Abstract

When taking a closer look at nature, it quickly becomes apparent that lecithin is omnipresent: from plants and animals to human beings, there is no life without this essential agent. Lecithin is the collective term for mixtures of phospholipids and (in many cases) other lipids. Our endogenous cells are surrounded by a cell membrane that is largely composed of phospholipids, which means it occurs naturally in our bodies. It can also be obtained industrially from plants such as soy, sunflower and rapeseed, as well as egg yolk.

Before diving into the complex field of lecithin applications, it is important to know that not all lecithin is the same. It has numerous and varied qualities suitable for a broad range of applications, both as an active ingredient and functional substance. Its use is therefore favoured by the cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements and animal feed industries.

This article is about lecithin fractions, i.e. lecithin containing a high proportion of phosphatidylcholine and their applications in cosmetics.