AU2017203070B2

AU2017203070B2 - An Antifungal Formulation

Info

Publication number: AU2017203070B2
Application number: AU2017203070A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Roberts
Original assignee: Neat Feat Products Ltd
Current assignee: Neat Feat Products Ltd
Priority date: 2017-05-09
Filing date: 2017-05-09
Publication date: 2019-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2037-05-09
Also published as: AU2017203070A1; AU2019200904A1

Abstract

Many people suffer from fungal infection of the skin, especially of the feet. The infection may manifest with peeling, redness, itching, burning, blisters and sores. It is known to use various oils for treatment however formulating them into a convenient easy-to-apply watery product presents challenges given that oil and water normally do not mix well. It is an object of a preferred form of the invention to go at least some way towards addressing this by way of an antifungal formulation comprising: • tea tree oil; " neem oil; * glycerol; * surfactant; and " water.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A preferred form of the invention relates to an antifungal formulation for human use, preferably although not necessarily for spray-on application.

BACKGROUND

Many people suffer from fungal infection of the skin, especially of the feet. The infection may manifest with peeling, redness, itching, burning, blisters and sores. It is known to use various oils for treatment however formulating them into a convenient easy-to-apply watery product presents challenges given that oil and water normally do not mix well. It is an object of an object of a preferred form of the invention to go at least some way towards addressing this problem.

The term “comprising” if and when used in this document in relation to a combination of features should not be taken to rule out the option of there being other features. It should not be interpreted in a necessarily limiting way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention resides in the use of:

• tea tree oil;

• neem oil;

• glycerol;

• surfactant; and • water as ingredients in the manufacture of a formulation for use on humans for treating fungal skin conditions, wherein the formulation comprises a combination of such ingredients.

Optionally the surfactant (eg a solubiliser) comprises decyl glucoside and/or sorbitan oleate.

Optionally the formulation includes lavender oil and/or ginger oil.

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Optionally the formulation includes vinegar, for example apple cider vinegar.

Optionally the formulation includes sodium chloride for facilitating controlling stability and/or viscosity characteristics.

Optionally the formulation is contained within and is able to be delivered as a spray from a spray dispenser.

Optionally the tea tree oil is present in an amount of 4 - 6% by weight of the finished formulation.

Optionally the neem oil is present in an amount of 0.8 - 1.2% by weight of the finished formulation.

Optionally the surfactant is present in an amount of 20 - 30% by weight of the finished formulation.

Optionally the decyl glucoside is present in an amount of 15 - 25% by weight of the finished formulation.

Optionally the sorbitan oleate is present in an amount of 4 - 6% by weight of the finished formulation.

Optionally the lavender oil is present in an amount of 0.8 - 1.2% by weight of the finished formulation.

Optionally the ginger oil is present in an amount of 0.8 - 1.2% by weight of the finished formulation.

Optionally the apple cider vinegar is present in an amount of 1 - 1.5% by weight of the finished formulation.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a formulation as above, comprising the steps:

a) mixing at least the tea tree oil and neem oil with the glycerol to form a sludge;

b) mixing in at least the surfactant to form a slurry; and

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Optionally the lavender oil and/or ginger oil is mixed in at step a).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a preferred form of the invention the antifungal formulation uses tee tree oil and neem oil as active ingredients. Lavender oil and ginger oil may be added (it is hypothesised that they may also contribute some antifungal activity). All of the oils are mixed with glycerol as a solvent/solubilser to form a sludge (eg to ‘wet-out’ the oils). Decyl glucoside is then added as a surfactant/solubilser with low energy mixing. Sorbitan oleate is also added as a surfactant/solubilser with further low energy mixing. At this point the combination is in the form of a slurry. A water and sodium chloride mixture is then added with low energy mixing to complete the formulation as a homogenous non-viscous liquid suitable for delivery by way of a hand-held spray dispenser. It can be sprayed onto human skin to treat fungal conditions.

