Use Of A Composition For The Pigmentation Of Hair And Hairs

Abstract

A topical composition comprising an extract of Allium species, an extract of Citrus species, an extract of Paullinia species and an extract of Theobroma species is used for improving and/or increasing and/or stimulating and/or promoting and/or inducing the pigmentation of hair and/or hairs.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cosmetic method for improving, increasing, stimulating, promoting, and/or inducing the pigmentation of hair of a subject having hair that has become depigmented, the method comprising: administering an effective amount of a composition to the subject, the composition comprising an active component comprising: from 0.1 to 5% by dry weight of an extract of Allium species; from 0.1 to 5% by dry weight of an extract of Citrus species; from 0.05 to 2.5% by dry weight of an extract of a Paullinia species; and from 0.05 to 2.5% by dry weight of an extract of a Theobroma species, wherein each % by dry weight is based on a total weight of the composition, and wherein the composition repigments the hair of the subject back to its natural and original color.

2. The cosmetic method according to claim 1, wherein extract of Allium species is an aqueous alcoholic extract of Allium species, the extract of Citrus species is an aqueous alcoholic extract of Citrus species, the extract of Paullinia species is an aqueous alcoholic extract of Paullinia species, and the extract of Theobroma species is an aqueous alcoholic extract of Theobroma species.

3. The cosmetic method according to claim 1, wherein the extract of Allium species includes an extract of Allium cepa, the extract of Citrus species includes an extract of Citrus lemon, the extract of Paullinia species includes an extract of Paullinia cupana, and the extract of Theobroma species includes an extract of Theobroma cacao.

4. The cosmetic method according to claim 1, wherein a combined concentration of the extract of Allium species, the extract of Citrus species, the extract of Paullinia species, and the extract of Theobroma species in the composition is from 1 to 30% dry weight based upon a volume of the composition.

5. The cosmetic method according to claim 1, wherein the administering is conducted topically or orally.

6. The cosmetic method according to claim 5, wherein the topically conducted administering includes applying 10 microliters to 10 milliliters of the composition onto a scalp or skin of the subject.

7. The cosmetic method according to claim 5, wherein the topically conducted administering is conducted at least once daily.

8. The cosmetic method according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a solvent, an additive, an excipient, a carrier, an agent for promoting penetration and diffusion in cutaneous structures of the subject, and a combination thereof.

9. The cosmetic method according to claim 1, wherein the composition prevents and/or reduces further depigmentation of the hair.

10. The cosmetic method according to claim 1, wherein the active component consists of: from 0.3 to 2.35% by dry weight of the extract of Allium species; from 0.1 to 0.2% by dry weight of the extract of Citrus species; from 0.05 to 0.1% by dry weight of the extract of Paullinia species; and from 0.05 to 0.1% by dry weight of the extract of Theobroma species.

11. A method for improving, increasing, stimulating, promoting, and/or inducing the pigmentation of hair of a subject having hair that has become depigmented due to the subject experiencing canitie, the method comprising: administering an effective amount of a composition to the subject experiencing canitie, the composition comprising an active component comprising: from 0.1 to 5% by dry weight of an extract of Allium species; from 0.1 to 5% by dry weight of an extract of Citrus species; from 0.05 to 2.5% by dry weight of an extract of a Paullinia species; and from 0.05 to 2.5% by dry weight of an extract of a Theobroma species, wherein each % by dry weight is based on a total weight of the composition, and wherein the composition repigments the hair of the subject experiencing canitie back to its natural and original color.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein extract of Allium species is an aqueous alcoholic extract of Allium species, the extract of Citrus species is an aqueous alcoholic extract of Citrus species, the extract of Paullinia species is an aqueous alcoholic extract of Paullinia species, and the extract of Theobroma species is an aqueous alcoholic extract of Theobroma species.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the extract of Allium species includes an extract of Allium cepa, the extract of Citrus species includes an extract of Citrus lemon, the extract of Paullinia species includes an extract of Paullinia cupana, and the extract of Theobroma species includes an extract of Theobroma cacao.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein a combined concentration of the extract of Allium species, the extract of Citrus species, the extract of Paullinia species, and the extract of Theobroma species in the composition is from 1 to 30% dry weight based upon a volume of the composition.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the administering is conducted topically or orally.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the topically conducted administering includes applying 10 microliters to 10 milliliters of the composition onto a scalp or skin of the subject experiencing canitie.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the topically conducted administering is conducted at least once daily.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the composition further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a solvent, an additive, an excipient, a carrier, an agent for promoting penetration and diffusion in cutaneous structures of the subject experiencing canitie, and a combination thereof.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the composition prevents and/or reduces further depigmentation of the hair.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the active component consists of: from 0.3 to 2.35% by dry weight of the extract of Allium species; from 0.1 to 0.2% by dry weight of the extract of Citrus species; from 0.05 to 0.1% by dry weight of the extract of Paullinia species; and from 0.05 to 0.1% by dry weight of the extract of Theobroma species.

