These are the first results revealed for the NCS TOX Project, a ‘huge project’ for the natural cosmetic and nutraceutical industries.
The NCS TOX Project, the result of a collaboration between UNITIS and the Botanical Alliance, aims to create a database of the toxicological profiles and relevant testing information related to natural substances.
The General Assembly also saw the election of a new board of UNITIS, the organisation states, “elected to perpetuate the spirit of the organization marked by well-defined common objectives and constructive exchanges between innovative SMEs occupying significant positions in global market.”
NCS TOX
NCS TOX began in September last year, with 11 key players in the relevant segments committed to the project.
The end of the project’s first year marks the end of its first stage, which aims to the study of molecular groups in botanicals to determine their level of risk regarding 3 endpoints:
- genotoxicity,
- systemic toxicity,
- sensitization,
through an evaluation based on:
- datamining,
- in silico models,
- a combined expertise in pharmacology and toxicology
Further information and contacts are available through the UNITIS website.
Next stage
This plenary meeting was also an opportunity to include a presentation of the second stage, which should start early 2018, according to the groups behind it.
The second stage aims to establish analytical methods for:
- identifying and quantifying the molecular groups present in plant extracts,
- measuring the content of critical compounds.
Within the context of animal testing ban and the absence of validated alternative methods for all endpoints, this project is very important for botanical raw materials suppliers and their customers of the natural cosmetic industry:
- to update or carry out the toxicological profile of their botanical extracts;
- to set up the safety report as defined in Annex 1 to the European Cosmetics Regulation, which stipulates that the safety of the finished product goes through the safety of ingredients.