2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was the first synthetic herbicide to be commercially developed and has commonly been used as a broadleaf herbicide for over 60 years. It is a selective herbicide that kills dicots without affecting monocots and mimics natural auxin at the molecular level. 2,4-D was developed during World War II as one of many so-called phenoxy herbicides by aiming to increase crop yields for a nation at war. It was commercially released in 1946 becoming the first successful selective herbicide and allowed for greatly enhanced weed control in wheat, maize, rice, and other similar cereal crops because it specifically targets dicots. This herbicide family is said to have “initiated an agricultural revolution and laid the corner stone of present-day weed science” when it was first marketed in the 1940s.

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.

Mandelic acid is an aromatic alpha hydroxy acid that is used for the treatment of urinary tract infections. The drug is marketed in Canada under the name Mandelamine (as a complex with methenamine). Mandelic acid exerts its antibacterial effect mainly by increasing urine acidity. Moreover, mandelic acid is used as a serum for the treatment of wrinkles.

Kojic acid was first discovered in Japan in 1907. Kojic acid is a chelation agent produced by several species of fungi, especially Aspergillus oryzae, which has the Japanese common name koji. Kojic acid is a by-product in the fermentation process of malting rice, for use in the manufacturing of sake, the Japanese rice wine. It is a mild inhibitor of the formation of pigment in plant and animal tissues, and is used in food and cosmetics to preserve or change colors of substances. It forms a bright red complex with ferric ions. Kojic acid may be used on cut fruits to prevent oxidative browning, in seafood to preserve pink and red colors, and in cosmetics. In skin care products, kojic acid functions primarily as a skin-lightening agent. It is a potent tyrosinase inhibitor. It penetrates the upper skin layers and inhibits the production of epidermal melanin. As an example of the latter, it is used to treat skin diseases like melasma. Kojic acid also has antibacterial and antifungal properties. The cocrystals of kojic acid with quercetin were found to have two times better cytotoxic activity to human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and human colon cancer cells (Caco-2) in comparison with quercetin itself.

Methanesulfonic acid is an alkane sulfonic acid in which the alkyl group directly linked to the sulfo- functionality is methyl. Salts and esters of methanesulfonic acid are known as mesylates (or methanesulfonates, as in ethyl methanesulfonate). Methanesulfonic acid is used as an acid catalyst in organic reactions because it is a non-volatile, strong acid that is soluble in organic solvents. Methanesulfonic acid is convenient for industrial applications because it is liquid at ambient temperature. Methanesulfonic acid is also a primary ingredient in rust and scale removers. It is used to clean off surface rust from ceramic, tiles and porcelain which are usually susceptible to acid attack.

LBA (4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-D-gluconic acid) is an aldonic acid obtained from the oxidation of lactose, with high potential applications as an ingredient in foods and pharmaceutical products, because of its antioxidant, chelating and humectant properties.

Glycocholic acid (GCA) is an important metabolite of bile acids, a conjugate of cholic acid with glycine. GCA urine levels are expected to be a specific diagnostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The average GCA concentrations of HCC patients in plasma and urine were about 25 and 2.8 times than that of healthy volunteers.

SODIUM ANISATE is derived from fennel, this is the sodium salt of p-anisic acid. It is classified as antimicrobial and flavouring. It acts as an anti-fungal agent, and when paired with sodium levulinate the two ingredients make for a comprehensive preservative for cosmetics. This ingredient is approved for use in organic cosmetics. Sodium anisate (dermosoft® anisate) is an easy to use water soluble salt of an organic acid with an excellent fungicidal activity. It can be added to the cold or hot water phase at any step of the process. The combination with antimicrobial surface active substances or organic acids is recommended to improve the performance of the product even at higher pH.