Use of neohesperidin

Abstract

The present invention discloses a use of neohesperidin or a neohesperidin-containing plant extract in the manufacture of a product for improving and/or promoting skin microcirculation, or for eliminating and/or alleviating diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation. The present invention also discloses a composition comprising an effective amount of neohesperidin or a neohesperidin-containing plant extract, and to a method for improving and/or promoting skin microcirculation, or eliminating and/or alleviating diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation, by using neohesperidin. The skin microcirculation of the present invention is preferably eye skin microcirculation.

Claims

1. A composition for improving and/or promoting skin microcirculation, or eliminating and/or alleviating diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation, comprising an effective amount of neohesperidin or a neohesperidin-containing plant extract, and a physiologically acceptable excipient; the neohesperidin-containing plant extract being an extract obtained by extracting from fruits of Poncirus trifoliata(L)Raf, the extract comprising neohesperidin in an amount of not less than 50 wt %, the composition comprising neohesperidin or a neohesperidin-containing plant extract in an amount of from 0.1-10 wt % of the total weight of the composition, as calculated by weight of neohesperidin, and physiologically acceptable excipients selected from the group consisting of: TABLE-US-00008 Ingredients weight/weight Methyl glucose sesqui-stearate 1.2% dimethyl siloxane 1.0% cetanol/octadecanol   3% Dicapryl carbonate   4% propyl heptyl octanoate   2% lecithin 2.5% Xanthan Gum 0.3% 1,3-butanediol   4% EDTA-2Na 0.2% glycerin 2.0% triethanolamine   2% Lactic acid an appropriate amount to adjust pH to a value from 4.0 to 6.0 preservative an appropriate amount water added to 100% wherein the composition improves and/or promotes skin microcirculation, or eliminates and/or alleviates diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation, wherein the composition comprises neohesperidin or a neohesperidin-containing plant extract in a form and amount selected from the group consisting of: 0.5% neohesperidin; 2.0% neohesperidin; and 10% neohesperidin extract comprising 50% neohesperidin, and wherein the composition comprises at least methyl glucose sesqui-stearate and propyl heptyl octanoate as excipients.

2. The composition of claim 1, which is a product for topical administration.

3. A method for improving and/or promoting skin microcirculation, or for eliminating and/or alleviating diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation comprising administering to a subject in need thereof the composition of claim 1.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the skin microcirculation is eye skin microcirculation.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation are diseases or conditions associated with poor eye skin microcirculation.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the diseases or conditions associated with poor eye skin microcirculation are under-eye dark circles.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the neohesperidin-containing plant extract is an extract obtained by extracting from fruits of Poncirus trifoliata(L)Raf.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the product is a product for topical administration.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the product comprises neohesperidin or a neohesperidin-containing plant extract, and a physiologically acceptable excipient.

10. A composition for improving and/or promoting skin microcirculation, or eliminating and/or alleviating diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation, comprising an effective amount of neohesperidin or a neohesperidin-containing plant extract, and a physiologically acceptable excipient; the neohesperidin-containing plant extract being an extract obtained by extracting from fruits of Poncirus trifoliata(L)Raf, the extract comprising neohesperidin in an amount of not less than 50 wt %, the composition comprising neohesperidin or a neohesperidin-containing plant extract in an amount of from 0.1-10 wt % of the total weight of the composition, as calculated by weight of neohesperidin, and physiologically acceptable excipients consisting of: TABLE-US-00009 Ingredients weight/weight Methyl glucose sesqui-stearate 0.5-5 wt % dimethyl siloxane 0.5-5 wt % cetanol/octadecanol   1-5 wt % Dicapryl carbonate   2-8 wt % propyl heptyl octanoate   1-5 wt % lecithin   1-5 wt % Xanthan Gum 0.1-2 wt % 1,3-butanediol  1-10 wt % EDTA-2Na 0.1-2 wt % glycerin   1-5 wt % triethanolamine   1-5 wt % Lactic acid an appropriate amount to adjust pH to a value from 4.0 to 6.0 preservative an appropriate amount water added to 100% wherein the composition improves and/or promotes skin microcirculation, or eliminates and/or alleviates diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation, wherein the composition comprises neohesperidin or a neohesperidin-containing plant extract in a form and amount selected from the group consisting of: 0.5% neohesperidin; 2.0% neohesperidin; and 10% neohesperidin extract comprising 50% neohesperidin.

