The most important studies on Sodium lauroyl glutamate: properties, safety, phytochemistry.

Burnett CL, Heldreth B, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD, Liebler DC, Marks JG Jr, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Andersen FA. Safety Assessment of Amino Acid Alkyl Amides as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. 2017 May/Jun;36(1_suppl):17S-56S. doi: 10.1177/1091581816686048.

Abstract. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (Panel) reviewed the product use, formulation, and safety data of 115 amino acid alkyl amides, which function as skin and hair conditioning agents and as surfactants-cleansing agents in personal care products. Safety test data on dermal irritation and sensitization for the ingredients with the highest use concentrations, lauroyl lysine and sodium lauroyl glutamate, were reviewed and determined to adequately support the safe use of the ingredients in this report. The Panel concluded that amino acid alkyl amides are safe in the present practices of use and concentration in cosmetics, when formulated to be nonirritating.

Chen Z, Liu J, Han Y. Rapid and sensitive determination of proteins by enhanced resonance light scattering spectroscopy of sodium lauroyl glutamate.
Talanta. 2007 Feb 28;71(3):1246-51. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2006.06.025.

Abstract. A rapid and sensitive method for the determination of proteins is proposed based on the measurements of the enhanced resonance light scattering (RLS) spectroscopy of sodium lauroyl glutamate (SLG). Under the optimum conditions, the interaction between SLG and proteins occurred rapidly, resulting in greatly enhanced RLS intensity with the maximum peak located at 394nm. It was found that the enhanced RLS intensities were in proportion to the concentrations of proteins in the range of 0.01-3.1mugml(-1) depending on the kind of proteins. The detection limits were below 6ngml(-1). Compared with some other methods for the determination of proteins, this method shows high sensitivity, low detection limit and simplicity. This is an inexpensive, simple and fast one-step procedure which requires only measuring the RLS intensities. Human serum samples were determined with satisfactory results.

Lee CH, Kawasaki Y, Maibach HI. Effect of surfactant mixtures on irritant contact dermatitis potential in man: sodium lauroyl glutamate and sodium lauryl sulphate.
Contact Dermatitis. 1994 Apr;30(4):205-9.

Abstract. Our purpose was to ascertain the irritant contact dermatitis potential of sodium lauroyl glutamate (SLG) and to assess its possible anti-irritating potential in a surfactant mixture on human skin, using visual scores and measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL). 15 healthy adult volunteers free of skin disease and with no history of atopic dermatitis were treated with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) solution (1%, 0.75%, 0.50%, 0.25%), 1% SLG solution, and 1% surfactant mixture solutions, M1 (75/25), M2 (50/50), M3 (25/50) (SLG/SLS). We applied 100 microliters of solution using a polypropylene chamber for 24 h. Application sites for each solution were randomized to minimize anatomical bias. We measured baseline TEWL before test solution application. After removal of the patches, each site was visually graded and TEWL recorded with an evaporimeter daily for 4 days. The visual scores and TEWL values of 1% SLG solutions were lower than those of the other test solutions, except the vehicle control (deionized water). 1% surfactant mixture solutions showed lower visual scores and TEWL values than 1% SLS solution. Increase of SLG concentration decreased the visual scores and TEWL values. Comparing the visual scores and TEWL values of M1 and 0.25% SLS solution, M2 and 0.50% SLS solution, and M3 and 0.75% SLS solution, M1, M2, and M3 showed lower values, although not statistically different. These findings suggest that SLG is a mild surfactant and its utilization can decrease irritation potential in SLS and possibly other mixtures. This model may offer a facile system for screening the surfactant and other mixtures for decreased irritancy potential.

Ariki R, Hirano A, Arakawa T, Shiraki K. Drug solubilization effect of lauroyl-L-glutamate.
J Biochem. 2012 Jan;151(1):27-33. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvr117. 

Abstract. This article proposes a new technique for the solubilization of poorly soluble drugs using lauroyl-L-glutamate, which is one of the amino acid detergents, with additional small additives. Lauroyl-L-glutamate was highly effective in solubilizing long-chain alkyl gallates, e.g. dodecyl gallate. Furthermore, lauroyl-L-glutamate and small additives, particularly arginine, acted to increase the solubility of alkyl gallates. The synergistic effect was not observed by sodium dodecyl sulphate with arginine. The solubilizing system can be applied to other drugs because of the low toxicity of both lauroyl-L-glutamate and arginine.

Zaĭtsev AN, Rogozhin SV, Shatrov GN, Davidovich IuA, Rakhmanina NL Toxicological characteristics of disodium salt of N-lauroyl-L-glutamic acid--a surface-active agent used in the food processing industry.  Vopr Pitan. 1984 Jul-Aug;(4):58-60.

Abstract. To synthesize the disodium salt of N-lauroyl-L-glutamic acid (LG-Na2), use was made of the chloranhydride method with some modifications. The yield of the product was 85%. LG-Na2 possesses good surface-active properties and an emulsifying effect. The critical concentration of micelloformation of LG-Na2 is 6 10(-3) mol/l. LG-Na2 is a non-toxic compound. It is not cumulated in the animals' body. The LD50 for albino rats per os exceeds 10 000 mg/kg, that for mice 6500 mg/kg. It was shown in subacute experiments in rats that LG-Na2 did not produce any substantial influence on the animals' status or on some biochemical and morphological indicators of blood and organs. The authors suggest a tentative level of a safe oral action of LG-Na2 on man (10 mg per kg bw/day). LG-Na2 is likely to be widely used in food industry.