In Vitro Assessment of Deodorant Ingredients and Malodor Inhibiting Potentials of Ascorbic Acid, Orlistat, and Mastic Gum
TLDR Ascorbic acid, orlistat, and mastic gum can effectively reduce sweat odor.
The study investigated the role of axillary microbial flora in sweat odor formation and assessed the malodor inhibiting potential of ascorbic acid, orlistat, and mastic gum. From 190 axillary isolates, 97 were screened, with lipophilic Corynebacterium species and Staphylococcus capitis found to metabolize testosterone and hydroxyprogesterone esters into malodorous metabolites. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry identified these metabolites as Androstadienone and 5-α-dihydrotestosterone. In the absence of inhibitors, 99.6% of testosterone ester was converted into metabolites. Ascorbic acid and orlistat significantly inhibited this conversion to 6.9% and 0.6%, respectively, while mastic gum allowed 84.3% conversion without malodor. These findings suggested that ascorbic acid, orlistat, and mastic gum could be effective deodorants.
