Introduction

Nowadays, besides the basic role of nutrition consisting in the supply of necessary
nutrients for growth and development of the organism, some additional aspects are
becoming increasingly important, including the maintenance of health and counteracting
diseases.

The health benefits of probiotics and prebiotics as well as synbiotics have been studied
extensive in the past few decades. These food supplements known as “functional
foods”, that tend to alter, modify and reinstate the pre-existing intestinal flora. They also
facilitate smooth functions of the intestinal environment. (researchgate.net)

Synbiotics refer to food ingredients or dietary supplements combining probiotics and

prebiotics in a form of synergism, hence synbiotics. (Wikipedia)
The word probiotics is a Greek word meaning “for life” and used to define living non-
pathogenic organisms and their derived beneficial effects on hosts. It was Ferdinand
Vergin who invented the term “probiotic” in 1954.
Probiotic products may contain either a single strain or a mixture of two or more strains.
Most commonly used probiotic strains are: Bifidobacterium, Lactobacilli, S. boulardii, B.
coagulans. (ncbi)

Prebiotics are compounds in food that effect the growth or activity of beneficial
microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The most common example is in the
gastrointestinal tract, where prebiotics can alter the composition of organisms in the gut
microbiome. (Wikipedia).
A prebiotic is a special type of soluble fiber that is used by the beneficial good bacteria
as a fuel. These good bacteria, in turn, produce certain substances that acidify the colon
and serve as a nutrition source for the colon's own cells. (prebiotin.com)
Examples of prebiotics are inulin, pectin etc.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” - quote by Hippocrates

A synbiotic product affects the body in improving the survival and implantation of live
microbial dietary supplements in the gastrointestinal tract by stimulating the growth and
activating the metabolism of health-promoting bacteria.( ncbi)
Synbiotics consumption by humans includes the following beneficial effects:
• Increased levels of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria and balanced gut
microbiota.
• Prevention of bacterial translocation and reduced incidences of nosocomial
infections in surgical patients.
• Improvement of liver function in cirrhotic patients.
• Improvement of immunomodulating ability. (sciencedirect.com)
Present scenario
We all are living is very alarming state. The world is facing a pandemic
situation, COVID-19(Corona virus). With the recent corona virus (COVID-19)
outbreak, many people are concerned about staying healthy and maintaining
a healthy immune system.
The coronavirus - known as COVID-19 - spreads from person to person in
close proximity, similar to other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu.
Droplets of bodily fluids - such as saliva or mucus - from an infected person
are dispersed in the air or on surfaces by coughing or sneezing. These
droplets can come into direct contact with other people or can infect those
who pick them up by touching infected surfaces and then their face.
The virus is transmitted from one person to other by coming into close
proximity.
Sanitizing is important to kill the bacteria’s that has come in contact with the
body so that they do not enter inside the body.

Hand sanitizer, also called hand antiseptic, hand rub, agent applied to the
hands for the purpose of removing common pathogens.

Depending on the active ingredient used, hand sanitizers can be classified as

one of two types: alcohol-based or alcohol-free. Alcohol-based products
typically contain between 60 and 95 percent alcohol, usually in the form of
ethanol, isopropanol, or n-propanol.
Alcohol-free products are generally based on disinfectants, such as
benzalkonium chloride (BAC), or on antimicrobial agents, such as triclosan.
The activity of disinfectants and antimicrobial agents is both immediate and
persistent.( newscientist)

The effectiveness of hand sanitizer depends on multiple factors, including the

manner in which the product is applied e.g., quantity used, duration of
exposure, frequency of use and whether the specific infectious agents
present on the person’s hands are susceptible to the active ingredient in the
product. (britannica.combritannica.com)

Agencies such as the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention promote the use of alcohol-based hand
sanitizers over alcohol-free products.(WHO)
Current scenario of sanitizers market
Hand sanitizer sales saw a year-on-year increase of 255% in February.
 Sales in Malaysia of hand sanitizers hit almost 1 million Malaysian
ringgit ($237,176) during the week ending January 26.
 In Italy, sales of hand soap were up 29%.
 Demand for hand sanitizers in the U.S. spiked by 1,400% between
December and January. hand sanitizer purchases in the United States
were up 73% during the four weeks until February 22(cnbc)

The hand sanitizer has turned in to a highly prized possession

overnight as shoppers stock up on personal hygiene products amid the
deadly Coronavirus outbreak. Fast moving goods companies aside,
liquor companies are stepping in, offering to use their supply of extra
neutral alcohol (ENA)—a key raw material.
 Radio Khaitan that makes 8 PM whisky and Magic Moments Vodka said
it will expand the use of Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) at its mother
distillery in Rampur into the production of hand sanitizer.
 Goa based brewery, Goa Brewing Co., said it will offer free hand
sanitizer refills to health care workers and villages in the area. The
sanitizers will be prepared according to the WHO guidelines.
 Mulholland DriveHindustan Unilever Ltd announced a 15% drop in the
price of its Lifebuoy brand of sanitizer.
 Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) slashed the price of its Godrej
protect sanitizer (50 ml bottle) from ₹75 to ₹25 with immediate effect.
( livemint)

Drawback of using alcohol based sanitizers

Soap and water kill and flush germs from skin. Hand sanitizers, on the other
hand, work by sitting on skin and killing germs on contact. They only work,
however, if they have enough alcohol to kill the germs—at least 60 percent,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 DRY SKIN AND RISK OF INFECTION

When used too frequently, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can wash away
your skin’s natural oils, which can cause drying and cracking. Dehydrated
skin can be unattractive and irritating, and it is likely to cause like itching,
slight to severe flaking, scaling, or peeling or redness etc
  FIRE HAZARD
Most hand sanitizers on the market contain a high volume of alcohol, enough
to be considered a fire hazard. In fact, “alcohol-based hand sanitizers are
classified as Class I Flammable Liquid substances, which means they have a
flashpoint of less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. (safespaceco)

Future
Probiotics can be protected and incorporated into hand sanitizers using a
new encapsulation technique. (cosmeticsdesign)
Both good and bad germs are destroyed by alcohol in hand sanitizer.
(bottomlineinc)
Good bacteria are those that are found in our yogurt and kombucha that
promote gut health and aid in digestion. Bad bacteria are those germs that
is on toilets and kitchen sponges and airport check-in kiosks that can cause
infections or that can make you sick. (healthline).
While using alcohol based sanitizer it kills all the germs leaving a scorched
skin. Due to this the skin may attract a large number on new bacteria which
can be bad or good.
To avoid this, with the use of a new encapsulation technique, the
manufacturer has devised a way for the hand sanitizer to protect the good
bacteria by “walling them off” so that they are not destroyed by these active
ingredients. After the freshly applied hand sanitizer has evaporated, the
encapsulated probiotics “break open” and recolonize your hands with
beneficial bacteria. The basic motive behind this method is to preserve or
restore some good bacteria on the skin rather than leaving it fully scorched.
(cosmeticsdesign)

Desert essence, SIANI, make probiotic hand sanitizers.