Bifida Ferment Lysate is a biotechnologically derived ingredient obtained from the fermentation of Bifidobacterium bacteria.
Chemical Structure of Bifida Ferment Lysate
Bifida Ferment Lysate is not a single chemical compound, but a complex mixture of bioactive components obtained from the fermentation and lysis of Bifidobacterium species. Its chemical nature is therefore biopolymeric and highly heterogeneous. Key components include:
1. Peptides and Proteins
- Small peptides and proteins derived from bacterial cell lysis.
- Often include enzymes, signaling proteins, and immunomodulatory peptides.
- Amino acid composition varies depending on the Bifidobacterium strain and fermentation conditions.
2. Polysaccharides
- Exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced during fermentation.
- These are often neutral or acidic polysaccharides with repeating sugar units (glucose, galactose, rhamnose).
- Contribute to moisturizing and barrier-enhancing effects on the skin.
3. Lipoteichoic Acids & Cell Wall Components
- From the bacterial cell membrane and wall.
- Can interact with skin microbiota and enhance skin immunity.
4. Nucleotides and Small Metabolites
- Products of bacterial metabolism (e.g., short-chain fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins).
- Contribute to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Summary: Chemically, Bifida Ferment Lysate is essentially a mixture of peptides, polysaccharides, and bacterial metabolites. It does not have a defined single chemical structure like a small molecule drug.
Physical Properties of Bifida Ferment Lysate
Since it is a biological lysate, its properties are more formulation-dependent than precise chemical constants:
| Property | Typical Characteristics |
| Appearance | Clear to slightly yellow/brown liquid; can also be lyophilized to a powder. |
| Solubility | Water-soluble; can form viscous solutions depending on polysaccharide content. |
| pH | Usually slightly acidic to neutral (pH 4–7). |
| Molecular Weight | Variable: peptides (0.5–10 kDa), polysaccharides (1–100 kDa or higher). |
| Stability | Sensitive to high heat, extreme pH, and strong oxidizers; stable under refrigeration. |
| Viscosity | Low to moderate; increases with concentration due to polysaccharide content. |
| Color & Odor | Slightly yellow or amber; mild characteristic odor, generally considered neutral in cosmetic formulations. |
Key Notes:
- The chemical and physical properties can vary based on the strain of Bifidobacterium, the fermentation medium, and the extraction method.
- In cosmetics, it is often standardized to a certain peptide or polysaccharide content rather than a molecular formula.
- Functionally, these properties are what give it moisturizing, skin barrier-strengthening, and anti-inflammatory effects.