Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Enzyme – proenzyme; compositions thereof; process for... – Lyase
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-05
2001-03-27
Lankford, Jr., Leon B. (Department: 1651)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Enzyme , proenzyme; compositions thereof; process for...
Lyase
C424S195110, C435S136000, C435S137000, C435S257100, C435S257300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06207438
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a product intended in particular to prevent and cure disorders of the skin, such as cutaneous rashes or allergic reactions to cosmetic compositions, and a product of this nature. The invention likewise relates to a product intended to combat the effects of ageing on the skin, whether natural, due to pollution, or resulting from exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
The work by Susuma Tonegawa, Nobel Prizewinner for Medicine in 1987, has demonstrated the immunological function of certain epidermic cells, the Langerhans' cells, in relation to attacks located in the epidermis of the skin. The Langerhans' cells, which belong to a family of cells known as the lymphoid dendrites, are essentially located in the central layers of the epidermis. Despite their low density, they play a part in determining information and monitoring the whole of the epidermis, thanks to their dendritic nature and their migratory capacity in particular.
The Langerhans' cells are capable both of exerting a phagocyte effect on foreign bodies or on allergens which penetrate the epidermis, and of transmitting antigens to specific immuno-capable cells, referred to as T cells. The activation and protection of the Langerhans' cells accordingly allows for the intrinsic defence processes of the epidermis to be stimulated.
It is known that these cells are directly exposed to the ultraviolet radiation resulting from exposure to the sun. Recent studies have shown that this radiation incurs, to a greater or lesser degree, a reduction on the one hand in the membrane markers, and therefore a change in the capacity for the presentation of antigens by the immune-capable cells, and, on the other, the disappearance of the dendrites which characterise the Langerhans' cells. In the event of prolonged exposure to the sun, the ultraviolet radiation will inhibit the Langerhans' cells, and their number will decrease.
Attempts have been made to create products which are capable of protecting and activating the Langerhans' cells against the ultraviolet radiation which is frequently encountered by the epidermis.
Accordingly, such products are known which are prepared on the basis of yeast extracts, and which are constituted from polysaccharides of vegetable origin. The products may be cited, for example, which belong to the family of the &bgr;-1,3 glucanes, recognised by the membrane receptors of the Langerhans' cells, and which allow the said cells to maintain, to a certain degree, their macrophage activity and to protect the immuno-capable cells of the epidermis.
One major disadvantage of these products referred to lies in their often insufficient penetration into the epidermis, which is due to the substantial size of the polysaccharide molecules of which the said products consist.
The objective of the invention is to provide a process for the creation of a product which is particularly intended to prevent and cure disorders of the skin, and such a product, such that the said product can penetrate in a satisfactory manner into the epidermis, and thus present satisfactory protective activity for the skin in relation to external attack.
To this end, a process for the creation of such a product is one that consists of using a natural extract of sodium alginate, and to submit the said extract to at least one depolymerisation treatment.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the said extract is submitted to an enzymatic depolymerisation treatment by means of a lyase alginate.
For preference, and following the said enzymatic treatment, the said depolymerised extract is submitted to hydrolysis in an acid environment.
A product according to the invention, intended to prevent and cure disorders of the skin, is one such as comprises chains of oligo-alginates and uronic acids.
For preference, it also comprises at least one oligoelement, in cationic form, forming a chelate with the said chains.
The said chelate comprises for example Zn
+2
ions, or a grouping of Mn
2+
and Mg
2+
ions.
According to a variant embodiment of the invention, the said product also comprises natural extracts of algae of the
chlorella
type.
A product according to the invention is intended to protect the Langerhans' cells in the epidermis against ultraviolet radiation.
It is likewise intended to increase the epidermic concentration of the interleukin 1&agr;.
A product according to the invention of the type containing the said chelate is intended to provide an anti-radical effect in respect of the free radicals produced by the ultraviolet radiation.
more precisely, the said product is thus intended to protect the cells of the dermis against the oxidation of proteins, and the fragmentation of the DNA.
The said product, comprising the said chelate, is likewise intended to provide an inhibitor effect in respect of the activity of the reductase enzyme 5&agr;.
The said product comprising the said chelate is likewise intended to provide an inhibitor effect in respect of the pathogenic bacterial strain
Propionibacterium acnes.
The characteristics of the invention referred tom as well as others, will become clearer by reading the following description of several embodiments.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, a product according to the invention consists of oligosaccharides of the type comprising, on the one hand, oligoalginates, and, on the other, acids which feature a structure analogous to that of the alpha-hydroxyl acids, such as the uronic acids.
The said product is prepared on the one hand from an algae extract, for preference of the species
Laminaria digitata,
which are based on polysaccharides constituted from a sodium alginate. A process for the preparation of the said product is the following.
The said extract of sodium alginate is first submitted to an enzymatic depolymerisation process. Use is made for this purpose of an enzyme of the lyase mannuronate type, and for preference a lyase alginate. This enzyme, obtained by bacterial fermentation, allows for depolymerisation by &bgr;-elimination of the alternate blocks of the sodium alginate molecule, which consist of chains of &agr;-L-sodium gluronate and &bgr;-D-sodium mannuronate, linked in 1, 4. In addition to this, the aforesaid enzyme allows for the viscosity of the solution of sodium alginate to be reduced very rapidly at the end of the depolymerisation stage.
For preference, the depolymerised alginate extract is then subjected to partial hydrolysis in an acid medium, in such a way as to obtain a product characterised by a degree of polymerisation which is again reduced in relation to that of the said depolymerised extract.
It will be noted that this hydrolysis is greatly facilitated by the implementation of the first stage, due to the reduced viscosity of the alginate extract by the said enzyme, and thanks to the prior depolymerisation of the said blocks characterising the sodium alginate.
In addition to this, it is to be noted that the said enzyme allows for the gelification of the alginic acid to be limited, following acidification, which allows for a good level of activity to be conferred on the product obtained.
Purely by way of indication, two examples of the preparation of the product according to the invention are given hereinafter.
Gedouin Jean
Vallee Romuald
Codif International SA
Laff, Whitesel & Saret, Ltd.
Lankford , Jr. Leon B.
Whitesel J. Warren
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