In some embodiments vinegar may be added for pH adjustment after the above otherwise complete mixture has been formed.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the following ingredients are used in the amounts indicated:

Ingredient	Function	Amount
Tea tree oil (Melaleuca oil)	Antifungal	50 mg/ml
Neem oil (Azadirachta indica seed oil)	Antifungal	10 mg/ml
Lavender oil	Antifungal	10 mg/ml
Ginger oil (Zingiber officinale flower and/or leaf oil)	Antifungal	10mg/ml
Glycerol	Solvent / solubilising / wetting agent	50 mg/ml
Decyl glucoside	Surfactant / solubilising agent	200 mg/ml

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Sorbitan oleate	Surfactant / solubilising agent	50 mg/ml
Sodium chloride	Facilitates stability and provides viscosity adjustment	5 mg/ml
Apple cider vinegar	pH adjustment	12.5 mg/ml
Purified water	Solvent	To volume

In other embodiments of the invention any or all of the above ingredients may be varied in the amount used, depending on the desired characteristics for the end product.

While decyl glucoside and sorbitan oleate are the preferred surfactants (eg solubilisers), in other embodiments they may be replaced by one or more other suitable surfactants, for example polyglyceryl-6 caprylate, polyglyceryl-4 caprate, polyglyceryl-4 cocoate and/or polyglyceryl-6 ricinoleate.

Peferred embodiments of the invention may be used for treating tinea, athletes’ foot, Jock Itch and/or nail fungal infections

While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. The use of:

• tea tree oil;

• neem oil;

• glycerol;

• surfactant; and • water as ingredients in the manufacture of a formulation for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of fungal human skin conditions being one or more of tinea, athletes’ foot, jock itch and nail fungal infections.
2. A use according to claim 1, wherein the formulation is for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of human skin conditions being one or more of athletes’ foot, jock itch and/or nail fungal infections.
3. A use according to claim 1, wherein the formulation is for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of human skin conditions being one or more of athletes’ foot and nail fungal infections.
4. A use according to claim 1, wherein the formulation is for the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of fungal human skin conditions comprising athletes’ foot.
5. A use according to claim 1, wherein the surfactant comprises decyl glucoside and/or sorbitan oleate.
6. A use according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the formulation also comprises lavender oil and/or ginger oil.
7. A use according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the formulation also comprises vinegar.
8. A use according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the formulation also comprises apple cider vinegar.

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9. A use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the formulation also comprises sodium chloride for controlling desired viscosity and stability characteristics.
10. A use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the formulation is contained within and able to be delivered as a spray from a spray dispenser.
11. A use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tea tree oil is present in an amount of 4 - 6% by weight of the finished formulation.
12. A use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the neem oil is present in an amount of 0.8 - 1.2% by weight of the finished formulation.
13. A use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the surfactant is present in an amount of 20 - 30% by weight of the finished formulation.
14. A use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein decyl glucoside is present in an amount of 15 - 25% by weight of the finished formulation.
15. A use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein sorbitan oleate is present in an amount of 4 - 6% by weight of the finished formulation.
16. A use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein lavender oil is present in an amount of 0.8 - 1.2% by weight of the finished formulation.
17. A use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein ginger oil is present in an amount of 0.8 - 1.2% by weight of the finished formulation.
18. A use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein apple cider vinegar is present in an amount of 1 - 1.5% by weight of the finished formulation.

19. A use according to claim 1, wherein the formulation comprises the following ingredients in or about the amounts indicated:

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Ingredient Amount Tea tree oil 50 mg/ml Neem oil 10 mg/ml Lavender oil 10 mg/ml Ginger oil 10 mg/ml Glycerol 50 mg/ml Decyl glucoside 200 mg/ml Sorbitan oleate 50 mg/ml Sodium chloride 5 mg/ml Apple cider vinegar 12.5 mg/ml Purified water To volume

20. A use according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the formulation is produced by taking the steps:

a) mixing at least the tea tree oil and neem oil with the glycerol to form a sludge;

b) mixing in at least the surfactant to form a slurry; and

c) mixing in at least the water to form a homogenous spray-on liquid.
21. A use according to claim 20, wherein producing the formulation further includes mixing in lavender oil and/or ginger oil at step a).
22. A use according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the formulation is sprayed on the skin.