Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Cosmetic – antiperspirant – dentifrice
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-18
2002-11-12
Dees, Jose′ G. (Department: 1616)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Cosmetic, antiperspirant, dentifrice
C424S070100, C424S070510, C514S002600, C514S008100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06479059
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition for topical application for reactivating the physiological growth of hair in regions affected by thinning in which there are follicles that have not fully atrophied.
Specifically, the present invention relates to a cosmetic composition in lotion form which is suitable for topical application to the scalp in order to improve the aesthetic appearance of the hair that is present and to make hair grow thicker in the areas where thinning caused by androgenic alopecia and/or defluvium has occurred.
Lotions and preparations against hair loss, based on active principle which improve the trophism of the scalp and reactivate hair follicles, have long been known.
Currently commercially available preparations for trichological use generally include rubefacient substances, vitamin compositions and derivatives thereof, usually in association with suitable nutrient compounds.
Among the various commercially available preparations, a hair loss prevention preparation based on Nicotenil, an association of three active ingredients, benzyl nicotinate, monomethyl silanetriol methionate and panthenol, is known since 1989. The topical application of this preparation to the scalp stimulates blood circulation, which by conveying a surplus of nutrient substances to the root of the hair reduces and limits hair loss.
Moreover, a hair loss treatment preparation has been known since 1991 which is based on the association of three active principles whose activity stimulates the hair follicles: sodium lauroyl cysteine, lysine hydrochloride and Nicotenil.
This preparation, when administered locally on the scalp of patients affected by androgenic alopecia, has proved itself effective in reducing hair loss.
Cosmetic preparations of the prior art, though having been found to be effective in slowing down hair loss, have not proved able to effectively make hair grow thicker on the treated scalp and to produce a visually appreciable increase in shaft diameter.
Formulations based on a pharmacologically active principle, minoxidil, are also currently commercially available: minoxidil had been used in the treatment of arterial hypertension and it was unexpectedly found to be effective in causing the regrowth of hair in subjects affected by androgenic alopecia.
Although the daily and prolonged administration of formulations based on minoxidil has proved effective in the treatment of various forms of hair loss and in significantly stopping hair loss, it suffers the drawback of causing in a significant percentage of the treated subjects a variety of side effects, such as allergic skin reactions, hirsutism, drops in arterial pressure and headache.
In the current state of the art, therefore, the need is felt to have new and effective trichological preparations whose formulations are not based on active principles that have an intense activity from the pharmacological point of view and therefore induce dangerous side effects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the aim of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic-trichological composition useful to reactivate a physiological growth of hair in regions affected by thinning and to produce structural and morphological changes in the hair which can be appreciated from a cosmetic point of view.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic composition for local application to the scalp which slows down the hair loss and makes said hair grow thicker, and the use of which entails essentially no side effects of the systemic kind.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic composition in lotion form for trichological use which is simple to use and does not have high production costs.
In view of this aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter, a composition for topical application for reactivating physiological hair growth is provided, according to a first aspect of the invention, which comprises an association of cysteine, lysine and/or derivatives thereof with a glycoprotein in a physiologically acceptable carrier.
Cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid whose presence in the biochemical process for keratin synthesis is essential. Cysteine is in fact rich in —S—S— disulfide bridges which constitute the bond that keeps together the polypeptide chains of keratin, which is a key protein of hair structure.
When applied locally, the cysteine that is present in the formulation according to the invention partly fixes to the keratin structure of the hair, reinforcing its shaft, and is partly absorbed by the subcutaneous region of the scalp, thus helping to reduce and control the increased sebaceous secretion of the scalp that often accompanies hair loss processes.
Within the scope of the present invention, the term “cysteine derivative” designates the salts, esters or complexes thereof with other physiologically acceptable substances.
A particularly suitable cysteine derivative is sodium lauroyl cysteine.
Lysine is an essential amino acid which promotes cell regeneration in the body and is an indispensable element for the physiological growth of the body. A lysine deficit in fact results in stop of growth, protein deficit and a reduction in the keratinization process.
The use of lysine or of a derivative thereof in the formulation of the composition according to the invention has proved fundamental, at the level of the internal sheath of the root, for forming of lysine-glutamine bonds between polypeptide chains which help to increase substance and shape and the hair.
The expression “lysine derivative” is used in the description and in the claims to designate its salts, esters or complexes with other physiologically acceptable substances.
Within the scope of the present invention, a particularly suitable and active form of lysine derivative is lysine hydrochloride.
Surprisingly, it has now been found that the association of a glycoprotein, a molecule characterized by the presence of a glucidic fraction and of a protein fraction, with the above-described active principles produces a synergistic effect on hair regrowth and structure.
The presence of the glucidic fraction in the molecule is believed to be essential in the formulation according to the invention because it increases cell cohesion by forming intercellular bridges and induces specific biological activities similar to hormone and enzyme activities.
It has been found that the addition of a glycoprotein to the cysteine and lysine considerably increases the rate of utilization of the first two active principles in the biosynthesis of keratin.
Keratin is a substance which has a high relative molecular mass, has a protein-fibrous nature and is constituted by a group of polypeptide chains originating from the condensation of amino acids. Keratin polypeptides are orientated so as to be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the hair and the —S—S— disulfide bonds that form between two cysteine molecules are characteristic of the keratin structure.
The local administration at the level of the scalp of lysine and cysteine and/or derivatives thereof in association with a glycoprotein increases the formation of the polypeptide chains, adding both sulfide bonds and amino acids, thus strengthening the keratin sheath and accordingly strengthening the shaft of the hair.
Within the scope of the present invention, among glycoproteins the family of lectins has been found to be particularly suitable for the preparation of a cosmetic-trichological composition.
Suitable lectins are both endogenous and exogenous in origin. The former are known as sarcolectins and have an active role in regulating cell proliferation, particularly by making cells sensitive to growth signals. The latter are present in the tissues of plants and can be easily extracted and purified.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a lectin extracted from Solanum tuberosum L. is used which advantageously has a relative molecular mass of approximately 20,000 daltons. Lectin extraction and purification techniq
Guglielmo Manuela
Montanari Daniela
Gecomwert Anstalt
O'Byrne Daniel J.
LandOfFree
Trichological lotion for topical use does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Trichological lotion for topical use, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Trichological lotion for topical use will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2991622