Fast screening of terpenes in cosmetics by fluorescence quenching of the bovine serum albumin-fluorescein system confined in a single drop
The presence of fragrances in cosmetics could be a problem of health concern, since some of the employed chemicals may induce asthma, migraines headaches and other adverse effects. In fact, the European Union has established a list of 26 potential allergens used as fragrances, 23 of them being volatiles terpenes. These substances may act also at low concentrations and therefore their analytical monitoring is desirable, even in theoretically fragrance-free products. Researchers from the University of Vigo (Spain) have recently presented in a research article, published in Analytica Chimica Acta, a rapid screening method for terpenes in cosmetics. This approach is based on the potential fluorescence quenching that these hydrophobic compounds induce in the bovine serum albumin (BSA)- fluorescein (F) system. The potential quenching effect of terpenes in BSA-fluorescent indicator systems is well reported in the literature. However, this general approach does not allow the determinati...