11. The composition of claim 10, which is a product for topical administration.

12. A method for improving and/or promoting skin microcirculation, or for eliminating and/or alleviating diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation comprising administering to a subject in need thereof the composition of claim 10.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the skin microcirculation is eye skin microcirculation.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation are diseases or conditions associated with poor eye skin microcirculation.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the diseases or conditions associated with poor eye skin microcirculation are under-eye dark circles.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the neohesperidin-containing plant extract is an extract obtained by extracting from fruits of Poncirus trifoliata(L.)Raf.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the product is a product for topical administration.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the product comprises neohesperidin or a neohesperidin-containing plant extract, and a physiologically acceptable excipient.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) The aspects and characteristics of the present invention are further described as follows.

(2) All the documents cited in the present invention are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and if the meanings expressed in the documents are different from those in the present invention, the expressions in the present invention will control. In addition, the terms and phases used in the present invention have the general meanings recognized by a person skilled in the art. Even so, the present invention still tries to expound and explain the terms and phases as detailed as possible. If the terms and phases mentioned herein are not consistent with the well-known meanings, the meanings expressed in the present invention will control.

(3) As described herein, the term “skin microcirculation” refers to microvascular net under dermal layer of skin, which is a terminal part of circulation, belongs to blood capillary, is a connection point between artery and vein, and is a place where material interchange of blood and tissue cells is carrier out. Skin microcirculation is a complex dynamic system, which has an important effect on skin color, temperature adjustment, skin metabolism and transdermal transport, and therefore directly affects the health of skin.

(4) As described herein, the term “diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation” refers to pathogenic or nonpathogenic physical status or abnormal condition resulted from poor topical skin microcirculation or topical skin microcirculation disorder, such as, dermatitis, pigmentation, skin aging, pale skin, bloodshot on face, topical skin stasis and hematoma, topical water hoarding, and under-eye dark circle.

(5) As described herein, the term “improving”, “promoting”, “eliminating”, and “alleviating”, for example, in the expressions “improving and/or promoting skin microcirculation” and “for eliminating and/or alleviating diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation” as described herein, refers to the generation of a beneficent effect on pathogenic or nonpathogenic physical status or abnormal condition resulted from poor topical skin microcirculation or topical skin microcirculation disorder, for example, improvement of topical skin microcirculation, promotion of topical skin microcirculation, elimination of pathogenic or nonpathogenic physical status or abnormal condition resulted from poor topical skin microcirculation or topical skin microcirculation disorder, and alleviation of pathogenic or nonpathogenic physical status or abnormal condition resulted from poor topical skin microcirculation or topical skin microcirculation disorder, for example, improvement of bloodshot eyes, elimination of pigmentation, eliminating hydroncus, alleviation of stasis and hematoma, elimination of under-eye dark circle, and the like.

(6) As described herein, the term “physiologically acceptable” means that substances are physiologically compatible, particularly, may be used in a product for external dermatological use when contacting skin, for example, without bringing about side effects such as irritability to skin. Particularly, for example, diluents, surfactants, thickeners, emollients, etc. may be used in cosmetics.

(7) As described herein, the term “an effective amount” refers to an dose that can accomplish the treatment, prevention, reduction and/or alleviation of the diseases or conditions of the present invention in a subject.

(8) As described herein, the term “composition” also refers to “cosmetic”, “cosmetic composition”, “pharmaceutical composition”, all of which may be used in individuals for the treatment, prevention, reduction and/or alleviation of the diseases, conditions, or physical status of the present invention.

