Mel Powder is a fine powder derived from the natural secretion of honeybees, commonly known as honey. It is primarily composed of sugars, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. This ingredient is valued in cosmetic formulations for its moisturizing, soothing, and antioxidant properties. 

Chemical Composition and Structure:

• Composition: Mel Powder primarily consists of fructose, glucose, sucrose, and other sugars, along with various phenolic compounds and organic acids.
• Amino Acids: Contains essential and non-essential amino acids that contribute to skin health.
• Vitamins and Minerals: Rich in vitamins B complex, vitamin C, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Physical Properties:

• Appearance: A fine, yellowish to brown powder, often with a slightly sticky texture when hydrated.
• Odor: Characteristic sweet and floral scent typical of honey.
• Solubility: Soluble in water; forms a syrupy solution when mixed with liquid.

Production Process:

1. Harvesting: Honey is collected from beehives during the honey extraction process.
2. Dehydration: The honey is then subjected to a controlled drying process to remove moisture, creating a powder form.
3. Milling: The dried honey is milled to achieve a fine, uniform powder.
4. Quality Control: The mel powder undergoes testing for purity, moisture content, and microbiological safety before packaging.

Applications:

• Medical: Used in wound healing products due to its natural antibacterial properties and ability to promote tissue regeneration.
• Cosmetic: Incorporated into skincare products, hair care formulations, and cosmetics for its moisturizing, soothing, and antioxidant effects. It is commonly found in creams, masks, shampoos, and conditioners.

INCI Functions:

Abrasive agent. It contains abrasive particles to remove stains or biofilm that accumulate on the stratum corneum or teeth. Baking soda, kieselguhr, silica and many others have abrasive properties. Peeling or exfoliating products used in dermatology or cosmetic applications contain abrasive agents in the form of synthetic microspheres, however, these microspheres, or abrasive particles may not be biodegradable and create pollution in aquatic ecosystems.

Binder agent. Ingredient that is used in cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products as an anti-caking agent with the function of making the product in which it is incorporated silky, compact and homogenous. The binder, either natural such as mucilage, gums and starches or chemical, may be in the form of a powder or liquid.

Bulking agent. It regulates the water content, dilutes other solids, can increase the volume of a product for better flow, acts as a buffer against organic acids, helps to keep the pH of the mixture within a certain level.

Epilating agent. This ingredient removes hair directly from the follicle and can be applied independently or in combination with other ingredients. While the razor removes hairs at their top, the depilatory agent eradicates them from their base.

Flavoring agent. The purpose of this ingredient is to modify the solution to impart a certain flavour. Natural flavouring extracts are rather expensive, so the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries resort to synthesised substances that have sensory characteristics mostly similar to natural flavourings or are naturally equivalent. This ingredient is isolated through chemical processes or is synthesised from chemicals. It is also referred to as Aroma.

CAS   91052-92-5   8026-66-8

EC number   293-255-4

• Food: Used as a natural sweetener and flavoring agent in food products.

Environmental and Safety Considerations:

Generally regarded as safe for topical and dietary use. However, it should be used in accordance with established guidelines to prevent potential allergic reactions or sensitivities. Individuals with bee allergies should exercise caution. It is important to ensure that the mel powder is sourced sustainably and is free from contaminants.

Safety

Although current EU legislation does not allow the use of antimicrobials, their residues are often detected in honey intended for human consumption. This study aims to investigate whether bees living in hives located near tanks filled with pig manure containing oxytetracycline residues, by collecting the water contained therein, thus contaminate their honey (2).

Another problem concerning food safety is the presence of pesticide residues in honey. Pesticides can be either chlororganic or phosphororganic.

However, honey contains a high content of fructose.  Fructose is another component with an innocuous and inviting name, but consuming too much of it can create health risks. And honey also contains antibiotics that keep bees from infection, so by consuming honey, some antibiotic will pass into your body. When buying honey, check that it says 'antibiotic-free' on the label.

 Honey studies

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Tappy L, Lê KA. Metabolic effects of fructose and the worldwide increase in obesity. Physiol Rev. 2010 Jan;90(1):23-46. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00019.2009. 

Abstract. While virtually absent in our diet a few hundred years ago, fructose has now become a major constituent of our modern diet. Our main sources of fructose are sucrose from beet or cane, high fructose corn syrup, fruits, and honey. Fructose has the same chemical formula as glucose (C(6)H(12)O(6)), but its metabolism differs markedly from that of glucose due to its almost complete hepatic extraction and rapid hepatic conversion into glucose, glycogen, lactate, and fat. Fructose was initially thought to be advisable for patients with diabetes due to its low glycemic index. However, chronically high consumption of fructose in rodents leads to hepatic and extrahepatic insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and high blood pressure. The evidence is less compelling in humans, but high fructose intake has indeed been shown to cause dyslipidemia and to impair hepatic insulin sensitivity. Hepatic de novo lipogenesis and lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, and hyperuricemia have all been proposed as mechanisms responsible for these adverse metabolic effects of fructose. Although there is compelling evidence that very high fructose intake can have deleterious metabolic effects in humans as in rodents, the role of fructose in the development of the current epidemic of metabolic disorders remains controversial. Epidemiological studies show growing evidence that consumption of sweetened beverages (containing either sucrose or a mixture of glucose and fructose) is associated with a high energy intake, increased body weight, and the occurrence of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. There is, however, no unequivocal evidence that fructose intake at moderate doses is directly related with adverse metabolic effects. There has also been much concern that consumption of free fructose, as provided in high fructose corn syrup, may cause more adverse effects than consumption of fructose consumed with sucrose. There is, however, no direct evidence for more serious metabolic consequences of high fructose corn syrup versus sucrose consumption.

(2) Ricchiuti L, Petrollini E, Annunziata L, D'Aloise A, Leonardi D, Pomilio F. Contamination of honey by oxytetracycline from pig manure. Vet Ital. 2019 Jun 30;55(2):123-129. doi: 10.12834/VetIt.1033.5510.4. 

Abstract. Although the use of antimicrobial is not allowed in bee industry according to current EU legislation, antimicrobial residues are often detected in honey doomed to human consumption. This study aims to investigate if bees living in hives located nearby tanks filled with pig manure containing residues of oxytetracycline, would naturally harvest water from it, thus contaminating their honey. Data from this experiment were compared with those originating from direct contamination with oxytetracycline through the beehive feeders. Bees did not harvest water from manure, even during the warmest days of summer. Instead, antimicrobial residues were evidenced and quantified in honey from hives directly contaminated with oxytetracycline. Interestingly, antimicrobial residues were also observed in honey from untreated hives thus suggesting that illegal treatments can cause contamination, albeit at low levels, of honey produced in legally-untreated neighboring hives.