L-Malic acid is a tart-tasting organic dicarboxylic acid that plays a role in many sour or tart foods. L-Malic acid is the naturally occurring form, whereas a mixture of L- and D-malic acid is produced synthetically. In humans, L-malic acid is both derived from food sources and synthesized in the body through the citric acid cycle or Krebs cycle which takes place in the mitochondria. L-Malate's importance to the production of energy in the body during both aerobic and anaerobic conditions is well established. Under aerobic conditions, the oxidation of L-malate to oxaloacetate provides reducing equivalents to the mitochondria through the malate-aspartate redox shuttle. During anaerobic conditions, where a buildup of excess of reducing equivalents inhibits glycolysis, L-malic acid's simultaneous reduction to succinate and oxidation to oxaloacetate is capable of removing the accumulating reducing equivalents. This allows L-malic acid to reverse hypoxia's inhibition of glycolysis and energy production. In studies on rats it has been found that only tissue malate is depleted following exhaustive physical activity. Notably, the administration of malic acid to rats has been shown to elevate mitochondrial malate and increase mitochondrial respiration and energy production. L-Malic acid is the source of extreme tartness in United States-produced confectionery, the so-called extreme candy. It is also used with or in place of the less sour citric acid in sour sweets. These sweets are sometimes labeled with a warning stating that excessive consumption can cause irritation of the mouth. The quantitative determination of L-malic acid is especially important in the manufacture of wine, beer, bread, fruit and vegetable products, as well as in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It is one of the most important fruit acids, and has the highest concentration of all acids in wine. In the wine industry, the level of L-malic acid is monitored, along with L-lactic acid, during malolactic fermentation. Malic acid is approved for use as a food additive in the EU, US and Australia and New Zealand. Malic acid, when added to food products, is denoted by E number E296.

Sodium threonate (threonic acid) is a major breakdown product of ascorbic acid used as a food additive. It is formed in insignificant amounts from ascorbic acid used as a technological aid in the food industry. When administered orally to guinea-pigs (100 mg/kg body weight) for periods of 4 or 28 days, it produced a significant fall in the ascorbic acid concentration of certain organs but was without effect on other physiological and biochemical characteristics. The lifespan of scorbutic guinea-pigs was significantly reduced by dietary threonic acid (100 mg/kg body weight). The results indicate that threonic acid may modify the metabolism of ascorbic acid in guinea-pigs. Threonic acid is a normal component is aqeous humour and blood. Threonic acid is a substrate of L-threonate 3-dehydrogenase in ascorbate and aldarate metabolism pathway.

Sodium Ursolate (Ursolic acid sodium salt) is a natural active ingredient derived from many plants. This pentacyclic triterpenoid acid is manufactured by extraction of Salvia officinalis leaves, also known as common sage, Loquat leaves and Olea europea. Sodium Ursolate provides a targeted approach to anti-aging skin repair and sun protection through reactivation, protection and optimization of the skins own cellular mechanisms. Furthermore, it protects and refolds proteins damaged by UV and free radical exposure and stimulates new collagen synthesis to counter the effects of thinning and sagging skin caused by photodamage, inhibits elastase and stabilizes liposomal membranes. It is of most interest to use in Anti-Aging and Anti-Photo-Aging cosmetics products.

Lauric acid, or dodecanoic acid, is the main acid in coconut oil and in palm kernel oil, and is believed to have antimicrobial properties. The detected values of half maximal effective concentration (EC(50)) of lauric acid on P. acnes, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis growth indicate that P. acnes is the most sensitive to lauric acid among these bacteria. In addition, lauric acid did not induce cytotoxicity to human sebocytes. This data highlight the potential of using lauric acid as an alternative treatment for antibiotic therapy of acne vulgaris. Lauric acid is used in the manufacture of soaps, detergents, cosmetics, and lauryl alcohol.

Behenic acid is a saturated fatty acid that is derived from the oil extracts of plants and used as a component of conditioning agents. Behenic acid is also a part of a novel complex of lipophilic ingredients developed for the treatment of dry skin. The properties of behenic acid were studied in comparison to others fatty acids and it was found that behenic acid does not inhibit the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 enzyme. The high levels of behenic acid in patients with low-grade glial tumors is an important indicator of the persistence of tissue integrity and tissue resistance. Therefore, behenic acid levels can be a prognostic factor in glial tumors.

Doconexent (Docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that is a primary structural component of the human brain, cerebral cortex, skin, and retina. DHA is widely used as a food supplement, and is beleived to support healthy brain development in young childred, prevent cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline during Alzheimer's disease. Most of these claims, however, were not supported by clinical trials. DHA spray is used as a tanner.

Zinc Pidolate (Zinc PCA) is a topical skin product with purifying, astingent, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic activity. It has long been used as a cosmetic ingredient, because of its astringent and anti-microbial properties. Zinc Pidolate has also being shown to be effective against halitosis. Zinc PCA prevents the UV-induced MMP-1 production in vitro by suppressing the activation of AP-1. Zinc PCA was also able to enhance type I collagen synthesis in NHDFs, by increasing the expression of the mRNA encoding the ascorbic acid transporter SVCT2 in non-UV irradiated NHDFs, which suggests its promising effect against not only photoaged skin but also for the simple atrophic change of intrinsic skin ageing. Zinc PCA is able to suppress sebum secretion by inhibiting 5-α reductase in hyperseborrhea, to suppress body odor by forming zinc salts with short-chain fatty acids, to suppress wrinkles by inhibiting AP-1 to and inhibit bacterial growth including acne related Propionibacterium acnes.

Thioctic acid also known as alpha-lipoic acid is a dietary supplement, which is a common ingredient in OTC (over-the-counter) multivitamin formulas and anti-aging supplements. Thioctic acid exists in both R- and S-enantiomeric forms, however, only R-form is essential as a cofactor in biological systems (the acid is coupled via an amide linkage to a lysine of several multienzyme complexes, such as the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, the glycine cleavage system and the branched-chain oxo acid dehydrogenase complex). Most commercially available thioctic acid supplements are a mixture of both R and S enantiomers or R-form alone. Several studies have shown that the acid has beneficial effect on diabetes complications, cancer, glaucome, liver disease, etc. The mechanisms of thioctic acid is related to its antioxidant properties, metal chelator properties, however, those mechanisms need futher confirmation.

Palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid, the principal constituent of refined palm oil, present in the diet and synthesized endogenously. Palmitic acid is able to activate the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR40. Palmitic acid was also a weak ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. Palmitic acid is a ligand of lipid chaperones - the fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs). Dietary palm oil and palmitic acid may play a role in the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.