A composition for topical application containing at least one combination of (a) polyphenols selected from proanthocyanidin monomers and oligomers (OPC), hydroxystilbenes, flavonoid monomers and oligomers, and derivatives and mixtures thereof, (b) a spruce extract having at least one lignan selected from: hydroxymatairesinol, secoisolariciresinol, conidendrin, lariciresinol and liovile. It also relates to the cosmetic use of such a combination for combating the signs of ageing of the skin or hair and nails or the effects of pollution, and a cosmetic treatment method using said combination.

A composition for topical application containing at least one combination of (a) polyphenols selected from proanthocyanidin monomers and oligomers (OPC), hydroxystilbenes, flavonoid monomers and oligomers, and derivatives and mixtures thereof, (b) a spruce extract having at least one lignan selected from: hydroxymatairesinol, secoisolariciresinol, conidendrin, lariciresinol and liovile. It also relates to the cosmetic use of such a combination for combating the signs of ageing of the skin or hair and nails or the effects of pollution, and a cosmetic treatment method using said combination.

Disclosed are topical skin compositions and corresponding methods for their use that include plant extracts. One such composition can include a TNF-? inhibitor, wherein said inhibitor is an aqueous extract from the whole plant of Polygonum multiflorum, an antioxidant and a tyrosinase inhibitor, wherein said antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitor is an aqueous extract from the whole plant of Lonicera japonica, and a dermatologically acceptable carrier, wherein the composition can include at least 50% by weight of water.

This invention is a process for the manufacture of water stable, antimicrobial silanol quaternary ammonium compounds (SQACs) and the trisilanol, polysiloxanol and water soluble polysiloxane derivatives thereof. The stabilizing agent is selected from a list of antimicrobial, naturally occurring, renewable phytochemical essential oils and extracts that easily form crystal clear microemulsions when water is added to the concentrated SQAC/essential oil mixture. These non-foaming oil in water microemulsions have excellent long term storage stability, are freeze/thaw stable, remain very low in viscosity and do not phase separate or precipitate for many months. Many of the essential oils found to be useful in this process are non-toxic food additives and have pleasant scents, have low flammability yet are volatile enough to evaporate upon cure down of the SQAC, thereby resulting in a higher concentration of SQAC in the cured, antimicrobial film. Economically shippable concentrations of the stabilized SQACs can be further diluted with water to application concentrations without loosing any of their stabilizing properties and remain storage stable at these lower concentrations indefinitely. In particular, the invention relates to the use of such viscosity controlled aqueous dilutions cured as durable antimicrobial coatings for human or animal skin that covalently bond to the skin, remain active through many washings and reduce or eliminate bacteria, viruses and fungi for days.

An antimicrobial traditional Chinese medicine composition, and a preparation method and a use thereof are provided, wherein the antimicrobial traditional Chinese medicine composition is made from raw materials comprising fructus perillae, patchouli and usnea. Through the reasonable matching application and synergistic effects of traditional Chinese medicines, the extracted composition has a broad-spectrum antimicrobial effect, and is suitable for being used as a natural preservative. Experiments show that for each microorganism of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger independently, the antimicrobial effect of the matched composition of the present invention is superior to the antimicrobial effect of single plants, the result where the total effect of the composition is better than sum of the effects of single plants is achieved, and the synergistic effect of antimicrobial effects among the plants is achieved.

Disclosed herein are a bio-cellulose sheet without a supporting means, in which the bio-cellulose sheet includes coconut and contains a preservative including a plant extract, a bio-cellulose sheet product including the bio-cellulose sheet without a supporting means, and production methods thereof. The bio-cellulose sheet without a supporting means and the product including the same have a high content of a cosmetic composition, are less irritating to the skin, and are convenient to use. The use of the methods for producing the bio-cellulose sheet without a supporting means and the product including the bio-cellulose sheet results in increased efficiency and a reduced production cost.

Disclosed herein are a bio-cellulose sheet without a supporting means, in which the bio-cellulose sheet includes coconut and contains a preservative including a plant extract, a bio-cellulose sheet product including the bio-cellulose sheet without a supporting means, and production methods thereof. The bio-cellulose sheet without a supporting means and the product including the same have a high content of a cosmetic composition, are less irritating to the skin, and are convenient to use. The use of the methods for producing the bio-cellulose sheet without a supporting means and the product including the bio-cellulose sheet results in increased efficiency and a reduced production cost.

Disclosed is a method for treating skin. The method can include topically applying to skin in need thereof a composition comprising effective amounts of Arctium lappa root extract and Epilobium angustifolium extract to reduce expression of a pro-inflammatory cytokine of IL-8, IL-2, or TNF-? in the skin.

The present disclosure relates to a method for inducing pluripotent stem cells by inducing reprogramming and/or dedifferentiation of differentiated adult cells using shikimic acid, a plant extract or plant stem cells containing shikimic acid and an extract of dedifferentiated stem cells (callus), pluripotent stem cells prepared by the method and a composition containing the pluripotent stem cells. In accordance with the present disclosure, ethical concerns implicated with the use of eggs to prepare pluripotent stem cells such as embryonic stem cell can be resolved. And, because the plant stem cell extract unharmful to human is used, pluripotent stem cells with proven safety can be prepared and they may be used to develop immunocompatible cell therapy agents suited for individuals. In addition, by pluripotent stem cells from individuals having diseases, the present disclosure will be very useful in studying the cause of diseases and devolving therapeutic strategy.

A method for treating skin of a person is disclosed. The method can include topically applying to the skin of the person a composition comprising an effective amount of an aqueous, alcoholic, or aqueous-alcoholic extract from Callicarpa macrophylla, wherein the composition reduces TNF-? activity in skin, increases antioxidant activity in the skin, and/or increases skin moisture content.