Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Plant material or plant extract of undetermined constitution... – Containing or obtained from camellia
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-23
2002-04-23
Tate, Christopher R. (Department: 1651)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Plant material or plant extract of undetermined constitution...
Containing or obtained from camellia
C424S725000, C424S744000, C424S766000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06375992
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to compositions which are suitable for oral administration, and kits and methods thereof useful for hydrating mammalian skin. The compositions are preferably food or beverage compositions, preferably beverage compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The cosmetic industry is replete with lotions, creams, gels, and other formulations which are intended for improving the appearance of human skin. Typically, such formulations are directed to alleviating flaky and dry skin conditions. Most recently, there has been a trend toward marketing such cosmetic formulations for improving the appearance of, or reducing, fine lines and wrinkles, particularly on the face and hands of the user. However, the beneficial effects of these formulations may not be achieved wherein the user consumes dehydrating foods and beverages, for example those containing significant amounts of caffeine or salt. Additionally, realization of the beneficial effects of these formulations depends upon continual application of the formulations to the affected areas, which translates into increased inconvenience and significant expense for the user.
Accordingly, it would be highly beneficial to provide a composition which hydrates mammalian skin from within, for example, as an integral factor of the user's diet. Unfortunately, however, there is limited information in the art regarding how to achieve such hydration from within and, correspondingly, limited availability of optimized products which deliver hydration to the user together with information that such products will deliver a skin hydrating effect.
Kuznicki et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,569, issued Oct. 28, 1997, discloses use of a flavanol and various other ingredients to provide cellular hydration and water distribution in the body, for example, as needed by athletes experiencing rapid dehydration. It is further disclosed that such ingredients speed the absorption of water in the body, after rapid water loss. However, Kuznicki et al. does not recognize a need for hydration of mammalian skin even in the absence of strenuous activity, and particularly does not recognize any hydration benefit as extended to mammalian skin hydration.
Excitingly and surprisingly, the present inventors have discovered that use of the defined compositions described herein provide a mammalian skin benefit which can be measured by analytical techniques. The defined compositions herein comprise one or more flavanols, preferably through the presence of green tea and/or red grape extract, and may additionally comprise glycerol and/or aloe to further enhance the skin hydrating effect. It is the discovery of the present inventors that use of such flavanols provides this hydrating benefit, which translates into alleviation of dry and flaky skin, and even the improvement of fine lines and wrinkles. Thus, provided herein are compositions, kits, and methods specifically designed to achieve mammalian skin hydration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to methods of hydrating mammalian skin comprising orally administering a composition comprising one or more flavanols, most preferably through the presence of green tea solids. The present invention is further directed to kits comprising a composition comprising one or more flavanols and information that oral administration of the composition provides one or more skin health benefits, particularly hydration of mammalian skin. Preferably, the compositions herein are substantially decaffeinated. Particularly preferred compositions suitable for oral administration comprise:
a) aloe;
b) glycerol;
c) a further component comprising one or more flavanols; and
d) at least about 50% water.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to compositions which are suitable for oral administration, and kits and methods thereof useful for hydrating mammalian skin. The kits comprise a composition as described herein and information that use of such kit provides one or more skin health benefits. The compositions are preferably food or beverage compositions, most preferably beverage compositions.
Publications and patents are referred to throughout this disclosure. All references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.
All percentages and ratios are calculated by weight unless otherwise indicated. All percentages and ratios are calculated based on the total composition unless otherwise indicated.
All component, ingredient, composition levels, or the like, are in reference to the active level of that component or composition, and are exclusive of impurities, for example, residual solvents or by-products, which may be present in commercially available sources.
Referred to herein are trade names for components including, but not limited to, certain teas, aloes, and other components. The inventor herein does not intend to be limited by materials under a certain trade name. Equivalent materials (e.g., those obtained from a different source under a different name or catalog (reference) number) to those referenced by trade name may be substituted and utilized in the compositions, kits, and methods herein.
In the description of the invention various embodiments and/or individual elements are disclosed. As will be apparent to the ordinarily skilled practitioner, all combinations of such embodiments and elements are possible and can result in preferred executions of the present invention.
The compositions, methods, and kits herein may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of any of the elements as described herein.
Compositions of the Present Invention
It has been surprisingly discovered by the present inventors that one or more flavanols, when orally administered in a present composition, provides skin health benefits including hydration of mammalian skin. Preferably, a component selected from substantially decaffeinated tea solids (most preferably, green tea), red grape extract, or both, provides the flavanols in the composition. In a particularly preferred embodiment herein this benefit is further advanced wherein one or both components selected from aloe and glycerol, preferably glycerol, are further included within the compositions. Accordingly, the present inventors describe herein compositions containing at least one or more flavanols, and optionally one or more of aloe, glycerol, and other preferred components. Each of these components are more particularly described herein below.
In the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, the compositions herein comprise one or more flavanols, preferably wherein the presence of the flavanols is due to the presence of a tea solid in the composition (most preferably, green tea solids) and/or red grape extract. A particularly preferred embodiment of this type includes beverage compositions comprising green tea solids, glycerol, and optionally red grape extract and/or aloe, and at least about 50% water. Another particularly preferred embodiment of this type includes beverage compositions comprising green tea solids, aloe, glycerol, and red grape extract, and at least about 50% water. Further optional elements of beverage compositions, even more preferred levels of water, and preferred ranges and embodiments of the tea solids, aloe, glycerol, and red grape extract are defined further herein below. For example, the beverage compositions most preferably further comprise a beverage component selected from fruit juice, milk solids, fruit flavors, botanical flavors, and mixtures thereof, as is further described herein.
The compositions herein may be caffeinated or substantially decaffeinated, and are preferably substantially decaffeinated such to avoid counteracting the skin hydrating effect herein. As used herein, “substantially decaffeinated”, with respect to the composition, means that the composition comprises less than about 0.5% caffeine, preferably less than about 0.25% caffeine, more preferably less than about 0.1% caffeine, even more preferably less than about 0.05% caffeine, and most prefer
Blumenstein-Stahl Gabriele
Fischer Christa-Marie
Podbielski Ute
Flood Michele C.
McDow-Dunham Kelly L.
Roof Carl J.
Tate Christopher R.
The Procter & Gamble Co.
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