"Chirally correct" - simple explanation for what t
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free skin care · Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:30 am

I've recently seen a lot of lines or threads mentioning products that are "chirally correct". I had never heard this term until very recently, and now I see it popping up everywhere! Can anyone explain in a nutshell what this means, or link to an article/website that explains it better? I feel like I'm behind in my homework here. Smile

Thanks!

free skin care · Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:08 pm

I found some interesting articles about it. I copied the text from http://uvasun.com/sircuit-cosmeceuticals.php but http://www.mediphasics.com/displayarticle.asp?id=3 is also pretty good reading. The idea seems to be to use only the right (D) or left (L) part of the molecule in order to enhance the wanted result with less side effects.

I'm sure someone else could explain the idea better, but I hope this made some sense Smile

Research has clearly shown that Chiral compounds and their properties are part of every biochemical process in the human body. They are the root cause of why some products or ingredients work and others do not. Bio-living matter contains an equal number of L and D molecules, yet a characteristic signature of compounds is that only one hand (the L or the D) works to achieve a specific result. When ingredient compounds are synthesized in a lab, a 50/50 (racemic) mixture is made, containing both the L and the D, but the body or skin can only benefit by either the L or the D side. While the L may give desired results, the D may cause problems - or visa versa depending on the case. When a product is Chirally Correct, it means that it contains only the side of the molecule with the ability to give the desired results (by the way, always identified on the product label by either an L for the left side of the molecule or D for the right side, before each of the ingredients).

free skin care · Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:35 pm

Oh, cool, okay! This makes sense as to why I've often seen an L-ascorbic acid or whatever for Vitamin C in products. I never even thought to question what that might mean - thank you! And I see from the link that "isometric" means the same thing, and I've DEFINITELY heard that term a ton. I just didn't know what either meant, or that they were synonymous.

I am seriously considering taking a community college chemistry class or two so I can get a better handle on skin care chemistry!

free skin care · Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:02 pm

I was thinking almost the same thing Laughing

I was so bored and barely passed chemistry in university, but now I see how it would be very useful and wish I'd gotten more out of it Smile

free skin care · Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:13 pm

I somehow skirted through all of high school and college without having to take a real science class - well that's not true, I took physics, but wound up not taking biology or chemistry. Now I wish I had, as there's so much of interest that I understand so little about. I very seriously may take classes if I find I have the time - but then that's always the issue!

free skin care · Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:36 pm

eep! when i saw this thread I had horrible flashbacks to second year organic chemistry!

It's not exactly the right side or left side, it has to do with the order in which molecules are bound together. Typically, a molecule will make 4 bonds, the way these molecules join up will be the same but their orientations will be different. The (L) or (D) versions of a molecule will have the same connectivity but are mirror images of one another. For example, your hands; all your fingers are in the same order, everything is seemingly identical except they are mirror images of one another.

free skin care · Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:40 pm

oh, and the terms (L) or (D) are somewhat arbitrary in that neither is necessarily better than the other, They're categorized based on their ability to polarize light to the left or the right (just a way to classify/distinguish between the mirror images)

While any chiral molecule can be L or D, typically one is more biologically significant. Amino acids are usually in the L forms to be used by our bodies, wheras sugars are often D.

Who knew all the 'useless' organic chem would actually come in handy!

free skin care · Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:49 pm

I KNEW I was missing out! Sadly, this is actually really fascinating to me. I especially like the specific examples you gave about acids vs. sugars - thanks for that! I wonder if there's a database somewhere listing which chiral versions of what chemicals are good or bad for skincare. If not, someone should create one! (Someone more knowledgeable than myself, hahaha.) Time for a trip to Wikipedia...

free skin care · Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:29 am

Yes, the best example is your hands. Each hand has four fingers and 1 thumb. The parts are arranged in the same order, connected in the same way. If you put your palms together, your hands line up perfectly. But if you try to lay one hand on top of the other, they don't line up. That's because your hands are oriented differently in three-dimensional space.

Molecules can be the same...They can have all the same parts (atoms) connected in the same way (i.e., the same chemical bonds), but not be the same in 3-dimensional space. When chemical compounds are synthesized using traditional methods, racemic molecules are created--two (or more) mirror image variants (isomers) of the same molecule put together.

We know that mirror image isomers are not the same to the body, in terms of the processes in the body that affect drugs (e.g., the processes that break down drugs) and the way drugs work in the body. Your body knows the difference between the isomers and they don't act identically in the body.

With that said, I imagine that most or all natural compounds are chirally correct. I wonder why natural skincare companies don't make more of this fact.

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