Lipid extract of the Skeletonema algae

Details Lipid extract of the Skeletonema algae Lipid extract of the Skeletonema algae

2001-03-08

2002-09-10

Lankford, Jr., Leon B. (Department: 1651)

Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions

Extract or material containing or obtained from an alga as...

C424S780000, C424S078020, C424S078050, C424S401000, C424S400000, C424S078030

Reexamination Certificate

active

06447782

ABSTRACT:

The invention relates to a novel lipid extract of the algae Skeletonema, to a process for its preparation and to its use in the fields of cosmetics and pharmaceutics, especially dermatology.
This algae belongs to the genus Skeletonema and is in particular the algae
Skeletonema tropicum, Skeletonema menzelii, Skeletonema potamos, Skeletonema subsalsum, Skeletonema pseudocostatum
or
Skeletonema costatum.
The invention relates more precisely to uses of a lipid extract of this algae as a cosmetic agent.
The algae Skeletonema, in particular the algae
Skeletonema tropicum, Skeletonema menzelii, Skeletonema potamos, Skeletonema subsalsum, Skeletonema pseudocostatum
or
Skeletonema costatum
(called SKC in the remainder of -the document), is a well-known single-cell algae of the phylum Chlorophytes, the branch Chrysophycophytes, the class Diatomophyceae and the order Centrales. Diatomophyceae are very widespread in fresh, salt or brackish waters. The life of the species of this class can be planktonic or benthic. The protoplasm is enclosed in a siliceous frustule. The particularly preferred plant is
Skeletonema costatum
(SKC) is a cosmopolitan and usually marine species, which is frequently found to be associated with the phytoplanktonic efflorescences of coastal waters.
The experiments performed by the inventors have made it possible to demonstrate a very surprising enzymatic action of the lipid extracts of this algae. The inventors have demonstrated an inhibitory action on 3′,5′-cAMP phosphodiesterase, which has made it possible to envisage its use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, especially dermatological products.
3′,5′-cAMP phosphodiesterase, hereafter referred to as “phosphodiesterase” or “PDE”, is the enzyme which converts cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), a second messenger involved in the control of cell metabolism, to adenosine monophosphate (AMP), the inactive form of said second messenger. The inhibition of PDE by an inhibitor consequently enables a high intracellular level of cAMP to be maintained, which has the effect especially of activating the protein kinases A and, via this process, makes it possible in particular to promote lipid degradation.
Furthermore, it is also known that cAMP is involved in counteracting certain inflammatory processes (Front Matrix Biol., vol. 6, pp. 193-205, Karger, Busel 1978, Skin inflammatory reactions and cyclic AMP, Georges Cehovic and Nguyen-Ba Giao). It has also been described that PDE increases with age (S. K. Puri and L. Volicer, Mechanisms of Aging en Dev. (1981), 15, 239). The inhibition of PDE will therefore contribute to delaying the appearance of ageing effects, particularly on the skin.
Thus it has been demonstrated by the inventors that, by virtue of their inhibitory action on PDE, the lipid extracts of Skeletonema, particularly the species mentioned above and preferably SKC, are of great value in cosmetics and therapeutics.
In fact, through the discovery of the activity of the lipid extracts of Skeletonema, particularly the species mentioned above and preferably SKC, namely inhibition of the action of PDE, the invention provides different solutions in the fields of cosmetics and therapeutics, especially dermatology.
The inhibition of PDE gives the compositions of the invention a slimming, anti-inflammatory, anti-cellulite and anti-ageing action.
Thus, according to a first feature, the invention relates to a novel lipid extract of the algae Skeletonema, especially an algae selected from the group consisting of
S. tropicum, S. menzehii, S. potamos, S. subsalsum, S. pseudo costatum and S. costatum,
and in particular to a total lipid extract of said algae obtained by extraction in an organic solvent.
In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, this lipid extract is characterized in that it is obtained by extracting the algae Skeletonema in an organic solvent which has a polarity index p′ of less than about 5.4, preferably of between 2 and 4.5 and particularly preferably of between 4.2 and 4.4, and which is acceptable in the cosmetic or pharmaceutical industry. For the polarity indices of solvents, reference may be made to the article by L. R. SNYDER: Classification of the solvent properties of common liquids; Journal of Chromatography, 92 (1974), 223-230.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned lipid extract is obtained by extracting the algae with an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and chloroformn.
In yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned extract is obtained by extracting the algae with isopropanol.
The p′ values for each of the above-mentioned solvents are given below by way of example:
isopropanol: 4.3
ethyl acetate: 4.3
chloroform: 4.4
dichloromethane: 3.7
In another advantageous variant, the extraction is performed under reflux.
In another advantageous variant, the algae is frozen before being extracted with the solvent, the freezing preferably being effected at a temperature of between about −40° C. and −20° C. and for a period preferably of between about 1 and 7 days.
In another advantageous variant, the frozen algae is immersed directly in the solvent heated to the reflux temperature. The thermal shock in fact makes it possible to facilitate the decantation of the silica (originating from the skeleton of the algae cells).
In yet another advantageous variant, before any other extraction operation, the algae is macerated in the organic solvent at room temperature, preferably for a period of between about 5 minutes and 80 minutes and particularly preferably for a period of between about 20 minutes and 40 minutes.
In yet another advantageous variant, the amount of organic solvent used is between about 0.1 liter and 20 liters, preferably between about 2 liters and 10 liters, per 100 g of algae, expressed by dry weight of algae.
In yet another advantageous variant, the extraction can be performed under an inert atmosphere, preferably under a nitrogen-saturated atmosphere. This makes it possible in particular to avoid pronounced degradation of the active molecules.
The process can also comprise a simple maceration (only) at room temperature and/or a reflux or a reflux only, at atmospheric pressure, preferably under an inert atmosphere and preferably under a nitrogen-saturated atmosphere.
The amount of organic solvent used is advantageously between about 0.1 liter and 20 liters, preferably between about 2 liters and 10 liters, per 100 g of algae, expressed by dry weight of algae.
The extract will preferably be obtained by a two-step extraction as described below, namely a first solid/liquid extraction step followed by a second fractionation, decolorization and deodorization step.
The extraction can be performed under an inert atmosphere (saturated with nitrogen), making it possible in particular to avoid pronounced degradation of the active molecules.
The extract is advantageously obtained by macerating the algae in a solvent which is preferably acceptable in the cosmetic or pharmaceutical industry and has a polarity index p′ of less than about 5.4, preferably of between 2 and 4.5 and particularly preferably of between 4.2 and 4.4.
The extraction will preferably take place under reflux.
The maceration time is preferably between about 5 minutes and about 80 minutes and preferably between about 20 minutes and about 40 minutes.
The whole (biomass+solvent) is refluxed for a period of about 15 minutes to about 2 hours, preferably of between about 20 minutes and about 40 minutes, with agitation (the temperature of the solvent being maintained).
After the reaction mixture has been cooled, the extract is filtered off to separate the extracted biomass from the lipid extract in the solvent.
The lipid extract is then concentrated (the concentration factor being about 71.5).
To start the second step, the lipid extract is taken up in the cold solvent at a rate of about 5 kg to about 15 kg of solvent per kg

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