Sphingomonas Ferment Extract is derived from the fermentation of the Sphingomonas bacterium. This extract is rich in beneficial enzymes and metabolites that have antioxidant and skin-protective properties.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• Sphingomonas is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the family Sphingomonadaceae. These bacteria are known for their ability to degrade complex compounds and resist harsh environmental conditions.
• Ferment refers to the process of fermentation, a biochemical transformation of organic substances in the presence of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, or molds.
• Extract indicates that the product is a concentrated form obtained from processing the raw material, in this case, from the fermentation products of Sphingomonas.

Industrial Production Process

• Strain selection. A pure strain of Sphingomonas bacteria known for its ability to produce useful compounds during fermentation is selected.
• Culture medium preparation. A specific culture medium that supports the optimal growth of Sphingomonas is prepared, enriched with essential nutrients like glucose, peptones, and minerals.
• Fermentation. The strain is inoculated into sterile bioreactors where fermentation takes place under controlled conditions of temperature, pH, and oxygenation to maximize metabolite production.
• Extraction. After fermentation, metabolites are extracted from the culture medium using organic solvents or water-based extraction methods, depending on the solubility of the compounds of interest.
• Purification. The crude extract is then purified using techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or column chromatography to isolate and concentrate active components.
• Concentration. The purified extract is concentrated under vacuum to reduce volume and increase the concentration of active ingredients.
• Quality control. Each batch of Sphingomonas ferment extract undergoes rigorous quality testing to confirm the purity, biological activity, and stability of the compounds.

What it is used for and where

It is used in cosmetic products to enhance the skin barrier and improve skin texture, helping to moisturize and soothe irritated skin. It is also known to help protect the skin from environmental damage, promoting a healthier, younger-looking skin appearance.

Cosmetics - INCI Functions

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Main uses and benefits of Sphingomonas ferment extract.

Strengthening the Skin Barrier. It helps enhance the skin barrier function (1), protecting the skin from environmental stresses and preventing moisture loss.

Deep Hydration. Provides intense hydration, helping to keep the skin soft, smooth, and well-moisturized.

Antioxidant Properties. Contains antioxidants that protect the skin (2) from damage caused by free radicals and pollution, reducing signs of aging.

Soothing Effect. It is known for its soothing properties, making it ideal for use in products aimed at sensitive or irritated skin.

Improvement of Skin Texture and Elasticity. It helps improve the overall appearance of the skin (3), increasing its elasticity and softness.

Versatile Applications. It can be incorporated into a variety of cosmetic formulations, including serums, moisturizers, masks, and skin care products.

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Blanco-Cabra N, Paetzold B, Ferrar T, Mazzolini R, Torrents E, Serrano L, LLuch-Senar M. Characterization of different alginate lyases for dissolving Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 10;10(1):9390. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66293-2. 

Abstract. Aggregates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa form a protective barrier against antibiotics and the immune system. These barriers, known as biofilms, are associated with several infectious diseases. One of the main components of these biofilms is alginate, a homo- and hetero-polysaccharide that consists of β-D-mannuronate (M) and α-L-guluronate (G) units. Alginate lyases degrade this sugar and have been proposed as biotherapeutic agents to dissolve P. aeruginosa biofilms. However, there are contradictory reports in the literature regarding the efficacy of alginate lyases against biofilms and their synergistic effect with antibiotics. We found that most positive reports used a commercial crude extract from Flavobacterium multivorum as the alginate lyase source. By using anion exchange chromatography coupled to nano LC MS/MS, we identified two distinct enzymes in this extract, one has both polyM and polyG (polyM/G) degradation activities and it is similar in sequence to a broad-spectrum alginate lyase from Flavobacterium sp. S20 (Alg2A). The other enzyme has only polyG activity and it is similar in sequence to AlyA1 from Zobellia galactanivorans. By characterizing both of these enzymes together with three recombinant alginate lyases (a polyM, a polyG and a polyM/G), we showed that only enzymes with polyM/G activity such as Alg2A and A1-II' (alginate lyase from Sphingomonas sp.) are effective in dissolving biofilms. Furthermore, both activities are required to have a synergistic effect with antibiotics.

(2) Jayaraman JD, Sigamani S, Arul D, Nedunchelizan K, Pachiappan P, Ramamurthy D. Molecular characterization and antioxidant assay of pigment producing bacteria, Sphingomonas paucimobilis and Microbacterium arborescens isolated from fresh water sediments. Nat Prod Res. 2020 Apr;34(8):1192-1196. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1553171. 

Abstract. This study focuses on isolation of pigment producing bacteria from fresh water sediment. The isolated bacteria were grown in nutrient broth and the maximum absorbance of 2.512 was obtained for the extracted pigment at 500 nm. The effective strains were optimized, pH 11 and temperature 30 °C was found to be more favorable for its maximum growth. The isolates were identified based on their molecular characterestics as Microbacterium arborescens and Sphingomonas paucimobilis, molecular size of the amplified 16S rRNA gene sequence was found to be approximately 1270 and 765 bp respectively. The antioxidant property of the pigment was analyzed using DPPH and ABTS assay. The IC50 value of Microbacterium arborescens was higher in all the three assays in comparison with Sphingomonas paucimobilis. The extracted pigment was characterized for the presence of compounds using GC-MS and FTIR analysis to determine the functional groups. As the pigment obtained from M. arborescens had shown better antioxidant activity it may be used as colorant in food industrial applications.

(3) Gervason S, Napoli M, Dreux-Zhiga A, Lazzarelli C, Garcier S, Briand A, Albouy M, Thepot A, Berthon JY, Filaire E. Attenuation of negative effects of senescence in human skin using an extract from Sphingomonas hydrophobicum: development of new skin care solution. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2019 Aug;41(4):391-397. doi: 10.1111/ics.12534. 

Abstract. Objective: Intrinsic skin ageing is mainly caused by cellular senescence. p16 and p21 are two important tumour suppressor proteins that play essential roles during cell proliferation and ageing through regulating the expression of several genes. Moreover, physical changes between the ages of 55 and 60 years affect one's physical and disrupt self-esteem. The cosmetics industry has focused on bioactive substances derived from natural products such as plants, mushrooms and marine algae to counteract the deleterious effect on skin senescence. Besides these products, compounds produced by bacteria may decelerate individual senescence.....Conclusion: Sphingomonas extract delays intrinsic skin ageing process by inhibiting cellular senescence, and has also the capability to restructure the skin. These beneficial physiological effects induced by SH extract have a positive influence on self-esteem. Because skin ageing causes emotional distress, SH extract can serve as an anti-ageing cosmeceutical agent and help to build a better psychological health, and help individuals to assume ageing.