(9) As described herein, the term “individual” may further refer to “subject”, “patient” or other animal which are administered with the composition of the present invention to improve and/or promote the skin microcirculation appeared in them or to eliminate and/or alleviate diseases or conditions associated with poor skin microcirculation appeared in them, particularly, mammal, such as human, dog, monkey, bovine, horse, etc., in particular, human.

(10) As described herein, the term “eye skin microcirculation” refers to microcirculation of skin around eyes.

(11) According to the present invention, the neohesperidin may be extracted from fruits of plants of Rutaceae or from aerial part of Galium mollugo linn. or may be synthesized by chemical methods known in the art or be obtained by biotransformation. The neohesperidin may be a pure compound, or an extract containing neohesperidin in an amount of not less than 50% (w/w). In the present invention, as calculated by the weight of pure compound of neohesperidin, the neohesperidin is present in a concentration of 0.01%-20% (w/w), preferably 0.05%-15% (w/w), most preferably 0.1%-10% (w/w) in the composition of the present invention.

(12) The present invention also comprises a cosmetic skin care composition comprising neohesperidin.

(13) The present invention relates to a cosmetic skin care composition comprising (1) neohesperidin present in an amount of 0.1%-10% by weight; and (2) cosmetically acceptable vehicles.

(14) The neohesperidin used in the composition of the present invention is to achieve the effect of dispelling under-eye dark circle.

(15) The composition and method of the present invention further comprises cosmetically acceptable vehicles as the diluents, dispersants or carriers of active ingredient in the composition, to promote the distribution of the composition when applying the composition to skin.

(16) Vehicles other than water comprise liquid or solid emollients, surfactants, solvents, and thickeners.

(17) Active ingredients of various types may be present in the cosmetic composition of the present invention. Active substances are defined as substances different from emollients and ingredients merely improving physical properties of the composition.

(18) In one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition has the following formulation.

(19) TABLE-US-00001 Ingredients weight/weight Methyl glucose 0.5-5 wt %   sesqui-stearate dimethyl siloxane 0.5-5 wt %   cetanol/octadecanol 1-5 wt % Dicapryl carbonate 2-8 wt % propyl heptyl octanoate 1-5 wt % lecithin 1-5 wt % Xanthan Gum 0.1-2 wt %   1,3-butanediol 1-10 wt %  EDTA-2Na 0.1-2 wt %   glycerin 1-5 wt % triethanolamine 1-5 wt % Lactic acid an appropriate amount to adjust pH to a value from 4.0 to 6.0 preservative an appropriate amount neohesperidin or a 0.01-20 wt %, 0.01-15 wt %, 0.01-10 wt %, neohesperidin-containing 0.05-15 wt %, 0.1-10 wt %, 0.2-10 wt %, extract or 0.2-5 wt %, as calculated by weight of neohesperidin water added to 100%

(20) In accordance with the present invention, under-eye dark circle may be reduced or eliminated by topical application of neohesperidin.

(21) The present invention relates to a novel use of neohesperidin in cosmetics, particularly a novel use of neohesperidin as a chemical ingredient for improving skin microcirculation in dispelling under-eye dark circle. Preferably, in the use, the neohesperidin is present in amount of 0.01%-10% by weight of the composition.

(22) For better utilization of neohesperidin, the present invention studies the effect of topical administration of neohesperidin to skin surface on promoting microcirculation. The results show that after topical application of neohesperidin, skin microcirculation is significantly improved. The applicant applied neohesperidin to eye care products and found that it could significantly dispel under-eye dark circle.

SPECIFIC MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(23) The present invention is further described by the following examples. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following examples. The skilled in the art could understand that any change and modification may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

(24) The present invention generally and/or specifically describes the materials and experimental methods used in the present invention. Although many materials and operation methods used for achieving the purpose of the present invention are well known in the art, the present invention still describe them as detailed as possible. In the context of the present invention, unless indicated otherwise, % represent wt %, i.e. percentage by weight.