21. A composition that is configured to cosmetically treat a subject having hair that has become depigmented and/or treat a subject having hair that has become depigmented due to the subject experiencing canitie, the composition comprising: an active component comprising: from 0.1 to 5% by dry weight of an extract of Allium species; from 0.1 to 5% by dry weight of an extract of Citrus species; from 0.05 to 2.5% by dry weight of an extract of a Paullinia species; and from 0.05 to 2.5% by dry weight of an extract of a Theobroma species, wherein each % by dry weight is based on a total weight of the composition, and wherein the composition repigments the hair of the subject back to its natural and original color.

22. The composition according to claim 21, wherein extract of Allium species is an aqueous alcoholic extract of Allium species, the extract of Citrus species is an aqueous alcoholic extract of Citrus species, the extract of Paullinia species is an aqueous alcoholic extract of Paullinia species, and the extract of Theobroma species is an aqueous alcoholic extract of Theobroma species.

23. The composition according to claim 21, wherein the extract of Allium species includes an extract of Allium cepa, the extract of Citrus species includes an extract of Citrus lemon, the extract of Paullinia species includes an extract of Paullinia cupana, and the extract of Theobroma species includes an extract of Theobroma cacao.

24. The composition according to claim 21, wherein a combined concentration of the extract of Allium species, the extract of Citrus species, the extract of Paullinia species, and the extract of Theobroma species in the composition is from 1 to 30% dry weight based upon a volume of the composition.

25. The composition according to claim 21, wherein the composition is configured to be administered either topically or orally.

26. The composition according to claim 25, wherein when the composition is administered topically, the composition further comprises a cosmetically acceptable carrier that is configured to dilute the active component.

27. The composition according to claim 25, wherein when the composition is administered orally, the composition is contained in a tablet, a coated tablet, a film-coated form, a granule, a capsule, a soft capsule, a microcapsule, a solution, a syrup, an emulsion, a suspension, or an aerosol.

28. The composition according to claim 21, further comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a solvent, an additive, an excipient, a carrier, an agent for promoting penetration and diffusion in cutaneous structures of the subject, and a combination thereof.

29. The composition according to claim 21, wherein the composition is configured to prevent and/or reduce further depigmentation of the hair.

30. The composition according to claim 21, wherein the active component consists of: from 0.3 to 2.35% by dry weight of the extract of Allium species; from 0.1 to 0.2% by dry weight of the extract of Citrus species; from 0.05 to 0.1% by dry weight of the extract of Paullinia species; and from 0.05 to 0.1% by dry weight of the extract of Theobroma species.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIGS. 1A and 1B show the appearance of two different parts of a scalp, respectively, where the composition according to the invention was applied onto only one part of the scalp;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows the pigmented growing of white hair after application of the composition according to the invention;

[0021] FIGS. 3A and 3B show the appearance of a scalp before (FIG. 3A) and after (FIG. 3B) application of the composition according to the invention; and

[0022] FIGS. 4A and 4B shown the appearance of a scalp before (FIG. 4A) and after (FIG. 4B) application of the composition according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The present invention relates to the use, in particular cosmetic use and/or non-therapeutic use, of a composition comprising an extract of Allium species, an extract of Citrus species, an extract of Paullinia species and an extract of Theobroma species for improving and/or increasing and/or stimulating and/or promoting and/or inducing the pigmentation of hair and/or hairs. The composition may also be used to prevent and/or reduce the depigmentation of hair and/or hairs. The expression “hairs” includes beard hair, whiskers, eyelashes, eyebrows, and other body hairs.

