Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted from various natural and chemical sources. Some VOCs may have therapeutic benefits (e.g., the VOCs emitted by forests, usually odorant and pleasant). Others may have harmful effect, like the ones due to solvents, adhesives, fuels, or industrial wastes. The human body also emits various VOCs (via breath, skin…) which represent the footprint of the cellular activity and can thus reveal certain dysregulation of the metabolism. These emanations depend on the physiological status as they may vary with the donor, the gender, with aging, the diet and the microbiota. Skin VOCs arise from eccrine, sebaceous and apocrine gland secretions and their interactions with microbiota determine our body odors. Specific skin VOCs such as the aldehydes 2-nonenal (Asian skin) and nonanal (Caucasian skin) increase with age. These VOCs derive from lipid peroxidation which increases with age and oxidative stress.
A clinical study was designed to evaluate the variations of nonanal, on subjects applying on the face, a formulation containing a botanical extract vs placebo. The study enrolled 25 stressed Caucasian volunteers, aged 36 to 66 yo.
After one month of application twice a day, the use of the formulation was associated with a decrease of squalene peroxidation and nonanal emanation compared to placebo. In parallel, the skin luminosity (known to be influenced by lipid peroxidation) and fine lines parameters were evaluated. An improvement of skin luminosity as well as an attenuation of fine lines parameters were noticed on the formula-treated side, compared to placebo. This study pointed out the concomitant decrease of both skin lipid peroxidation level and nonanal emanation level, associated with the application of the formula in aged or stressed population.