Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Cosmetic – antiperspirant – dentifrice
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-05
2003-05-13
Dees, Jose′ G. (Department: 1616)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Cosmetic, antiperspirant, dentifrice
C424S059000, C514S557000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06562353
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATION
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of FR-98/05967, filed May 12, 1998, hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to promoting desquamation of the skin and/or stimulating epidermal renewal and/or combating aging of the skin by topical application thereto of cinnamic acid or derivative thereof, or composition comprising same.
The compounds/compositions of this invention are especially well suited for promoting desquamation of the skin and/or stimulating epidermal renewal and/or combating intrinsic and/or extrinsic aging of the skin, as well as for nontherapeutically treating the skin to promote desquamation and/or combat aging of the skin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Desquamation is a natural phenomenon associated with the fact that the epidermis, which constitutes the upper layer of the skin, is in constant regeneration. The epidermis consists of several layers of cells, the deepest of which is the basal layer consisting of undifferentiated cells. These cells differentiate and migrate towards the surface of the epidermis over time, constituting the various layers thereof, until they form at the surface of the epidermis the corneocytes, which are dead cells, which are removed by desquamation. This loss of surface is compensated for by the migration of cells from the basal layer towards the surface of the epidermis. This entails perpetual renewal of the skin. Forced removal of the horny layer accelerates the renewal and makes it possible to combat aging.
At the same time, these cells continue their differentiation, the final stage of which is the corneocyte. These are dead cells which make up the final layer of the epidermis, namely, the outermost layer also known as the
Stratum corneum.
Aging of the skin resulting from the effects of intrinsic or extrinsic factors on the skin is reflected by the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, by yellowing of the skin which develops a parchment-like appearance accompanied by the appearance of pigmentation blemishes, by the disorganization of the elastin and collagen fibers, causing a loss of elasticity, flexibility and firmness, and by the appearance of telangiectases.
Certain of these signs of aging are more particularly associated with intrinsic or physiological aging, namely, with “normal” aging due to age or chronobiological aging, whereas others are more specific to extrinsic aging, namely, aging caused in general by the environment; this relates more particularly to photoaging due to exposure to sunlight, to light or to any other radiation, whether natural or artificial.
The present invention relates to not only intrinsic or physiological aging, but also to extrinsic aging.
The changes in the skin due to intrinsic aging are the consequence of a genetically programmed senescence involving endogenous factors. This intrinsic aging causes, in particular, a slowing down or retarding of the renewal of the skin cells, which is reflected essentially by the appearance of clinical impairments such as reduction in the subcutaneous adipose tissue and the appearance of small wrinkles or fine lines, and by histopathological changes such as an increase in the number and thickness of elastic fibers, a loss of vertical fibers from the membrane of the elastic tissue, and the presence of large irregular fibroblasts in the cells of this elastic tissue.
By contrast, extrinsic aging causes clinical impairments such as large wrinkles and the formation of a flaccid and weathered skin, and histopathological changes such as excessive accumulation of elastic material in the epidermis and degeneration of the collagen fibers.
Various active agents suggested for combating aging of the skin are known in the prior art.
Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,146 describes the use of retinoic acid and derivatives thereof in cosmetic compositions for combating skin aging.
Moreover, many patents and publications (see, for example, EP-A-413,528) describe, and numerous commercially available commercial cosmetic compositions include, &agr;-hydroxy acids, such as lactic acid, glycolic acid or citric acid, for treating aging of the skin.
Too, the &bgr;-hydroxy acids, and more especially salicylic acid and derivatives thereof, are known for their desquamating properties (see WO-A-93/10756 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,750).
All of the aforesaid prior art compounds elicit action against aging of the skin by promoting desquamation, i.e., the removal of the “dead” cells located at the surface of the horny layer of the epidermis. This “desquamating” property is also referred to, often incorrectly, as a keratolytic property.
However, the compounds of the prior art also present objectionable side effects, such as stinging, tautness and sensations of overheating and redness which are unpleasant for the user.
Need therefore continues to exist for antiaging agents having an action which is at least as effective as that of the compounds of the prior art, but which do not present the disadvantages thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a major object of the present invention is the provision of active agents for promoting desquamation of the skin and/or for stimulating epidermal renewal, while at the same time avoiding the stinging, tautness or sensations of overheating or redness which are unpleasant for the user and which to date have characterized the state of this art.
Briefly, it has now surprisingly and unexpectedly been determined that topically applying an effective amount of cinnamic acid or of at least one derivative thereof onto the skin promotes the desquamation thereof and/or stimulates epidermal renewal and therefore combats skin aging.
Thus, this invention features formulating an effective amount of cinnamic acid or at least one derivative thereof into cosmetic/therapeutic compositions that promote desquamation of the skin and/or stimulate epidermal renewal and/or combat intrinsic and/or extrinsic aging of the skin.
The present invention also features a non-therapeutic regime/regimen for treating the skin to promote desquamation thereof and/or to stimulate epidermal renewal and/or to combat intrinsic and/or extrinsic aging of the skin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BEST MODE AND SPECIFIC/PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
More particularly according to the present invention, it will be appreciated that cinnamic acid is present in trans-form in the essential oils of basil and of cinnamon, in Peruvian balsamine and in cacao leaves. The cis-form is present in the oil from
Alpinia malacensis.
In the prior art, cinnamic acid or derivatives thereof have been formulated into compositions for preventing bedsores (JP-07,242,558), as anti-ultraviolet active agents (U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,109), in permanent-waving compositions (DE-3,301,515, DE-2,912,477 and EP-22,996), in hair lotions (JP-7,053,401 and JP-3,041,413), in depigmenting compositions (JP-5,221,845 and JP-1,186,811) and as antioxidants (EP-664,290).
However, to date the use of cinnamic acid or derivative thereof for promoting desquamation of the skin and/or stimulating epidermal renewal and/or combating intrinsic and/or extrinsic aging of the skin was unknown.
The present invention therefore features the use of an effective amount of cinnamic acid or of at least one derivative thereof, or composition comprised thereof, to promote desquamation of the skin and/or to stimulate epidermal renewal and/or to combat intrinsic and/or extrinsic aging of the skin.
The cinnamic acid or derivative thereof can be of natural or synthetic origin. By the term “natural origin” is intended cinnamic acid or derivative thereof prepared from plant material in which they exist in the natural state. By the term “synthetic origin” is intended cinnamic acid or derivative thereof, prepared via chemical synthesis or biotechnology.
Thus, the term “cinnamic acid” connotes cinnamic acid or derivative thereof, of natural or synthetic origin, in purified form, or in any preparation comprising same.
Exempla
Breton Lionel
Liviero Christel
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Dees Jose′ G.
Lamm Marina
Societe L'Oreal S.A.
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