Example 1: Observing the Effect of Topical Application of Neohesperidin on Skin Microcirculation by Laser Doppler

(25) The experimental method for promoting microcirculation: Male Oryctolagus cuniculus weighted 3.0-3.5 kg were used. After shaving the hair on the back of the Oryctolagus cuniculus, 10 points for testing blood flow were marked with a marker pen on the hairless skin of the rabbit, i.e. 5 points for each of the right side and the left side, and aorta was avoided when drawing the points. Before smearing the sample, the basic values of blood flow at the 10 points of rabbits of each experimental group were determined by Laser Doppler Flowmetery. The rabbits of each group had blank solution smeared on the left back and had a neohesperidin-containing solution smeared on the right back(for three groups of animals, the concentration of the solutions were 0.5% (w/v), 1% (w/v) and 2% (w/v), respectively, 0.1 ml for each animal), three rabbits were used in parallel for each concentration. 2% (w/v) solution was orally administrated by a similar method in a volume 100 times compared to the volume used in the group wherein the 2% (w/v) solution was administered by smearing. After administration, the blood flow value was determined every hour at the same point by Laser Doppler Flowmetery for 24 h, and the variation index of blood flow was calculated to evaluate the effect of neohesperidin on the back blood of rabbits, wherein a higher variation index of blood flow indicated a better effect of promoting microcirculation. The experimental results were statistically analyzed by SPSS11.5 software, and t-test was applied to the measured data to evaluate the experimental results. When P<0.1, the data may be regarded as statistically significant. In the results of Table 1, all the time points with P<0.1 in the 24-h test were listed.

(26) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 The effect of neohesperidin at different concentrations on promoting skin microcirculation in domestic rabbits Neohesperidin P value as compared to the blank concentration Working time point side 0.5%, smearing 6 h p < 0.05 1%, smearing 2 h p < 0.05 3 h p < 0.05 2%, smearing 5 h p < 0.05 2 h p < 0.01 4 h p < 0.05 5 h p < 0.05 6 h p < 0.05 2%, orally — — Note: “—” represents the time point at which P < 0.1 did not appear during the 24 h test when 2% solution was administered orally.

(27) The experimental results showed that after smearing the backs of rabbits with samples comprising different concentrations of neohesperidin, blood flow in skin microvessels was significantly enhanced in rabbits, as compared to the blank side.

Example 2: The Effect of Neohesperidin on Dispelling Under-Eye Dark Circle

(28) Method: 8-week comparison experiments of two formulations at two sides of eyes were used in the study.

(29) In the study, 50 volunteers with medium and severe under-eye dark circle were recruited in the study, to allow the effective number of each paired comparison group to be 15. The subjects were randomly assigned and the compositions were used in the left/right side equivalently, wherein one side of the eyes was smeared with the composition comprising neohesperidin, and the other side of the eyes was smeared with the composition comprising no neohesperidin, for 8 weeks. Efficacy evaluation was made as to the effect of dispelling under-eye dark circle at Week 0 (before treatment), 2, 4, 6 and 8.

(30) Efficacy evaluation method: A photo of eyes of the subject taken at Day 0 of the experiment was used as the baseline data, and photos were taken at Week 2, 4, 6 and 8 of the experiment. Lab system of photoshop software was used to calculate and analyze the colority, wherein L represented the white degree of eye skin, a higher L value indicated a whiter skin. After comparison with the baseline data, SPSS statistic data was used to evaluate the efficacy of the products. When P<0.1, the data may be regarded as statistically significant.

(31) The basic formulations in Table 2 and the compositions in Table 3 were used in the subjects for test.

