*12.1.2 Synthetic thickeners*

Polyacrylate derivatives, polyacrylamide are most commonly used synthetic polymers in cosmetic industry.

#### *12.1.3 Role of natural polymers as thickening agent in antiaging preparations*

Thickening agent or thickener is a substance which are used to increase the viscosity of fluid.

#### *12.1.4 Xanthan gum*

 Xanthan is a polymer and consist of a repeating units of pentasaccharides (two d-glucopyranosyl unit, two d-mannopyranosyl unit and one d-glucopyranosyluronic unit). It is a free flowing powder and gives a viscous solution in hot as well as in cold water even at low concentration. It is widely used in cosmetic, toothpaste as well as in antiaging preparations.

## *12.1.5 Pectin*

Pectin is obtained from various citrus peels like orange peel and other peels of various family but citrus peels have highest concentration i.e. 20–30%. In pharmaceutical industry pectin is used as binding agent in tablets as well as used to increasing the viscosity of fluids.

#### *12.1.6 Carrageenan*

It is obtained from the various species of red seaweed of class Rhodophyceae like *Chondrus crispus*, *Eucheuma cottonii.* 

 Carrageenan is used in the manufacturing of shells of soft and hard gel capsules as substitution of gelatin. Carrageenan is also used to increase the viscosity of formulations which are liquid in nature.

#### *12.1.7 Guar gum*

The botanical source of guar gum is *Cyamopsis tetragonoloba*. The composition of guar gum is sugar galactose and mannose. It is used as stabilizer, thickening agent in liquid formulation and as a binder and disintegrant in solid dosage form i.e. tablet [1].

#### **12.2 Structuring agent**

In order to add rigidity natural and synthetic waxes, lanolin, long-chain fatty alcohols and triglycerides are used. Poly α olefin is used in the preparation of lip products. Glycol stearates is used as opacifier, which gives a pearlizing affect.

#### **12.3 In hair products**

Cationic polymers are used in hair products since hair is negatively charged.

#### *12.3.1 Natural polymers in hair product*

Polysaccharides (starch and cellular derivatives), natural gums and hydrolyzed proteins are used as natural polymer in hair product.

#### *12.3.2 Synthetic polymers in hair product*

Silicones, polyurethanes, poly vinyl amides, poly vinyl pyrrolidone and acetate polyurethanes are the examples of synthetic polymers.

#### **12.4 Delivery system**

Sometime polymers are used as a carrier to deliver active pharmaceutical agent i.e. antioxidant. Natural antioxidant include ascorbic acid, tocopherols, grape seed extract along with synthetic extract like butylated hydroxyl anisole/butyl hydroxyl toluene. E.g. polyanhydride ester is used as a carrier to deliver salicylic acid (anti-acne agent) [91, 92] (**Table 3**).

## **13. Conclusion**

The attitude and lifestyle of society changes from last decades and they are more conscious for their health and appearance due to this change various new antiaging formulations are introduced in market. Antiaging formulations generally contain antioxidants and vitamins like vitamin-E (tocopherol), ascorbic acid, etc. The cosmetic industry is one the growing industries in the India, not even in India but throughout the world. Various new formulations like creams, face washes, face pack, emulsions are introduced day by day. As we know that synthetic chemicals show various side effects on human body, due to this peoples prefer polyherbal

#### *Natural Polymers as Potential Antiaging Constituents DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80808*



#### *Natural Polymers as Potential Antiaging Constituents DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80808*