[0024] The term extract of Allium species or aqueous-alcoholic extract of Allium species refers particularly to aqueous-alcoholic extracts and native extracts obtained from all species of the genus Allium (family Liliaceae) and especially Allium cepa. Extract of Citrus species or aqueous-alcoholic extract of Citrus species refers particularly to aqueous-alcoholic extracts and native extracts obtained from all species of the genus Citrus (family Rutaceae) and especially Citrus lemon. Extract (atomised or not) of Paullinia species or aqueous-alcoholic extract (atomised or not) of Paullinia species refers particularly to aqueous-alcoholic extracts and native extracts obtained from all species of the genus Paullinia (family Sapindaceae) and especially Paullinia cupana. Extract (atomised or not) of Theobroma species or aqueous-alcoholic extract (atomised or not) of Theobroma species refers particularly to aqueous-alcoholic extracts and native extracts obtained from all species of the genus Theobroma (family Malvaceae) and especially Theobroma cacao.

[0025] Preferably, the composition comprises an aqueous alcoholic extract of Allium species, an aqueous alcoholic extract of Citrus species, an aqueous alcoholic extract of Paullinia species and an aqueous alcoholic extract of Theobroma species. Preferably, the composition comprises an extract of Allium cepa, an extract of Citrus lemon, an extract of Paullinia cupana and an extract of Theobroma cacao. The composition according to the present invention may be prepared starting from a concentrate of active principles comprising an extract of Allium species, an extract of Citrus species, an extract of Paullinia species and an extract of Theobroma species.

[0026] Preferably, the concentrate comprises: [0027] from 65 to 93% by dry weight of an extract of Allium species, [0028] from 5 to 33% by dry weight of an extract of Citrus species, [0029] from 0.25 to 2.5% by dry weight of an extract of Paullinia species, and [0030] from 0.25 to 2.5% by dry weight of an extract of Theobroma cacao, based on the total weight of the concentrate.

[0031] Preferably, the concentrate consists essentially of: [0032] from 65 to 93% by dry weight of an extract of Allium species, [0033] from 5 to 33% by dry weight of an extract of Citrus species, [0034] from 0.25 to 2.5% by dry weight of an extract of Paullinia species, and [0035] from 0.25 to 2.5% by dry weight of an extract of Theobroma cacao, based on the total weight of the concentrate.

[0036] According to an embodiment, the composition comprises: [0037] from 0.1 to 5% by dry weight, preferably from 0.3 to 4% by dry weight, more preferably from 0.5 to 3% by dry weight of an extract of Allium species, [0038] from 0.1 to 5% by dry weight, preferably from 0.2 to 4% by dry weight, more preferably from 0.3 to 3% by dry weight of an extract of Citrus species, [0039] from 0.05 to 2.5% by dry weight, preferably from 0.07 to 1.5% by dry weight, more preferably from 0.09 to 1% by dry weight of an extract of Paullinia species, and [0040] from 0.05 to 2.5% by dry weight, preferably from 0.07 to 2% by dry weight, more preferably from 0.09 to 1.5% by dry weight of an extract of Theobroma species, [0041] based on the total weight of the composition.

[0042] According to an embodiment, the active principles of the composition of the invention comprise an extract of Allium species, an extract of Citrus species, an extract of Paullinia species and an extract of Theobroma species. Preferably, the active principles of the composition of the invention consist essentially in an extract of Allium species, an extract of Citrus species, an extract of Paullinia species and an extract of Theobroma species. Preferably, the concentrate represents from 1 to 30% by weight, preferably from 1.5 to 15% by weight, more preferably from 2 to 10% by weight in dry weight as compared to the volume of the composition.

[0043] The composition may be prepared by dilution of the concentrate of active principles. The dilution may be performed in one or more solvents and/or in one or more excipients and/or in one or more other additives.

[0044] According to an embodiment, the composition further comprises excipients, said excipients being dermatologically acceptable. Preferably, excipients are chosen from talc, gum arabic, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, cocoa butter, fatty substances of animal or vegetable origin, paraffin derivatives, glycols, various wetting agents, dispersants or emulsifiers and preservatives. According to an embodiment of the invention, the composition further comprises other additives such as, for example, diluents, disintegrators, binders, lubricants, wetting agents, stabilizers, emulsifiers, preservatives, sweeteners, colorants, flavours or fragrances, thickeners and buffering agents, and also solvents or solubilizers, retarders, osmotic pressure-modifying salts, coating materials or antioxidants. Preferably, the composition further comprises at least one agent for promoting penetration and diffusion in the cutaneous structures in question, such as agents commonly used in the field of cosmetology, for example glycerol, propylene glycol, oleic acid or essential oils, in particular menthol and eucalyptol. The composition according to the present invention may be prepared according to the method described in document WO 2008/113912.

