Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Live hair or scalp treating compositions
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-19
2003-07-08
Spear, James M. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Live hair or scalp treating compositions
C424S725000, C424S401000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06589516
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to compositions comprising at least one Boswellia extract, or at least one boswellic acid or derivative thereof. The compositions are suitable for application to the skin or hair.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
It has long been known that extracts of the Boswellia family of plants including Boswellia Serrata can produce a soothing effect to irritated skin and that this activity is due to the terpenoid compounds grouped under the general name boswellic acids. The different boswellic acids share the same basic pentacyclic triterpene (steroid-like) structure but differ in their side groupings.
EP-A-755.940 relates to a novel fraction and a process for the isolation of said fraction comprising a mixture of specified boswellic acids from the gum resin of Boswellia Serrata. The fraction is stated to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and antiulcerogenic activity.
Typical extracts of Boswellia plants are solids or powders with a wide melting range—normally above 80° C. To allow for easy incorporation into compositions which are suitable for use on the skin or hair, an extract of Boswellia, containing the boswellic acids, or boswellic acids or derivatives thereof themselves, need to be dissolved or dispersed in a suitable carrier. Although they can be dissolved in solvents such as methanol, ethyl acetate, acetone and the like, these solvents are not suitable for use in typical skin and hair care formulations because of their aggressive solvent action on the skin and hair, and/or because of their high volatility and/or strong odour.
Ingredients which are commonly used in skin care or hair care formulations, such as glycerine, sorbitol, mineral oil, cyclomethicone, dimethicone and petrolatum are not suitable solvents or carriers for Boswellia extracts or boswellic acids or derivatives thereof as they are either too polar or not sufficiently polar.
Alkalies can produce aqueous solutions of boswellic acids by forming the respective salts. However, prolonged skin or hair contact by alkaline products (e.g. with a pH greater than 8.5) is not recommended, especially for sensitive skin or scalp, or for damaged hair.
We have now surprisingly found that a specified group of fatty alcohols or fatty acids, or derivatives, or mixtures thereof, are suitable carriers for dissolving and/or dispersing at least one Boswellia extract, or at least one boswellic acid or derivative thereof. Further, the carrier aids the incorporation of the extract, or acid, into compositions suitable for use on the skin or hair and improves the stability of said compositions containing the extract, or acid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a composition suitable for use on the skin or hair comprising;
a) at least one extract of a Boswellia plant, or at least one boswellic acid or derivative thereof; and
b) a carrier selected from the group consisting of branched fatty alcohols containing 8 to 32 carbon atoms, branched fatty acids containing 8 to 32 carbon atoms, unsaturated fatty alcohols containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms, unsaturated fatty acids containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms, and derivatives of said branched fatty alcohols, said branched fatty acids, said unsaturated fatty alcohols and said unsaturated fatty acids, or mixtures thereof.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of preparing a composition suitable for application to the skin or hair comprising mixing a composition comprising;
a) at least one extract of a Boswellia plant, or at least one boswellic acid or derivative thereof; and
b) a carrier selected from the group consisting of branched fatty alcohols containing 8 to 32 carbon atoms, branched fatty acids containing 8 to 32 carbon atoms, unsaturated fatty alcohols containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms, unsaturated fatty acids containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms, and derivatives of said branched fatty alcohols, said branched fatty acids, said unsaturated fatty alcohols and said unsaturated fatty acids, or mixtures thereof
with at least one cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable ingredient.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a use of a composition comprising;
a) at least one extract of a Boswellia plant, or at least one boswellic acid or derivative thereof; and
b) a carrier selected from the group consisting of branched fatty alcohols containing 8 to 32 carbon atoms, branched fatty acids containing 8 to 32 carbon atoms, unsaturated fatty alcohols containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms, unsaturated fatty acids containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms, and derivatives of said branched fatty alcohols, said branched fatty acids, said unsaturated fatty alcohols and said unsaturated fatty acids, or mixtures thereof,
for preparing compositions suitable for application to the skin or hair.
The compositions of the invention comprise at least one extract of a Boswellia plant, or at least one boswellic acid or derivative thereof.
The compositions of the present invention suitably comprise a safe and effective amount, preferably from 0.005% to 50% by weight of the composition and more preferably from 0.05% to 25% by weight of the composition of at least one Boswellia extract, or at least one boswellic acid or derivative thereof.
Suitable extracts for use herein may be derived from the following Boswellia plants including Boswellia Cartenii, Boswellia Frereana, Boswellia Bhau-dajaina, Boswellia Serrata and Boswellia Thurifera. The preferred plants from which extracts are derived are Boswellia Serrata.
The extracts derived from Boswellia plants can comprise gums, oleo-gums, resins, essential oils and residues, or mixtures thereof. Preferred extracts for use herein are gums.
The Boswellia gum extract useful herein comprises a mixture of active triterpenoid compounds more commonly known as boswellic acids. All boswellic acids have a pentacyclic structure based on 12-ursen-24-oic acid with differing substituents. Many individual boswellic acid compounds have been isolated from the Boswellia extract including &agr;- and &bgr;-boswellic acids and derivatives thereof. Of these, &bgr;-boswellic acid and derivatives thereof are thought to be the active components.
A typical extract comprising Boswellia Serrata gum resin will comprise greater than 50% by weight boswellic acids and often more than 60% by weight boswellic acids.
A typical extract of a Boswellia plant suitable for use herein comprises a mixture of boswellic acids comprising at least one of 3a-hydroxyurs-12-ene-24-oic acid, 3a-acetoxyurs-12-ene-24-oic acid, 3a-hydroxyurs-12-ene-11-keto-24-oic acid and 3a-hydroxyurs-9,12-dien-24-oic acid.
Boswellia extracts suitable for use herein are commercially available for example from Quest International, Kent, UK.
The compositions of the invention also comprise a carrier for the at least one extract of a Boswellia plant, or the at least one boswellic acid or derivative thereof.
In accordance with the invention, suitable carriers for this purpose are selected from the group consisting of branched fatty alcohols containing 8 to 32 carbon atoms, branched fatty acids containing 8 to 32 carbon atoms, unsaturated fatty alcohols containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms, unsaturated fatty acids containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms, and derivatives of said branched fatty alcohols, said branched fatty acids, said unsaturated fatty alcohols and said unsaturated fatty acids, or mixtures thereof.
The compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 50% to 99.995%, preferably from 75% to 99.95%, and even more preferably from 80% to 95% of a carrier by weight of the composition.
The preferred carriers for use herein are selected from branched fatty alcohols or branched fatty acids containing 8 to 32 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof, which are liquids at room temperature. Preferably, the branched fatty alcohols and fatty acids are saturated. Saturated compounds generally have good stability against oxidation. More preferred, are saturated, branched fatty alcohols or fatty acids containin
Eyre Heather
Hills Maxine Jayne
Watkins Stephen David
Fubara Blessing
Morgan & Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Quest International B.V.
Spear James M.
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