Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

Related Literature

Literature related to the information regarding how the CucurVera Soap

was stated to prove and guarantee that is effective as alternative treatment for
skin irritation.

Human Skin

Edward A. Shipton (May 2013). The skin acts as a complex sensory

organ.

Skin performs a wide variety of functions resulting from chemical and physical
reactions inside these components. The major function of skin is to act as a
barrier to the exterior environment. It protects the body friction and impact
wounds with its flexibility and toughness. Igarashi (June 2005).

According to John Libbey Eurotext (July 2002), skin exerts multiple vital
protective functions against environmental aggressions, rendered possible
thanks to an elaborate structure, associating various tissues of ectodermal and
mesodermal origin, arranged in three layers, including (from top to bottom) the
epidermis (and its appendages), the dermis and the hypodermis.

The skin is the largest organ of the body, accounting for about 15% of the
total adult body weight. It performs many vital functions, including potential
against external physical, chemical and biologic assailants as well as prevention
of excess water loss from the body and a role in thermoregulation. The skin is
continuous, with the mucous membranes lining the body’s surface (Kanitakis,
2002).
 The skin is one of the largest immunologic organs according to Fonacier,
Dreskin, Leung and skin is affected by both external and internal factors, as well
as innate and adaptive immune responses. Many skin disorders, such as atopic,
dermatitis, contact dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema, psoriasis, and autoimmune
blistering disorders, are immune mediated. Most of these diseases are chronic,
inflammatory, and proliferative, in which both genetic and environmental factors
play important roles. These immunologic mechanisms might have implications for
potential targets of future therapeutic interventions.

Treatment

The efficacy of antimicrobial soaps in reducing the number of organisms

can be tested in the axilla. If different soaps are used on each axilla in the same
volunteer, the transfer of antimicrobial agent from one site to another may cause
difficulties in interpretation (Jawetz et.al. 2010).

In many Western societies, an increased use of complementary and

alternative medicine is evident because of the disillusionment with technology
and bureaucracy of biomedicine and an increased questioning of its excessive
invasiveness as well as heightened consumer awareness of the iatrogenic
effects of modern medicine (Shmueli & Shaval, 2005).

Conceptually, many people consider that an antimicrobial potion of soaps

is effective at preventing communicable diseases. But now researchers highlight
that too much of it can have the opposite effect spreading them (Levy, 2001;
Poole, 2002).

Overutilization of medicated soaps might result antimicrobial resistance

and even rendering an individual more vulnerable to microbial attacks such as
opportunistic skin infections (Russell & White, 2001).

The attribute of the soap includes gentleness on the skin, rich lather,
protection against skin disorders (including rashes, eczema, scabies) treatment
of skin infection (such as ringworm) protection of even skin toning and
smoothness of the skin (Getradeghana, 2000).

According to Cambridge Dictionary, treatment is the way something is

considered and examined. It is the exercise or the use of drugs to cure a person
of an illness or injury. But with regards of the researcher’s study, it is the process
of putting a special substance and putting it through a special process in order to
expect certain changes or conditions.

Complementary and alternative medicine or modalities are defined by

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), 1
National Institution of Health as “Health care approaches with history of use or
origins outside of mainstream medicine”.

Related Study

The use of plants for healing purposes predates human history and forms
the origin of much modern medicine. Quazi Majaz A. (April 2016).

Natural resources of vegetable origin represent an important source of

drugs in the process of developing new pharmacologically active compounds
(Vieira et al., 2014).

Generally cultural rootedness enduring and widespread use in a

Traditional Medical System may indicate safety, but not efficacy of treatments,
especially in herbal medicine where tradition is almost completely based on
remedies containing active principles at very low and ultra-low concentrations, or
relying on magical-energetic principles in accordance with the study of Fabio and
Luigi (October 2007).

Herbal therapy, stated by Bedi and Shenefelt (March 2002) is becoming

increasing popular among patients and physicians. Many herbal preparations are
marketed to the public for various ailments including those of the skin. Herbal
therapies have been used successfully in treating dermatologic disorders for
thousands of years in Europe and Asia.

World Health Organization define Traditional herbal medicines as naturally

occurring, plant-derived substances with minimal or no industrial processing that
have been used to treat illness within local or regional healing practices.
Traditional herbal medicine and their preparations have been widely used for the
thousands of years in developing and developed countries owing to its natural
origin and lesser side effects. These medicines initially took the form of crude
drugs such as tinctures, teas, poultices, powders, and other herbal formulations.

In the study of Igoli, scientific investigations of medicinal plants have been

initiated in many countries because of their contributions to health care. The
continual search for, and the interest in natural plant products, for use as
medicines has acted as the catalyst for exploring methodologies involved in
obtaining the required plant materials and thence probing their constituents.

Aloe vera

The plant leaves contains numerous vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino

acids, natural sugars and other bioactive compounds with emollient, purgative,
antimicrobial, anti- inflammatory, anti-oxidant, aphrodisiac, anti-helmenthic,
antifungal, antiseptic and cosmetic values for health care. This plant has potential
to cure sunburns, burns and minor cuts, and even skin care (Sahu 2013).

