Cyperus Oil - Is it SAFE? | Toxicologist answer

Summary

In this video, toxicologist Mo evaluates the safety of Cypress Oil, commonly touted for its hair removal properties. While its efficacy is questioned, Mo conducts a preliminary risk assessment focusing on hazard and exposure. Using computational models, Mo finds that key compounds in Cypress Oil may interact with androgen receptors and penetrate the skin, raising concerns about hormonal disruption. Despite its lack of substantial data, the oil’s potential risks outweigh its unproven benefits, leading Mo to advise against using it on large skin areas, especially sensitive regions like the armpits and genital areas.

Takeaways

• 😀 Cypress Oil, despite being popular for hair removal, lacks sufficient evidence to support its efficacy.
• 😀 A simplified risk assessment of Cypress Oil was conducted, focusing on hazard and exposure assessments due to limited data.
• 😀 The main compounds in Cypress Oil, cyarine and beta-caryophyllene, have the potential to interact with the androgen receptor, a key regulator of testosterone.
• 😀 The molecular docking results show that cyarine and beta-caryophyllene have stronger binding affinities to the androgen receptor than some recognized endocrine disruptors.
• 😀 Skin absorption of the oil’s active compounds was assessed using computer models, revealing significant penetration into deeper skin layers.
• 😀 Approximately 73.3% of cyarine and 3.4% of beta-caryophyllene can potentially reach systemic circulation after topical application.
• 😀 A comparison with the endocrine disruptor isopropyl parin indicated that the active compounds in Cypress Oil might pose greater risks.
• 😀 The exposure assessment does not account for the complex interactions of a mixture of compounds, which may enhance absorption beyond the model’s estimation.
• 😀 Metabolism was not considered in the exposure assessment, which could affect how the compounds are processed by the body, influencing their activity.
• 😀 Given the oil’s potential hormonal effects and penetration rates, using it on large skin areas, especially sensitive ones like the armpits or genital regions, is not recommended.
• 😀 The potential for hormonal disruption and increased cancer risk from the oil outweighs any unproven benefits, especially given its lack of regulation and scientific validation.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to evaluate the safety of Cypress Oil, specifically in relation to its use as a hair removal product. The video delves into its potential risks, particularly concerning hormonal disruption and skin penetration.

Why is Cypress Oil considered a potential risk in this assessment?

Cypress Oil contains compounds like cyarine and beta-cine, which may interact with the androgen receptor in the body. This interaction could potentially lead to hormonal disruption, which is a concern for health and safety.

What is the 'hazard assessment' in the context of chemical risk evaluation?

Hazard assessment is the process of identifying potential dangers associated with a substance. In this case, it involves determining whether the chemical components of Cypress Oil can cause harm, such as skin irritation, organ damage, or hormonal disruption.

What is the significance of the 'dose-response relationship' step in a chemical risk assessment?

The dose-response relationship step helps scientists understand how much of a substance is harmful. It involves studying how different amounts of a chemical affect the body to determine at what level it becomes dangerous.

How does exposure assessment work in evaluating Cypress Oil?

Exposure assessment evaluates how much of the substance people are likely to be exposed to. For Cypress Oil, this includes examining how much of the oil is absorbed into the skin and whether it reaches systemic circulation, where it could potentially interact with receptors.

What is molecular docking, and how was it used in the assessment of Cypress Oil?

Molecular docking is a computational method used to simulate how well a molecule can bind to a biological receptor, such as the androgen receptor. In the video, molecular docking was used to test how the compounds cyarine and beta-cine interact with the androgen receptor, which regulates testosterone and cell growth.

What were the binding affinities of cyarine and beta-cine in relation to the androgen receptor?

Cyarine and beta-cine had binding affinities of -7.3 and -7.9, respectively. These values are stronger than isopropyl parin, a known endocrine disruptor, which had a binding affinity of -6.8. This suggests that the compounds in Cypress Oil may interact with the androgen receptor with a potentially harmful effect.

How was the skin penetration of Cypress Oil assessed?

Skin penetration was assessed using a computational model called IH skin perm. This model estimates how much of a substance can penetrate the skin and reach the viable dermis, where it could enter systemic circulation. The results showed that a significant portion of cyarine and beta-cine could penetrate the skin.

What were the results of the skin penetration model for cyarine and beta-cine?

For cyarine, after 2 hours and 17 minutes of application, 73.3% of the dose was in the viable epidermis, potentially available for systemic circulation. For beta-cine, after 12 hours, only 3.4% was available in the viable dermis. These results suggest that cyarine has a higher potential for absorption compared to beta-cine.

What is the risk of cancer induction related to the use of Cypress Oil?

The risk of cancer induction is plausible due to the anti-androgen properties of Cypress Oil. The video discusses how blocking androgen receptors can either inhibit or promote cancer growth, depending on the type of cancer. Blocking androgen receptors may reduce the risk in androgen-driven cancers but could potentially increase the risk in estrogen receptor-positive cancers.

What is the final recommendation regarding the use of Cypress Oil?

Based on the preliminary safety assessment, the recommendation is not to use Cypress Oil on large surface areas, especially in high absorption areas like the armpits and genital areas. The oil's potential to interact with androgen receptors and its ability to penetrate the skin make it a risky product to use, particularly without more rigorous safety data.