(32) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 2 Basic formulations Ingredients weight/weight Methyl glucose sesqui-stearate 1.2% dimethyl siloxane 1.0% cetanol/octadecanol   3% Dicapryl carbonate   4% propyl heptyl octanoate   2% lecithin 2.5% Xanthan Gum 0.3% 1,3-butanediol   4% EDTA-2Na 0.2% glycerin 2.0% triethanolamine   2% Lactic acid an appropriate amount to adjust pH to a value from 4.0 to 6.0 preservative an appropriate amount water added to 100%

(33) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 3 Composition Composition Ingredients 1 basic formulation 2 basic formulation + 0.5% neohesperidin 3 basic formulation + 2.0% neohesperidin 4 basic formulation + 10.0% neohesperidin extract (comprising 50% neohesperidin)

(34) The following paired comparisons were carried out:

(35) Paired comparison 1: Composition 1 (basic formulation) vs Composition 2(basic formulation+0.5% neohesperidin);

(36) Paired comparison 2: Composition 1 (basic formulation) vs Composition 3(basic formulation+2% neohesperidin);

(37) Paired comparison 3: Composition 1 (basic formulation) vs Composition 4(basic formulation+10% neohesperidin extract).

(38) The results were listed in Tables 4A to 4C:

(39) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 4A The average improvement of under-eye dark circle by Paired comparison 1 basic formulation + 0.5% Week basic formulation # neohesperidin 0 0 0 2 0.8% 0.8% 4 1.0% 1.2% 6 1.5% 2.2%** 8 1.2% 2.2%** **basic formulation + 0.5% neohesperidin provided a significantly greater improvement than basic formulation after using it for 6 weeks (P < 0.05). # basic formulation without active ingredient also generated a change, the accuracy of the experiments would be enhanced by deduction of the change. The factors responsible for the change generated by basic formulation might include, but be not limited to, non-objective factors such as the stimulating effect of the basic formulation itself, stimulation by heat and cold, emotion, and luminance of the photographic environment. These factors might be responsible for a change in L value, thereby reducing the objectivity of the experimental results. Thus, experimental conditions should be stringently controlled during the experiment. In the experimental method, self-control was set in the right and left eyes so as to eliminate or balance the effect of unrelated variants during the experiment to the maximum extent. Therefore, the difference between the experimental group and the control group might be regarded as the effect resulted from the experimental variants. For example, in the Example, the experimental results showed that the L value, on the side where basic formulation was smeared, increased to different extents at different times in the test, indicating that non-objective factors had a certain effect on the L value under the experimental conditions. However, the L value, on the side where neohesperidin was smeared, increased to a larger extent and was significant as compared to the former, indicating that the significance was resulted from neohesperidin.

(40) TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 4B The average improvement of under-eye dark circle by Paired comparison 2 basic formulation + 2% Week basic formulation neohesperidin 0 0 0 2 1.2% 1.5% 4 1.0% 2.3%** 6 1.5% 2.5%** 8 1.5% 2.9%** **basic formulation + 2% neohesperidin provided a significantly greater improvement than basic formulation after using it for 4 weeks (P < 0.05).

(41) TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 4C The average improvement of under-eye dark circle by Paired comparison 3 basic formulation + 10% Week basic formulation neohesperidin extract 0 0 0 2 1.5% 2.5%** 4 1.8% 3.0%** 6 2.0% 3.2%** 8 1.2% 3.8%** **basic formulation + 10% neohesperidin extract provided a significantly greater improvement than basic formulation after using it for 2 weeks (P < 0.05).

(42) Said paired comparison results showed that the composition comprising neohesperidin significantly improved under-eye dark circle as compared with the composition comprising no neohesperidin. The Examples indicated that neohesperidin was useful for improving skin microcirculation, particularly eye skin microcirculation, in particular, was useful as cosmetic skin care product for dispelling under-eye dark circle.

(43) The above-mentioned examples illustrate the composition for topical application according to the present invention, which may be processed by conventional means. They are suitable for cosmetic skin care use. In particular, the compositions are suitable for dispelling under-eye dark circle to improve appearance and feeling of eye skin.