Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Inorganic active ingredient containing – Heavy metal or compound thereof
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-09
2002-06-04
Dees, Jose′ G. (Department: 1616)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Inorganic active ingredient containing
Heavy metal or compound thereof
C504S114000, C504S115000, C514S495000, C514S673000, C514S706000, C514S707000, C514S709000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06399106
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for maintaining freshness of a cut flower by which the life of the cut flower can be considerably prolonged.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, cut flowers are widely used for ornamental use. As a result of that, it is demanded to maintain the freshness of the cut flower for a prolonged time. Various methods for maintaining the freshness of cut flower have been proposed. For example, a method of frequently changing water, a method of cutting the stem of flower in water and a method of burning the cut end of the flower, have been known. Furthermore, a method has been known in which the cut end of the flower is immersed in a solution containing a certain chemical. As the solution for the immersing, a solution of 8-hydroxyquinoline, a solution of sucrose, a solution of silver nitrate and a solution containing a silver thiosulfate complex are known.
However these methods are not always sufficient. In some cases, the methods are ineffective depending on the kind of the flower. For example, J. Am. Soc. Hort. Soci., 102, p. 76, 1977, reports that the moving speed of silver nitrate in the trachea of a plant is very slow and the effect of which is not clear. The silver-thiosulfate complex is ineffective to a flower having a low sensitivity to ethylene such as rose and chrysanthemum, even though the complex is effective to a flower having a high sensitivity for ethylene such as carnation, sweet pea and babies-breath. With respect to a cut flower of rose, a mixture and/or reaction product of a silver compound and an amino acid has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Open for Public Inspection, hereinafter referred to JP O.P.I., No. 06-321701, and a mixture or a reaction product of a silver compound and a primary amine and/or a substance relating to nucleic acid has been disclosed in WO 93/08685. However, these compounds are insufficient in the effect thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a method for maintaining the freshness of a cut flower by which the life of the flower can be considerably prolonged.
The objects of the invention are attained by a method for maintaining the freshness of a flower comprising the step of making imbibe an aqueous solution of a composition for maintaining the freshness of flower which comprises a mixture or a reaction product of a silver compound and an organic compound having a functional group capable of forming a water-soluble complex with a silver ion through the sulfur atom thereof to a flowering plant.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As the functional group capable of forming a water-soluble complex with a silver ion through the sulfur atom thereof, the following are cited:
═C═S, ═S═S, ═S(═S)═, ═P(═S)— and —S—.
Examples of the organic compound of the invention having a functional group capable of forming a water-soluble complex with a silver ion through the sulfur atom are those represented by the following Formula 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
wherein R
1
and R
2
are each a monovalent group which are each bonded with the carbon atom through a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, provided that at least one of R
1
and R
2
is an organic group,
wherein R
3
and R
4
are each a monovalent group which are each bonded with the sulfur atom through a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, provided that at least one of R
3
and R
4
is an organic group,
wherein R
5
and R
6
are each a monovalent group which are each bonded with the sulfur atom through a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, provided that at least one of R
1
and R
2
is an organic group, and X is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.
wherein R
7
, R
8
and R
9
are each a monovalent group which are each bonded with the phosphor atom through a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, provided that at least one of R
7
, R
8
and R
9
is an organic group,
R
10
—S—R
11
Formula 5
wherein R
10
and R
11
are each a monovalent organic group.
In the foregoing Formulas 1 to 4, “through a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom” means the group represented by R
1
, R
2
, R
3
, R
4
, R
5
, R
6
, R
7
, R
8
, or R
9
each has a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom and the group is bonded through this atom with the carbon atom, sulfur atom or the phosphorous atom of Formula 1, 2, 3, or 4.
The ═C═S group capable of forming a water-soluble complex with a silver ion through the sulfur atom includes, for example, a thiocarbonyl group, a thioacyl group, a thioamido group, a thioaldehyde group, a thioureido group, a thioureine group and an isothiocyanato group.
Examples of the organic compound having the ═C═S group, a thioketone group, a thioaldehyde group, an O-carbothio acid and its ester, a thiourea derivative, a thioamide, a thioimide, and an isothiocyanate.
The foregoing thiourea derivative includes, for example, thiourea, N-methylthiourea, allyl-2-thiourea, 2-imidazolinethione, 1-allyl-3-&bgr;-hydroxylethyl-2-thiourea and 2-thiobarbituric acid.
As the compound having isothiocyanate, for example, ethyl isothiocyanate is cited.
As the organic compound having the ═S═S group capable of forming a water-soluble complex with a silver ion through the sulfur atom, For example, a thiosulfinic acid derivative and its ester, and a thiosulfinamide are cited. In concrete, p-toluenethiosulfinamide is cited.
As the organic compound having ═the S(═X)═S group capable of forming a water-soluble complex with a silver ion through the sulfur atom, for example, a thiosulfonic acid derivative and its ester are cited. In concrete, potassium p-toluenethiosulfonate and dimethylthiosulfuramide are cited.
As the organic compound having the ═P(═S)— group capable of forming a water-soluble complex with a silver ion through the sulfur atom, for example, a thiophosphonic acid derivative and its ester and a thiophosphoric acid ester are cited. In concrete, for example, disodium methanethiophosphonate and dimethylthiophosphoramide are cited.
Examples of the compound represented by R
10
—S—R
11
, which is a compound having the —S— group capable of forming a water-soluble complex with a silver ion through the sulfur atom, include an organic sulfide, an S-ester of thiocarboxylic acid such as S-ester of carbothioacid, an ester of carbodithioacid, an S-ester of thiocarbonic acid such as S-ester of thiocarbonic acid, an S-ester of dithiocarbonic acid and an ester of trithiocarbonic acid.
As the foregoing organic sulfide compound, for example, a dithio compound such as 2,2′-thioglycolic acid, 2,2′-thiodiethanol, 3,3′-thiodipropionic acid, a polyalkylene thioglycol such as 3,6-dithia-1,8-octanediol are cited.
As example of ester of thiocarboxylic acid, S-methyl ester of 1-dihydroxyethyl-2carboxylic thio acid is cited.
As the silver compound in the invention, a monovalent silver compound is useful, and a silver salt is preferred. Example of the silver salt includes silver nitrate, silver carbonate, silver acetate, silver sulfate, silver chloride, and silver bromide.
The formation of water-soluble complex of the organic compound having a sulfur atom with a silver ion can be confirmed by measuring the silver electrode potential of the solution. When the complex is formed, the free silver ion concentration in the solution is lowered by the addition of the organic compound. The lowering of the silver ion concentration can be confirmed by lowering of the potential between the silver electrode and a reference electrode each immersed in the solution.
The composition of the invention for maintaining the freshness of cut flower can be prepared by mixing the silver compound and the organic compound having the functional group capable of forming a water-soluble complex or salt with a silver ion. The form of the composition of the invention for maintaining the freshness of cut flower is no
Choi Frank
Dees Jose′ G.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Konica Corporation
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