Unilever (India)

BackgroundThe complex ecosystem on skin comprising tens of thousands of microorganisms plays an important role in health and disease. The last decade in particular has witnessed a surge in microbiome research, which has been elucidating the role of the microbiota in numerous skin pathologies. Of relevance to the current study, are recent evidences implicating the microbiome in skin pigmentary conditions. Melasma is one such refractory, hyperpigmentary condition with a poorly understood pathogenesis. The present study was carried out to characterize the nature of microbial dysbiosis and its impact on microbial community structure in melasma subjects.ResultsThe clinical assessment of melasma carried out using biophysical, biochemical and biomarker-based measures confirmed significant changes in melasma lesions, most notably, those linked to redox, inflammation and barrier properties. A deep characterization of the skin microbiome in melasma from human face, indicated significant differences between lesional and peri-lesional areas. Of the 377 genera identified through an agglomeration of all OTUs at the Genus level through 16S rRNA sequencing, 344 were common, while 12 were unique to lesional and 21 unique in peri-lesional areas. A significant decrease was observed in alpha diversity in melasma lesion as compared to peri-lesion areas, with an accompanying decrease in number of interconnections among them. The differences in the microbiome also appeared to correlate with several clinical parameters, notably with the melasma severity measured through modified MASI (mMASI) scoring. The observed changes in both host and microbiome, point to a potential role for the latter in melasma pathogenesis.ConclusionsOur study indicates that there are significant differences in the microbiome between lesional and peri-lesional areas of melasma subjects, with associated changes in microbial community structures. Additionally, the observed changes were seen to correlate with measured clinical parameters. These findings provide the opportunity to further probe the nature of host and microbiome links that may underlie the phenotypic manifestation, as well as provide effective routes for managing this recalcitrant disorder.

Background: This clinical study evaluated the safety and efficacy of an Ayurvedic leave-on treatment for premature hair greying in healthy Indian adults (male and female). It also investigated the product’s mechanism of action through in vitro analyses. Methods: Healthy male and female volunteers aged 20–42 years with early-onset hair greying and no underlying medical conditions were enrolled in the clinical study. Participants were screened based on predefined criteria, including a specific percentage of grey hair. The study included a washout period before treatment initiation, followed by a four-month application phase with regular follow-ups. An in vitro study using B16F10 melanocytes (ATCC) was also conducted to explore the Ayurvedic leave-on treatment’s mechanism of action. Results: The Ayurvedic leave-on treatment significantly increased natural black hair density and reduced grey hair count in both male and female subjects. In vitro analysis reveals that the Ayurvedic leave-on treatment enhances melanogenesis by upregulating melanin production in melanocytes. Conclusions: The present study concludes that the Ayurvedic leave-on treatment promotes melanogenesis, reduces oxidative stress, provides cytoprotective benefits, and effectively enhances dark hair density while reducing grey hair count. Clinically, 100% of users showed improved dark hair density, 97% reported reduced grey hair. No adverse effects were observed, confirming its safety and efficacy for both men and women with greying concerns.

Virtual Inertia Control (VIC) provided by Wind Turbines (WTs) can contribute to frequency support in electrical power networks. For this reason, in addition to conventional systems such as power plants and battery storage systems, new and existing wind farms are of interest to VIC. WTs with Doubly-Fed Induction Generators (DFIGs) have VIC limitations when operating at low rotor frequency, which leads to higher temperature stress on semiconductors and thus constraints on lifetime and power output. This work presents a novel control method that effectively limits the rotor current and adjusts the reactive power supplied by the rotor-side inverter during frequency support. The WTs’ speed recovery following a VIC event is also taken into consideration. Temperature simulations for power semiconductors are presented and discussed. Flexible current limiting and reactive power control for the rotor-side inverter are presented and analyzed.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ayurvedic leave on treatment product in the management of dandruff through a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Methods: A total of 112 subjects with clinically diagnosed moderate dandruff were randomly assigned to group A (ayurvedic leave-on treatment group) and group B (placebo group), where 110 subjects completed the study. The treatment phase was for 4 weeks, followed by a regression phase of 1 week. Subjects applied the allotted product on their scalp and massaged. It’s a leave on product so the subjects were asked not to wash off. Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, test product group A demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in dandruff severity compared to group B (p<0.05). The adherent dandruff scores in group A showed a significant reduction of 17.56 units/41% while in group B, it was noted to be 29.4%/12.4 units. Additionally, 100% of subjects in group A reported a subjective perception improvement in symptoms of dandruff within 2 weeks when compared to group B which is only by 81%. Conclusions: Indulekha Svetakutaja scalp leave-on treatment is a safe and highly effective solution designed to combat dandruff while simultaneously enhancing the overall health of the scalp and hair.

