SJB0018 Lui Min Xi

Chan Yik Tung

Au Tin Wai

Abstract

We all had persecuted by the acnes when we were in puberty. To kill the

acnes, most of the people prefer to use chemical treatments; however

these treatments may not be suitable for people with hypersensitive skin.

The water absorbent in the chemical remedies also absorbs water and oil

from the skin cells and results in dehydration of the skin. So, the potential

of some natural substances on replacing the chemical acne treat-

ment was studied in this project.

Clear Zone test was conducted to test the susceptibility of the natural substances

to acnes bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes which cause inflammation in the hair

follicles. After a series of tests, it was found that some folk prescriptions shared

among people or in the mass media were be misleading. Women are suggested

to be critical to the beauty information they found on the Internet. Propionibacterium acnes

Methodology and Results

The folk prescriptions for the acnes treatment:

Mung Bean Ground Apple Cider Vinegar Almond Oil Carrot Juice Tea Tree Oil Dandelion Cinnamon in Honey Coconut Oil

Preparation of samples

For Tea Tree Oil, Green Bean Powder, Apple Cider

Vinegar, Cinnamon Honey, Coconuts Oil:

Dissolving in

water

Disinfecting

under UV

For Almond Oil, Carrots Juice, Dandelion :

Blending Boiling

Clear Zone Test

Filter paper discs were soaked with samples and

placed on agar plates with the bacterial culture.

Diameter of the clear zone surrounding the paper

disc indicated the effectiveness of sample solu-

tions in inhibiting bacterial growth in dose-

dependent manner.

Growth of P. acnes in vacuum

Diameters of clear zones surround the paper discs soaked

with different samples

(Student’s t-test (n=3) *p < 0.05 ** p < 0.01 *** p < 0.005)

Results

Tea Tree Oil

Clear zone:

29.17 mm

Tea Tree Oil:

29.17 mm

Control:

0 mm Carrot:

28.73 mm

P. acnes were grown on a

Trypticase soy agar (TSA)

medium stored in a vacu-

um chamber at 37˚C.

Deliverables and Conclusive remarks

1. UV sensitivity test could also be another tool for study.

2. Antibacterial action of chemicals could be quantified by pour

plate method.

3. Many phytochemicals with antibacterial or medicinal effects

were usually organic and non-polar. To elucidate their potential

antibacterial effect might need detailed procedures of extrac-

tion by using various organic solvents.

Tea Tree Oil

Carrot Juice

Dandelion

Almond Oil

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