Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Designated organic active ingredient containing – Carbohydrate doai
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2001-07-17
Dees, Jose′ G. (Department: 1616)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Designated organic active ingredient containing
Carbohydrate doai
C422S028000, C514S023000, C514S025000, C514S517000, C514S529000, C514S552000, C514S557000, C514S558000, C514S559000, C514S574000, C514S708000, C514S709000, C514S711000, C514S723000, C514S729000, C514S738000, C514S880000, C514S881000, C514S975000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262038
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns germicidal compositions, such as compositions useful for personal hygiene and home cleaning. In more particular embodiments, the invention is related to germicidal compositions for use in washing fruits and vegetables, and which is also suitable for cleaning skin and hair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Food borne pathogens and contaminants are a significant threat to public health. Recent fatal outbreaks of
Escherichia coli
infection following ingestion of infected food have publicized the severity of this public health problem. Other food borne pathogens that can cause gastroenteritis or systemic infection include
Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Campylobacter jejuni, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens
, the Hepatitis A virus, influenza viruses, adenoviruses,
Staphylococcus aureus,
and many others. Some of these organisms can be transmitted to food, such as fresh produce, during preparation or handling. Diseases caused by such pathogens are a significant public health problem.
Another problem with the consumption of fresh produce, such as fruits and vegetables, is that they are sometimes contaminated with soil and pesticides or other toxins. Some pathogens thrive in soil, hence dirt on food may transmit disease. Toxic contaminants in the dirt or on the food have been incriminated as a cause of acute enteric illnesses, and many consumers are concerned about long-term effects (such as carcinogenesis) from chronic ingestion of these toxins. This concern is a particular dilemma for health conscious individuals, whose diets often contain a high proportion of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Although consumption of fruits and vegetables has significant health advantages, these food items are often exposed to toxins (such as pesticides) during production. Moreover, fruits and vegetables are often handled by numerous people (from agricultural workers to consumers) in food distribution channels, which provides multiple opportunities for infection of the food with gastroenteric and other pathogens.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a composition and method which addresses this public health problem by inactivating pathogens and removing toxins from the surface of food items such as fruits and vegetables.
Another object of this invention is to inactivate or remove the pathogens or contaminants in an environmentally safe and biologically non-threatening manner.
Yet another object is to provide a germicidal composition that is useful in cleaning fomites, such as human hands and food preparation surfaces.
Finally, it is an object to provide such a composition that is not harmful to the human skin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing objects are achieved by providing a biologically compatible, germicidal composition that is suitable for use as a fruit and vegetable wash. The composition includes a pH lowering agent in a sufficient amount to lower the pH of the composition to at least 6, and a surfactant, such as sodium lauryl sulfate or a sophorose lipid biosurfactant, in a germicidal amount sufficient to kill 100% of at least
E. coli, Salmonella typhi
, and
Shigella dysenteriae
, in 30 seconds at the pH of the composition. The pH lowering agent is preferably a biocompatible fruit acid, such as citric acid, glycollic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, or tartaric acid. In some embodiments, the fruit acid is a combination of two or more of these fruit acids, or a combination of all of them.
Other embodiments also include a second surfactant, such as a biosurfactant, to improve the emulsifying properties of the composition. In particular embodiments, the biosurfactant is a sophorose lipid biosurfactant prepared by fermentation of yeast. This biosurfactant has been found to provide additional antimicrobial activity, and has a moisturizing effect on human skin. Hence embodiments of the invention that contain biosurfactant are particularly suitable for formulations intended for use as skin and hair products.
In some embodiments, the composition includes a pH lowering agent comprising a mixture of fruit acids, sufficient to lower the pH of the composition to 2-5, or more specifically 3-6, most specifically 3.8-4.2; sodium lauryl sulfate in an amount of 1-20% by weight of the composition, more specifically 2-5% by weight; and a sophorose lipid biosurfactant in an amount of 0.1-2.0% by weight of the composition, more specifically 0.1-2.0%, most specifically about 0.3% by weight. Trace amounts of fragrants, such as a natural citrus complex, may be added to the composition to enhance its odor.
The invention also includes a method of cleaning fomites, comprising the steps of applying to the fomite a germicidally effective amount of the composition, and leaving the composition on the fomite for an effective period of time to kill 100% of organisms selected from the group consisting of
Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi
and
Shigella dysenteriae
. The fomite is, for example, selected from the group consisting of fruits and vegetables, food preparation surfaces such as cutting boards and kitchen counters, doorknobs, human hands, human hair, eating utensils, and many other items.
The composition may be formulated as a liquid cleaning agent that can be poured from a bottle or sprayed from a spray pump. Alternatively, thickeners and/or moisturizers can be added to provide a formulation that is suitable for use as a hand lotion, shampoo, baby wipe, or makeup remover. The composition may also be used in household cleaners, a body wash, or hand towelettes.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In this specification, the amounts of ingredients in the composition are expressed as percentages by weight of the active ingredient.
The germicidal composition of this disclosed embodiment includes a mixture of a surfactant and a pH lowering agent that lowers the pH of the composition to 2-6. The surfactant is also germicidal, and is present in an amount that, in combination with the pH lowering agent, kills 100% of at least
E. coli, Salmonella typhi
and
Shigella dysenteriae
within 30 seconds of applying the composition to an infected surface. The composition may also have germicidal activity against a broad variety of pathogens listed in Example 4.
A particular disclosed surfactant that has this germicidal activity is sodium lauryl sulfate. Other surfactants would be sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, or a biosurfactant such as a sophorose biosurfactant. A specific pH lowering agent is one or more fruit derived acids.
In particular embodiments, the range of sodium lauryl sulfate would be about 1-20% by weight, more particularly about 2-5% by weight, and most particularly about 4.5% by weight. The fruit acids would be added in a sufficient amount to provide a composition having a pH of about 2-6, more particularly 3-5, or more particularly 3.8-4.2. A weight ratio of the surfactant active ingredient (such as sodium lauryl sulfate) to the active ingredients of the fruit acids is about 1:1 to 3:1, more specifically about 2:1. When the sodium lauryl sulfate is present in an amount of about 4.5% by weight of the active ingredient, then the fruit acids would be provided in an amount of about 2.3% by weight. In such specific embodiments, the ratio of sodium lauryl sulfate to fruit acids (by weight) is about 2:1. The remainder of the composition may be an inert carrier, such as deionized water, although additional thickeners, sudsing agents, preservatives, additional germicidal agents, and other materials may also be added.
In yet other embodiments, the germicidal composition comprises sodium lauryl sulfate in an amount of about 4-5%; ionic sophorose lipid surfactants in an amount of less than about 1%; and a mixture of fruit acids in an amount of about 2-3%, wherein the
Heilman Timothy J.
Pierce Deborah
Choi Frank
David Christal, Ltd.
Dees Jose′ G.
Klarquist Sparkman Campbell & Leigh & Whinston, LLP
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