Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-15
2001-10-09
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
C424S401000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299885
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to external preparations containing watercress extract giving a comfortableness of application with less irritation on the skin. In particular, the present invention relates to external preparations containing a solvent extract of watercress having the humectant effect on the application site of the said preparations. Additionally, even if calefacients are further contained, the preparations of the present invention are capable of reducing the uncomfortableness of these irritants and giving a comfortableness of use to the user.
BACKGROUND ART
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is a native European perennial plant which since introduced into Japan in the early Meiji era, has produced colonies in a clear stream as a naturalized plant, and it is eaten mainly as an ornamental accompaniment for Western cooking and as a vegetable for salads.
An attempt at blending various solvent extractions of plants including this watercress with external preparations such as cataplasms, ointments etc. is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 7-25763. This publication describes that the combined use of kojic acid and/or its derivative having an inhibitory action on melanin formation and various plant extracts, brings about the effect of improving the persistent efficacy of kojic acid and/or its derivative while alleviating irritation on the skin. Under the present circumstances, however, it is not sufficiently examined whether the solvent extract of watercress when blended in the external preparations has the humectant effect or any other effects.
In recent years, as the house and office come to be completely furnished with air conditioners and by excess use of a soap or detergent, there are increasing skin troubles such as rough skin, itching etc. Against such symptoms, lotions or ointments containing urea or aloe extract etc. are commercially available as external preparations for efficiently maintaining the water content of the skin or giving the humectant effect. However, no adequate examination has been made of plant extract-blended external preparations excellent in the sense of use.
Meanwhile, calefacients such as powdered capsicum, capsicum extract, capsicum tincture, nonanoic acid vanillylamide etc. are known for a long time. If these calefacients are applied to the skin, the sense of heat is generated at the application site, blood capillaries are expanded to make blood circulation active to improve the metabolism of tissues, and demonstrate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Accordingly, there appeared the products containing these calefacients in cosmetics to utilize these effects or in medical external preparations the purpose of treating neuralgia, stiffshoulder, lumbago, rheumatism and so on.
However, when external preparations containing these calefacients are applied to the skin, there is a considerable difference in the degree in sense of heat, depending on the age, sex, application site and the individual conditions. Further, if the calefacient is contained in a large amount, it may cause the uncomfortable symptoms of skin irritation such as redness, rashes etc., therefore, it is difficult to determine the optimum concentration of the calefacients. Furthermore, if the calefacient is blended with plasters, the sense of irritation remains even after removal of the plasters, and severe pain is frequently experienced at the time of bathing.
To solve such problems, there is an attempt to give the mild sense of heat to the skin by using the herb medicines such as ginger, Japanese pepper etc. (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 56,206/1988). The other attempt is to relieve the irritation by containing perilla or yellow oak extract together with the calefacients (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 51,126/1988). However, even if these herb ingredients are contained, it cannot be said that the effect of reducing skin irritation while keeping the sense of heat is sufficient, so there is demand for further development.
Accordingly, in view of these circumstances, the object of the present invention is to provide external preparations containing herb ingredients, which are excellent in the humectant effect, capable of reducing the uncomfortableness of irritation even if calefacients are contained, and able to give a comfortableness of use to the user.
To solve the above mentioned problems, the present inventors extensively studied the humectant effect, and skin irritation relieving effect and the other effects of said preparations containing the herb ingredients. As a result, they found that external preparations containing solvent extract of watercress gives humectant to the skin, facilitates the sense of heat when calefacients are further contained, and hardly permit the calefacients to cause skin pain. Hence, the present inventors arrived at the completion of the present invention.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the embodiment of the present invention provides external preparations containing a solvent extract of watercress.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides external preparations further containing calefacients together with the solvent extract of watercress.
In the said embodiment, the present invention provides external preparations wherein the calefacient is one or more members selected from the group consisting of powdered capsicum, capsicum extract, capsicum tincture, capsaicin and nonanoic acid vanillylamide.
The preparations of the present invention are more specifically external preparations in which the drug form is an aqueous cataplasm, a plaster, an ointment, or a lotion.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides the aqueous cataplasm preparations for external application wherein the water content of the preparations is 30 to 80% by weight relative to the total weight of the adhesive gel base of the preparations, and the pH of said adhesive gel base is in the range of 3.0 to 9.0.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The solvent extract of watercress used in the external preparations of the present invention can be prepared by extracting dried or intact leaves and stems of watercress, or intact watercress itself, with a solvent.
As used herein, the term “solvent” refers to hydrophilic organic solvents represented by water; lower alcohol such as methanol and ethanol; and polyhydric alcohol such as 1,3-butylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or mixtures thereof.
A process for producing said solvent extract of watercress can be done by using the following method as the topically example. That is, about 9 kg of 50% aqueous solution of 1,3-butylene glycol as the extraction solvent is added to 1 kg of the whole watercress or leaves and stems thereof, and the mixture is refluxed under heating at 100° C. for 1 hour and then cooled, and this solution is filtered to remove off the insoluble substances, and 50% aqueous solution of 1,3-butylene glycol is further added to the filtrate to adjust the total amount to 10 kg whereby the extract is obtained. Alternatively, 1 kg of the whole of watercress or leaves and stems thereof is immersed in about 9 kg of 50% aqueous solution of 1,3-butylene glycol as the extraction solvent at room temperature for 1 to 7 days or so, and then the insoluble substances are removed off by filtration. Then the additional extraction solvent is added to the filtrate to adjust the total amount to 10 kg.
As the solvent extract of watercress used in the external preparations of the present invention, the intact extract (hereinafter referred to as “watercress extract”) produced by the method described above can be used. Furthermore, the dried extract substances obtained from the above watercress extract by the conventional techniques such as spray drying, freeze-drying etc. may also be used. Such dried extract diluted with suitable solvents such as purified water, lower alcohol and polyhydric alcohol further can be used for the external preparations of the present invention.
The amount of the solvent extract of watercress in th
Konishi Tatsuya
Shudo Jutaro
Yamasaki Keiko
Crowell & Moring LLP
Fubara Blessing
Page Thurman K.
Teikoku Seiyaku Co., Ltd.
LandOfFree
External preparations containing watercress extract does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with External preparations containing watercress extract, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and External preparations containing watercress extract will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2593390