Imidurea (Imidazolidinyl urea) is used as an antimicrobial agent and preservative in cosmetics and toiletries. It is very active against gram and gram- bacteria as a synergist in combination with parabens. Imidazolidinyl urea is more active against bacteria than fungi and is often combined with parabens to provide a broad spectrum preservative system. This preservative is one of the most widely used preservative systems in the world. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers imidazolidinyl urea as one of the most common antimicrobial agents used in cosmetics. Due to its high water solubility, imidazolidinyl urea can be incorporated into almost all water-based cosmetics, toiletries, and cold mix formulations. It is present in a wide range of liquid and powder products such as baby lotion, skin cream, sunscreens, shampoos, eyeliners, blush, perfumes, deodorants, hair dyes, shaving cream, and face masks. Imidazolidinyl urea is permitted for use in personal care products in the European Union at a maximum concentration of 0.6%. In Japan, imidazolidinyl urea is allowed in rinse-off cosmetics such as shampoo, body wash, and facial cleanser at a maximum concentration of 0.3%. Imidurea is an ingredient of FDA-approved NIZORAL® (ketoconazole) 2% Shampoo, indicated for the treatment of tinea (pityriasis) versicolor caused by or presumed to be caused by Pityrosporum orbiculare (also known as Malassezia furfur or M. orbiculare).

Cinnamaldehyde is one of the active compounds found in cinnamon. It was reported that cinnamaldehyde has anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatiry activity. Cinnamon is a common prescription compound in traditional Chinese medicine and it is used as a dietary supplement all over the world. Cinnamon dietary supplement Cinnamonforce (min. 35% cinnamaldehyde) was tested in phase II clinical trials and demonstrated therapeutic activity in patients with type 2 diabetes. The mechanism of cinnamaldehyde possibly involves the activation of PPAR gamma/delta receptors. Cinnamaldehyde is partially metabolized into cinnamic acid in the stomach and small intestine, and is almost completely metabolized into cinnamic acid in the liver. Cinnamic acid is believed to be the active metabolite, which is responsible for anti-diabetic properties of cinnamaldehyde.

Ethylenediamine is a strongly basic amine useful as a building block in chemical synthesis. It is used as a solvent to dissolve proteins such as albumins, casein and in medicine to stabilize aminophylline when used in injections. Ethylenediamine is used in manufacture of chelating agents (EDTA), epoxy curing agents, dimethylolethylene-urea resins, emulsifying agents, textile lubricants, antifreeze inhibitor. It is also involved in the manufacture of many industrial chemicals and forms derivatives with carboxylic acids, nitriles, alcohols, alkylating agents, carbon disulfide, aldehydes and ketones. It is a basic building block to prepare heterocyclic compound such as imidazolidines.

Propylparaben is a bacteriostatic and fungistatic agent used as a preservative in cosmetic products, food and drugs. As a food additive, it has the E number E216. To increase the activity and reduce its dose propylparaben is used in a mixture with other parabens and in combination with other types of preservatives. Propylparaben is a chemical allergen capable of producing immunologically mediated hypersensitivity reactions. Chemically it is an ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid.

Sodium 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (sodium MBT) is utilized as a corrosion inhibitor and fungicide. By analogy to MBT, sodium MBT is identified as a skin sensitizer. Sodium 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole is also used to make rubber accelerators, as a preservative for latex paint and wood, a metal chelator, and a thermal stabilizer (methyl methacrylate copolymers, acrylonitrile polymers, polyester fibers, anion exchange resins, polyoxyphenylene, and silicon fluids), also used in electroplating (silver, nickel, and cobalt), to separate sulfide ore from copper ore, for dyeing textiles, in transmission fluids, and to prevent discoloration of freeze dried bananas; uses of 50% aqueous solution include as a corrosion inhibitor for nonferrous metals in antifreeze and coolants and in paper mill systems; used as a biocide in metalworking fluids and paper manufacturing.

Chlorquinaldol is a halogenated hydroxyquinoline with properties similar to those of clioquinol. It is mainly applied topically in infected skin conditions and in vaginal infections. The product is applied for local treatment of cortico-sensitive dermatosis with moderately manifested superinfection, acute and subacute eczema, dermatitis, pyodermia, intertrigo, infected wounds, dermatomycosis, pemphigus in newborn. Chlorquinaldol is also used as antiseptic, fungistat, or deodorant. Chlorquinaldol is not commercially available in the U.S. but is used in other countries principally as an amebicide for nonspecific diarrheas and gynecologic infections. It is known most commonly under the proprietary name of Sterosan. Other trade names include Cynotherax, Gyno-Sterosan, Saprosan, Siogeno, Siosteran, Slosteran and Steroxin.

Eugenol is sometimes called clove oil because it is the active element in cloves. It causes the aromatic smell typical of cloves and because of this property is often found in perfumes. Eugenol’s properties make it a good local antiseptic and analgesic. It is used in dentist offices to make zinc-oxide eugenol paste for temporary fillings. Eugenol also demonstrates antifungal and antimicrobial activity, showing efficacy against Candida albicans biofilms, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli. Eugenol is further described to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and to scavenge ROS, thus demonstrating prooxidant and antioxidant effects. Also, Eugenol is used as a pesticide.

Pemirolast is a mast cell stabilizer that acts as an antiallergic agent, it is approved in Japan for the treatment of bronchial asthma and of allergic rhinitis. Pemirolast strongly inhibits extracellular Ca2+ influx and the release of intracellular Ca2+, an important factor in the release of chemical mediators, by inhibiting inositol-phospholipid metabolism in mast cells. It also inhibits the release of arachidonic acid. Furthermore contribution of increasing effect on c-AMP based on inhibiting phosphodiesterase is suggested. Main pharmacological effects is an inhibition of release of chemical mediators, e.g. histamine, LTB4, LTC4, LTD4, PGD2, TXB2 and PAF from human lung tissues, abraded fragments of the nasal mucosa, and peripheral leukocytes, rat peritoneal exudate cells, and rat and guniea pig lung tissues.

Emedastine is an antihistaminic agent, which was approved by FDA for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis (Emadine brand name). The drug acts selectively on H1 receptors with lower affinity to H2 and H3 subtypes. Emedastine has a relatively unfavorable CNS effect profile. A small percentage of patients reported somnolence as an adverse effect after administration.

Amlexanox is an ant allergic drug, clinically effective for atopic diseases, especially allergic asthma and rhinitis. Amlexanox as a topical paste is a well-tolerated treatment of recurrent aphthous ulcers. Recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU) is the most prevalent oral mucosal disease in humans, estimated to affect between 5% and 50% of the general population. The mechanism of action by which amlexanox accelerates healing of aphthous ulcers is unknown. In vitro studies have demonstrated amlexanox to be a potent inhibitor of the formation and/or release of inflammatory mediators (histamine and leukotrienes) from mast cells, neutrophils and mononuclear cells. Given orally to animals, amlexanox has demonstrated anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activities and has been shown to suppress both immediate and delayed type hypersensitivity reactions. The relevance of these activities of amlexanox to its effects on aphthous ulcers has not been established. Amlexanox inhibits chemical mediatory release of the slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) and may have antagonistic effects on interleukin-3. When cells are under stress, they release an inactive form of human fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1), a potent mitogen (entity that causes mitosis). Amlexanox binds to FGF1, increasing its conformational stability, sterically blocking Cu(2+) induced oxidation which normally leads to activation of FGF-1. This drug has been discontinued in the U.S