This study provides investors with a certain idea of comparing ratios between Hindustan Unilever ltd, Emami Ltd, Bajaj Consumer Care Ltd and Dabur by comparing their financial health of these companies' investor can decide before investing their money. INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN FMCG INDUSTRYIn India, FMCG ranks as the fourth biggest sector.It is also referred to as fast moving as customers continuously use them as the product or items quickly disappear from the store or from the supermarket as well.They are high in demand because they are at a lower price and there is higher usability as well.Items like toothpaste, soaps or notepads etc. as there is high demand in stores or supermarkets like D-Mart and limited durability are some characteristics of FMCG which help them move swiftly from the rack.The FMCG sector is characterized by its diverse product offerings, rapid inventory turnover, and large sales volumes.These products include necessary everyday items for e.g.food and beverages, cleaning supplies, toiletries and lower cost household items. COMPONENTS OF INDIAN FMCG INDUSTRY-a) FOOD and BEVERAGES: This component includes packaged items, snacks, dairy products, alcoholic drinks, carbonated beverages.b) PERSONAL CARE and TOILETRIES: This component includes cosmetics, soaps, shampoos and oral care products.c) HOUSEHOLD and CLEANING PRODUCTS: This component covers cleaning supplies, laundry detergents and other necessary household items.

Surfactants with their intrinsic ability to solubilize lipid membranes are widely used as antibacterial agents, and their interactions with the bacterial cell envelope are complicated by their differential aggregation tendencies. We present a combined experimental and molecular dynamics investigation to unravel the molecular basis for the superior antimicrobial activity and faster kill kinetics of shorter-chain fatty acid surfactant, laurate, when compared with the longer-chain surfactants studied in contact time assays with live Escherichia coli (E. coli). From all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, translocation events across peptidoglycan were the highest for laurate followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate, myristate, palmitate, oleate, and stearate. The translocation kinetics were positively correlated with the critical micellar concentration, which determined the free monomer surfactant concentration available for translocation across peptidoglycan. Interestingly, aggregates showed a lower propensity to translocate across the peptidoglycan layer and longer translocation times were observed for oleate, thereby revealing an intrinsic sieving property of the bacterial cell wall. Molecular dynamics simulations with surfactant-incorporated bacterial inner membranes revealed the greatest hydrophobic mismatch and membrane thinning in the presence of laurate when compared with the other surfactants. The enhanced antimicrobial efficacy of laurate over oleate was further verified by experiments with giant unilamellar vesicles, and electroporation molecular dynamics simulations revealed greater inner membrane poration tendency in the presence of laurate when compared with the longer-chain surfactants. Our study provides molecular insights into surfactant translocation across peptidoglycan and chain length-induced structural disruption of the inner membrane, which correlate with contact time kill efficacies observed as a function of chain length with E. coli. The insights gained from our study uncover unexplored barrier properties of the bacterial cell envelope to rationalize the development of antimicrobial formulations and therapeutics.

Extracts of mulberry have been shown to reduce post-prandial glucose (PPG) and insulin (PPI) responses, but reliability of these effects and required doses and specifications are unclear. We previously found that 1·5 g of a specified mulberry fruit extract (MFE) significantly reduced PPG and PPI responses to 50 g carbohydrate as rice porridge, with no indications of intolerance. The trials reported here aimed to replicate that work and assess the efficacy of lower MFE doses, using boiled rice as the carbohydrate source. Two separate randomised controlled intervention studies were carried out with healthy Indian males and females aged 20-50 years (n 84 per trial), with PPG area under the curve over 2 h as the primary outcome. Trial 1 used doses of 0, 0·37, 0·75, 1·12 and 1·5 g MFE in boiled rice and 0 or 1·5 g MFE in rice porridge. Trial 2 used doses of 0, 0·04, 0·12, 0·37 g MFE in boiled rice. In trial 1, relative to control, all MFE doses significantly decreased PPG (-27·2 to -22·9 %; all P ≤ 0·02) and PPI (-34·6 to -14·0 %, all P < 0·01). Breath hydrogen was significantly increased only at 1·5 g MFE (in rice porridge), and self-reported gastrointestinal symptoms were uniformly low. In trial 2, only 0·37 g MFE significantly affected PPG (-20·4 %, P = 0·002) and PPI (-17·0 %, P < 0·001). Together, these trials show that MFE in doses as low as 0·37 g can reliably reduce PPG and PPI responses to a carbohydrate-rich meal, with no apparent adverse effects.

ObjectivesTo demonstrate the synergistic effect of 4‐hexylresorcinol (4‐HR) with niacinamide in boosting anti‐melanogenic efficacy in vitro and establish the in vivo efficacy and safety of the combination in a human trial.MethodsPrimary human epidermal melanocytes and 3D pigmented skin equivalents were treated with 4‐HR, niacinamide, and their combinations for their effect on pigmentation. This was followed by a randomized, double‐blind, split‐face clinical study in Chinese subjects, and effects on skin tone, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, hydration, and skin firmness were measured for a 12‐week study period.ResultsIn vitro tyrosinase enzyme activity studies showed that 4‐HR is one of the most potent tyrosinase inhibitors. The combination of 4‐HR and niacinamide showed a synergistic reduction in melanin production in cultured melanocytes and lightened the 3D skin equivalent model. In vitro as well as in the human trial, the combination of 4‐HR and niacinamide showed significantly improved efficacy over niacinamide alone on hyperpigmentation spots as measured by L*, the visual appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in crow's feet and perioral area and skin firmness, with no product‐related adverse events.ConclusionsA formulation containing a combination of 4‐HR and niacinamide delivered superior skin tone and anti‐ageing benefits significantly better than niacinamide alone with no adverse events. This study demonstrates that a product designed to affect multiple pathways of melanogenesis, inflammation, and ageing may provide an additional treatment option, beyond hydroquinone and retinoids, for hyperpigmentation and ageing.