[0045] The composition may be administered by topical route and/or by oral route. Preferably, the compositions according to the present invention are intended for topical applications, wherein the compositions are applied on the scalp and/or on the skin. The composition according to the present invention may be in a liquid or a solid form. These compositions can be in the form of a lotion, a spray, a foam, a solution, a powder, a pomade, a milk, an emulsion, a cream or a hydrogel. The expression “topical applications” includes both conventional topical route and non-conventional topical route. Among non-conventional topical route, mention may be made of cell suspension solution, cell-carrier (also called cell-spray) or adjuvant potentiator in cell therapy.

[0046] The topical composition can be prepared by diluting the active principles into a cosmetically acceptable carrier. Preferably, the topical composition is in the form of a solution or a lotion comprising from 1 to 30% by weight of dry matter, preferably from 1.5 to 15% by weight of dry matter, more preferably from 2 to 10% by weight of dry matter of the four active principles as defined above, as compared to the volume of the composition. Advantageously, the composition is under the form of an aqueous alcoholic solution or a lotion comprising from 1 to 30% by weight of dry matter, preferably from 1.5 to 15% by weight of dry matter, more preferably from 2 to 10% by weight of dry matter of the four active principles as defined above, as compared to the volume of the composition.

[0047] The compositions may also be orally administered, for example in the form of tablets, coated tablets, film-coated forms, granules, capsules, soft capsules, microcapsules, solutions, syrups, emulsions, suspensions or aerosol mixtures. According to an embodiment, the compositions are administered as food supplements in the form of granules, flexible capsules or drinks, depending on the final form required. Instead of using the four active principles in the form of an aqueous alcoholic solution, the four active principles may also be used in a dry form obtained from the solution, for example by atomization, freeze-drying, concentration or secondary extraction of the aqueous-alcoholic solution with super-critical CO.sub.2.

[0048] Suitable carriers for soft gelatine capsules comprise for example, fats, waxes, semi-solid or liquid polyols, natural or modified oils, etc. Suitable vehicles for the preparation of solutions, for example, injectable solutions, emulsions or syrups, comprise, for example, water, alcohols, glycerol, polyols, sucrose, invert sugars, glucose, vegetable oils, etc. Suitable carriers for microcapsules comprise, for example, copolymers of glyoxylic acid and lactic acid.

[0049] The composition may be administered daily for several months. The administration mode may be varied according to the concentration of active principles in the composition. According to a specific embodiment, the composition is administered one to three times per day during at least one week, preferably at least one month, more preferably at least three months, even more preferably at least six months.

[0050] The composition is preferably for administration to humans. The composition according to the present invention may be used to pigment hair or hairs, in particular to pigment depigmented hair or hairs. It can be used to pigment partially depigmented hair(s) or totally depigmented hair(s).

[0051] Applying the composition according to the present invention on the scalp turns progressively a white appearing scalp into a natural color appearing scalp, for example into a dark appearing scalp. One significant advantage of the invention is that the hair color which appears as a consequence of the treatment is the individual's original pigmentation color. For this reason the treatment according to the invention is more satisfying than the artificial appearance generally provided by colorants or dies.

[0052] The composition according to the present invention may be used in the correction of hair pigmentation disorders originating from a functional alteration of melanocytes. The present invention also relates to a cosmetic method for improving and/or increasing and/or stimulating and/or promoting and/or inducing the pigmentation of hair and/or hairs, comprising the administration of a composition comprising an extract of Allium species, an extract of Citrus species, an extract of Paullinia species and an extract of Theobroma species.

[0053] The composition may be administered by topical route and/or by oral route, preferably the composition is topically administered. Preferably, the composition is topically applied on the scalp of the human. Preferably, when the composition is in a liquid form, the topical administration comprises the application of 10 μL to 10 mL of the composition according to the invention onto the scalp of the humans. This application can be operated from 1 to 5 times per day, preferably, from 1 to 3 times per day.

[0054] For oral administration, the daily dose generally varies between 0.05 and 10 mg of active principle (dry matter)/kg of individual, preferably from 0.1 to 8 mg/kg, particularly from 0.1 to 6 mg/kg. For example, a daily dose varying from 5 to 500 mg would be appropriate for an adult.

[0055] The present invention further relates to a composition comprising an extract of Allium species, an extract of Citrus species, an extract of Paullinia species and an extract of Theobroma species for the treatment of canitie. The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. However, many variations are possible within the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES

[0056] In the examples, the composition is prepared starting from a concentrate A comprising the four active principles: [0057] 87.04% by dry weight of an aqueous-alcoholic extract of Allium cepa, [0058] 11.96% by dry weight of an aqueous-alcoholic extract of Citrus lemon, [0059] 0.50% by dry weight of an atomised aqueous-alcoholic extract of Paullinia cupana, [0060] 0.50% by dry weight of an atomised aqueous-alcoholic extract of Theobroma cacao, [0061] based on the total weight of the concentrate, was prepared according to the following process.