Formerly alternatively placed in the Liliaceae and Aloaceae families, Aloe

genus is nowadays counted between the members of the Xanthorrhoeaceae
(Upton, 2012).

Topical aloe gel has immunomodulatory properties that may improve

wound healing and skin inflammation (Ulbricht et al., 2007).
 Aloe Vera, according to Clinical Oncology (September 2005), is effective
in preventing or minimizing radiation-induced skin reactions in cancer patients.
Further methodologically rigorous, sufficiently powered research studies should
be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of currently used and novel therapies
for the prevention, minimization and management of radiation- induced skin
reactions.

Many of the medicinal effects have been attributed to the polysaccharide

found in the inner gel, but it is believed that synergistic action of the compounds
contained in the whole leaf extract is responsible for the multiple and diverse
beneficial properties of the plant (Eshun & He, 2004).

Calabaza

Vegetables are good for skin and squash is one of them. Being rich in
vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, squash is quite beneficial for skin. Squash is
an excellent source of Vitamin A within the body. Being a powerful antioxidant,
vitamin A is required for maintaining proper health and integrity for skin (Ameya
C 2019).

In the study of Journal of Food Safety (October 2003), Calabaza

(curcubita moschata) is a tropical squash which is gaining popularity as a
specialty crop for agricultural producers in the Northeast United States.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant drug that can be used topically in

dermatology to treat and prevent changes associated with photoageing. It can
also be used for the treatment of hyperpigmentation. Because it is unstable and
difficult to deliver into the dermis in the optimum dosage, research is being
directed to find stable compounds of Vitamin c and newer methods of delivery of
Vitamin C into the dermis (Telang, Pumori 2013).

Experimental evidence suggests that topical and oral vitamin E has

antitumorigenic, photoprotective, and skin barrier stabilizing properties. While the
current use of vitamin E is largely limited to cosmetics, controlled clinical studies
for indications such as atopic dermatitis or preventions of photocarcinogenesis
are needed to evaluate the clinical benefit of vitamin E (Elsevier 2007).

Vitamin C is known for its antioxidant potential and activity in the collagen
biosynthetic pathway. Photoprotective properties of topically applied vitamin C
have also demonstrated, placing this molecule as a potential candidate for use in
the prevention and treatment of skin ageing (Experimental Dermatology 2003).

Retinoids are used as therapy and pro-phylaxis systematically or as local

applications for various skin diseases and tumors. They are also used in the
cosmetic field for acne, seborrhea, psoriasis, epithelial tumors, and hand
eczema. Retinoids refer to compounds that have biological activities similar to
those of naturally occurring vitamin A (vit. A) but not necessarily the same
chemical structure (Zouboulis and Orfanos 2000).

Pro-vitamin A (B-carotene) and the predominant forms of vitamin A in

human skin (retinol and dehydroretinol) were analyzed in hydrolyzed specimens
from 4 cadavers and 22 healthy subjects. B-carotene was identified In extracts of
epidermis by its specific absorption spectrum. Vitamin A was determined by high-
pressure liquid chromatography.

Synthesis

The skin is one of the largest immunologic organs according to Fonacier,

Dreskin, Leung and skin is affected by both external and internal factors, as well
as innate and adaptive immune responses. Many skin disorders, such as atopic,
dermatitis, contact dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema, psoriasis, and autoimmune
blistering disorders, are immune mediated. Most of these diseases are chronic,
inflammatory, and proliferative, in which both genetic and environmental factors
play important roles. These immunologic mechanisms might have implications for
potential targets of future therapeutic interventions.

According to Cambridge Dictionary, treatment is the way something is

considered and examined. It is the exercise or the use of drugs to cure a person
of an illness or injury. But with regards of the researcher’s study, it is the process
of putting a special substance and putting it through a special process in order to
expect certain changes or conditions.

The use of plants for healing purposes predates human history and forms
the origin of much modern medicine. Quazi Majaz A. (April 2016).

Many of the medicinal effects have been attributed to the polysaccharide

found in the inner gel, but it is believed that synergistic action of the compounds
contained in the whole leaf extract is responsible for the multiple and diverse
beneficial properties of the plant (Eshun & He, 2004).

Vegetables are good for skin and squash is one of them. Being rich in
vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, squash is quite beneficial for skin. Squash is
an excellent source of Vitamin A within the body. Being a powerful antioxidant,
vitamin A is required for maintaining proper health and integrity for skin (Ameya
2019).

Skin is one of the immunologic organs that is affected by both external

and internal factors responses according to Fonacier, Dreskin and Leung, that
could cause many skin diseases and disorders. For precaution and prevention of
possible imperfections, it should be treated with either chemical and/or herbal
treatment as stated in the Cambridge Dictionary. Said by Heshun and He (2004),
the use of herbal medicines have been a practice through centuries and is said to
be more safe and effective medicinal treatment than of with other strong
substances. Aloe vera (Aloe vera) and Calabaza (Cucurvita moschata) contains
dieetary anti-oxidant like vitamin A, C and E that protects lipid-rich tissues which
the skin possesses (Ameya 2019).