Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Antigen – epitope – or other immunospecific immunoeffector – Conjugate or complex
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-18
2001-05-29
Tate, Christopher R. (Department: 1651)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Antigen, epitope, or other immunospecific immunoeffector
Conjugate or complex
C424S059000, C424S401000, C514S844000, C514S887000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238674
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to uses of an extract of the plant
Cordia dichotoma
in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields, especially the dermatological field.
The plant
Cordia dichotoma
belongs to the Boraginaceae family which is found particularly in New Caledonia.
This plant is well known in traditional Polynesian medicine for its uses as an anti-inflammatory.
Cataplasms in particular are prepared from this plant.
The emollient properties of this plant are equally as well known as its asepsis properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventors of the present application have now discovered that the extracts of this plant furthermore present excellent anti-elastic properties, which allows for their use as active principle in cosmetic or pharmaceutical, especially dermatological, compositions intended to combat all effects linked to the ageing of the skin.
More precisely, the invention is the result of systematic experiments carried out by the inventors with a view to studying the enzymatic reactions of extracts of
Cordia dichotoma.
These systematic experiments have revealed a certain activity of these extracts on elastase.
More precisely, the systematic experiments carried out by the inventors are concerned with the following enzymes: elastase, tyrosinase and 3′,5′-cAMP phosphodiesterase.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Elastase, elastin degradation enzyme, is present in the cells, especially in the dermal cells (fibroblasts) just as, in a smaller measure, in the epidermal cells (keratinocytes). It has been observed that the quantity and activity of elastase increases during the cutaneous ageing process, intrinsic as well as actinic. By a degradation of the elastin fibres, the result of the elastase action is a loss of cutaneous elasticity, a relaxing of the skin and the appearance of wrinkles.
3′,5′-cAMP phosphodiesterase, hereafter called “phosphodiesterase” or “PDE”, is the enzyme which converts cAMP, a second messenger involved in controlling cell metabolism, to inactive AMP. Consequently, the inhibition of PDE by an inhibitor makes it possible to maintain a high intracellular level of cAMP, which has the effect especially of activating the protein kinases A and, via this process, makes it possible to promote lipid degradation.
Furthermore, it is also known that cAMP plays a part in counteracting certain inflammatory processes (Hitchcock M., J. Immunol (1977) 188 557). Also it has been described that phosphodiesterase increases with age (Puri S. K. and Volicer L., Mechanisms of Ageing and Dev. (1981) 15 239. The inhibition of phosphodiesterase will therefore make a contribution to combating the effects of ageing, particularly on the skin.
Tyrosinase is the key enzyme in the synthesis of melanin and hence in the metabolism of skin pigmentation. In cosmetics, the inhibition of tyrosinase by appropriate agents has applications in the local treatment of skin hyperpigmentations such as senescent pigmentary marks.
These tests have shown the very clear activity of extracts of the plant
Cordia dichotoma
on the inhibition of elastase, and have led the inventors of the present invention to preparing cosmetic or dermatological compositions useful in any application aimed at combating ageing of the skin. Thus, according to one of its essential characteristics, the invention relates to the use of an extract of the plant
Cordia dichotoma
as active principle of a cosmetic composition intended to combat the effects of ageing on the skin, especially by preserving or improving the biomechanical properties of the skin, particularly its elasticity, by delaying the appearance of wrinkles or by reducing their depth, and by improving the firmness of the skin.
According to another essential characteristic of the invention, it also relates to the use of an extract of the plant
Cordia dichotoma
for the preparation of a pharmaceutical, especially dermatological, composition intended for the treatment of intrinsic or actinic ageing effects on the skin, said extract being incorporated in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.
In the two fields of cosmetic and dermatological application, it is essentially the leaves which are found to be of value in the preparation of the extracts of the invention.
The extract is advantageously obtained by maceration of the plant or part of the plant in a polar solvent or polar solvent mixture, followed by filtration. The solvent of the solution obtained can be evaporated off, if necessary, to give the dry extract.
The evaporation will preferably be performed under reduced pressure.
The following may be mentioned as solvents which are advantageously used:
water
C
1
to C
6
alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and isopropanol
C
2
to C
6
polyols such as propylene glycol or glycerol, and mixtures thereof.
Water is found to be a particularly useful extraction solvent.
The plant extract could also be obtained by the so-called supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technique.
In one advantageous embodiment, this composition comprises 0.001% to 10% by weight and particularly 0.02% to 1% by weight of dry plant extract, based on the total weight of the final composition.
Furthermore, the experiments carried out by the inventors have clearly shown that not only the extraction yield but also the enzymatic activity of the extract is related to the nature of the solvent used. The attached Examples clearly show the effect of the choice of solvent on the enzymatic activity of the extract.
The cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention can be formulated in any form acceptable for their use in cosmetology or in pharmacy, especially in dermatology. Particularly, the composition can be in a form appropriate for topical application, specifically in the form of a cream or gel and particularly a cream or gel for the face, hands, bust or body.
According to another aspect, the invention relates to the use of the plant extract as a cosmetic agent, said agent being incorporated in a cosmetic composition as defined above.
This cosmetic agent will be used especially in all applications which are aimed particularly at inhibiting the action of elastase.
The cosmetic compositions according to the invention will also be used to combat the effects of skin ageing, especially by preserving or improving the biomechanical properties of the skin, particularly its elasticity, by delaying the appearance of wrinkles or reducing their depth and by improving the firmness of the skin.
Thus, according to another aspect, the invention relates to cosmetic compositions intended for skin care and particularly for combating the effects of skin ageing.
As mentioned above, it has been possible to correlate the efficacy of the cosmetic compositions as well as the above described dermatological compositions with the anti-elastic activity of the extract.
In all the applications, the compositions used are preferably compositions for topical application which are intended for application to the skin.
The Examples which follow are given purely in order to illustrate the invention.
Unless indicated otherwise, the proportions given in the Examples of compositions are expressed as percentages by weight.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4554170 (1985-11-01), Panzner et al.
patent: 8208498 (1996-08-01), None
Choudhary et al. Indian J. Exp. Biol., vol. 28 (8), pp. 714-716, abstract enclosed, 1990.*
Masood et al. Indian Forester, vol. 111 (10), pp. 841-845, 1985.
Andre Patrice
Cabalion Pierre
Olivier Marc
Renimel Isabelle
Dennison, Scheiner Schultz & Wakeman
Parfums Christian Dior
Tate Christopher R.
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