[0062] The aqueous-alcoholic extract of Allium cepa was prepared by picking, cleaning and milling the Allium, macerating in 96° alcohol for 48 hours in the cold, filtering through a 0.22-micron filter, collecting the alcoholic filtrate and adjusting to 30° alcohol. The aqueous-alcoholic extract of Citrus lemon was prepared by picking, cleaning and milling the Citrus, macerating in 96° alcohol for 48 hours in the cold, filtering through a 0.22-micron filter, collecting the alcoholic filtrate and adjusting to 30° alcohol. A master solution containing the aqueous-alcoholic extracts of Allium and Citrus was prepared by simple mixing, then the atomised aqueous-alcoholic extracts of Paullinia cupana and Theobroma cacao were added to this master solution to give the required concentrate A.

[0063] The concentrate A was then conditioned in the form of a lotion, by mixing about 20 mL of the concentrate comprising the four active principles and completing until 100 mL with the following excipients:

TABLE-US-00001 Glycerin 2 g Betafin 2 g Sodium chloride 0.9 g   Fragrance 0.15 to 3 g depending on the fragrance in order to obtain a composition according to the present invention.

[0064] The composition obtained, also named the lotion, comprises about 2.35% by dry weight of an extract of Allium cepa, about 0.32% by dry weight of an extract of Citrus lemon, about 0.10% by dry weight of an extract of Paullinia cupana and about 0.10% by dry weight of an extract of Theobroma cacao, based on the total weight of the lotion.

Example 1

[0065] In said example, the composition was applied on the top of the scalp (vertex) whereas the composition was not applied on the temples. The subject is a 42 years old man with black hair as original hair color. An average of 1 mL of the topical lotion was applied twice daily for two years. As illustrated in FIG. 1, we observe that the temple turned to grey appearance (FIG. 1A), whereas the top of the scalp (vertex) remained of dark appearance (FIG. 1B).

Example 2

[0066] In said example, the composition was applied on the scalp of a 30 years old man for 9 months twice daily. The subject is a 30 years old man having white or grey hair, but originally having black hair as natural hair color. An average of 1 mL of the topical lotion was applied twice daily for 9 months on the scalp.

[0067] As the subject started applying the lotion twice daily, he noticed that the white hair base was becoming black as the hair was growing from the scalp. Since the hair grows by half a centimetre on average every month, the phenomenon was rapidly noticeable. After application of the composition according to the present invention on the scalp, grey hair of the subject grew pigmented, i.e., with natural color of the subject.

[0068] FIG. 2 illustrates the above-mentioned case of a hair, wherein the hair root 1 is black, corresponding to the natural hair color of the subject and the hair end 2 is white. Indeed, we observe in FIG. 2 that after application of the composition of the invention, the hair grows with its natural color (hair root 1 of FIG. 2).

Example 3

[0069] In said example, the composition was applied on the scalp of a 63 years old man for 3 months. The subject is a 63 years old man having black hair as natural color and presenting grey hair since several years. FIG. 3A is a photography of the hair of the subject before application of the composition, where two-third of the scalp looks white. An average of 1 mL of the topical lotion was applied twice daily for 3 months on the scalp.

[0070] FIG. 3B is a photograph of the hair of the subject after 3 months of application of the composition according to the present invention, where two-third of the scalp looks now dark. We observe in FIG. 3B that after 3 months of application, during which the hair growth is about 1.5 cm, and after several haircuts (to keep an about constant hair length), the scalp is darker than before application.

Example 4

[0071] In said example, the subject is a 42 years old man having black natural hair and presenting hair graying. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, before the treatment 75% of the surface of the temple of the subject looks more white than black. An average of 1 mL of the topical lotion was applied twice daily for 3 weeks on the temples.

[0072] After 3 weeks of application, we observe in FIG. 4B than only 25% of temple surface still looks white, and the rest is darker than in FIG. 4A. Indeed, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the temple of the subject after application of the composition according to the present invention looks more black than white. As mentioned above, applying the composition enables the hair to grow with its original natural colour. Thus, the hair roots grow re-pigmented, which provides a visual effect of overall darkening, as illustrated in FIGS. 3B and 4B.