurring sulfuric acid. Diluted sulfur can be used to treat some types of acne. Onion also contains vitamin C. Vitamin C is known to increase the speed of your cell turnover, which can help decrease breakouts, lessen redness, and brighten up your skin.

To encourage hair growth
A 2018 study published in the Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics took a look at the onion’s ability to improve hair growth.Researchers have found that the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of onions may help you grow your hair or enhance its healthy appearance.

To reverse greying of hair
No peer-reviewed evidence exists on the concept of onions reversing the process of greying hair. However, a lot of home remedies promise onion extract can help reduce grey hairs.The idea behind these home remedies is that onions contain an antioxidant compound called catalase that helps reduce hydrogen peroxide at the hair roots. This is thought to keep the hair from turning grey.

To moisturize and revitalize dry, brittle hair
Onions contain many compounds that may help to enhance dry, damaged hair.Examples include flavonoids, such as kampeferol and quercetin. These have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasodilatory (widening of the blood vessels) properties that help promote blood flow to the scalp.

To calm a dry, itchy scalp
Onion’s anti-inflammatory properties may help soothe an itchy scalp. You can also combine onion extract with other natural ingredients to calm your scalp.
To treat alopecia
Alopecia areata is a hair condition that causes hair loss in patches.A 2014 study Trusted Source of 38 people tested the effectiveness of using onion juice to treat alopecia. The researchers had one group of people apply onion juice to their scalp twice a day, while a control group applied tap water.After 6 weeks, 86.9 percent of those who applied onion juice noticed more hair growth. Only 13 percent of the tap water group noted hair growth.The researchers concluded onion juice can be a good alopecia treatment.
To quell dandruff
Onion juice has antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which is why some natural health experts advocate for it as an infection treatment.Many people experience dandruff due to a fungus called Malassezia furfur, so onion’s antifungal properties could definitely come in handy as a dandruff fighter.Because there isn’t a lot of research on onion as a dandruff fighter, though, it’s not really a first-line treatment for moderate to severe dandruff.
We at Kumar Organic developed Kopalleum(Coconut Oil Onion Bulb Ferment Filtrate), which is a ferment filtrate of red onions fermented in coconut oil using Bakers’ Yeast. It is used in cosmetics for skin as well as hair nourishment. It is magical oil for promoting hair regrowth. Using it on regular basis will effectively prevent and treat baldness. It is rich in sulphur which prevents breakage, split ends and thinning of hair. Other nutrient present in it prevents oxidation of hair. Selenium content of onion bulb activates the enzymes important for regeneration of important antioxidants that further promote hair growth and regrowth by killing harmful free radicals. It also maintains the regular pH of the hair, preventing premature greying. It also nourishes scalp and improves the blood circulation, thus ensuring thicker and stronger hair growth. It has high antioxidant activity which protects the skin and hair from damages caused by free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that can directly damage various cellular structural membranes, lipids, proteins, and DNA. Antioxidants function by slowing or preventing the oxidation of the molecules by donating hydrogen to prevent free radical formation or by neutralizing existing ones. Controlled fermentation can further enhance the antioxidant activity of Kopalleum.
The major active content in onion is the flavonoids which are potent antioxidants & has high selenium & Sulphur content
Selenium plays a key role to prevent oxidative damage and also hair follicle morphogenesis When selenium is compounded with sulfur to form Selenium sulfide it is absorbed by the outermost layer of scalp cells.

From the following graph, it is evident that how effective it is after fermentation.

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kopalleum in comparison with the other onion oils in the market.

FORMULATION
Hair Growth Shampoo
“Kopalleum stimulates the scalp, promoting blood circulation and hair regrowth and makes it frizz-free. This Shampoo gently cleanses hair leaving hair soft & smooth. The Shampoo is completely free of Silicones, Parabens, Mineral Oil and Dyes.”

Procedure :
1. Weigh phases A & B ingredients separately and heat to 70-80°C.
2. Add phase B to A with continuous the stirring.
3. Add phase C to the emulsion at 40°C with continuous stirring
4. Add phase D to adjust the pH. Mix well, allow the batch to cool & settle.

Product Specification :

*Note : Viscosity determined by using Brookfield viscometer, Model LVDV Ⅱ+PRO,
Spindle no :  S6.3 @ 30 rpm, 26 °C
Stability:Passes 12weeks at 45°C and passes 3 freeze/thaw cycles.
Conclusion : Product was observed to be stable without any colour change or separation. Thus it was found to be stable.
Fermented Onion has more magnified efficacy and can be used in hair care & skin care products for intended application.