AU599725B2

AU599725B2 - Pharmacological/cosmetic preparation for external application containing cereal plant extract

Info

Publication number: AU599725B2
Application number: AU81985/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Rudov
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-12-03
Filing date: 1987-12-01
Publication date: 1990-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-01
Also published as: AU8198587A

Description

59g-17?2 A U S I It A 1. I A PATENTS ACT COMPLETE SPECIFICATION OR I G I NAL (FOR OFFICE USE) CIa s s I t Class o 00 0 00 0 o0 .0 0 00 00 0 0 00 Or0 00 0 0 00 0 00 0 000 0 0 0 Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Publ ished: P r io rity: Related Art: Thia dwALMUWJ corK3JUS tha amea~rdmeifl m~do una S41ctiou 49.

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00 00 Name of App i cant (s):RPP R~PO. 0 000 0 0 000.00 o ~Address of App i cant 6..ighton. YVictoria.1 86 ActualI Inventor (s DAV Address for Service; PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES, 102 5 Wh it eho r se Road Box Hill, Victoria 3128 Complete specification for the invention entitle~d: PHARMACOLOGICAL/COSMETIC PREPARATION T-kE sk% The Fol lowiing s tatemen t i S a fUllI descri ption of this invention, including the best method of performing itL known to me PHARMACOLOGICAL/COSMETIC PREPARATION This invention relates to substances for cosmetic or medicinal treatment.

It is known to extract the juice of cereal grasses and to drink this juice as a source of dietary nutrients. The juice can be freshly extracted, previously frozen, or reconstituted juice from dehydrated cereal grass extract. Dehydrated extract from cereal grass leaves has been pressed into tablets for oo 00 direct consumption or incorporation into foods and beverages.

°a'oI However these extracts have not been effectively used for 00 o medicinal or cosmetic purposes.

o0 00 It is an object of the present invention to provide a 0 00 pharmacologically effective substance.

According to the present invention there is provided a 15 pharmacologically effective substance for external application, 0 0 ooo the substance including an extract consisting of a 0 0 0 00 0 pharmaceutically acceptable and substantially bacteria-free o 00 liquid comprising water and substantially only water soluble components from a juice which has been freshly derived from o 2'9 plants at the unjointed stage of plant development, the plants o being selected from barley, wheat, oats, rice, rye and other cereal plants, said juice being extracted from said plants by a squeezing, crushing and/or grinding process, the process to extract said juice being carried out under sterile conditions and/or said extract being treated to prevent or inhibit growth, reproduction or activity of contaminating micro-organisms, 2

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h the extract being carried in a pharmaceutically acceptable base carrier or excipie.nt, the carrier preserving the extract against deterioration and being capable of at least partial absorption by tissues so as to carry the extract to sub-surface tissues.

It is believed that cereal plants are preferred to other Graminece family plants such as wild grasses. Extracts from barley, wheat and rye have been found to be effective. The wheat may comprise Triticum vulgare or aestivum, T. durum, or T.

compactum. Corn, rice, oats, maize, sorghum and millet may also be effective.

Preferably the extract is derived from the green leafy part of the plant, or at least principally from this part of the Soo0 plant, although additional green parts such as stalk may be o 15 included, together with parts such as root, seed, sprouted 0 0 G o d seed. The leaves of the plant are treated to yield the extract 00oo oo0 before the plant reaches flowering or seed production stage of development. That is, the plant is at its unjointed or immature development stage.

The extraction is carried out by squeezing, crushing and/or grinding processes, not by a cutting process.

l The plant extract may be used in the form in which it is f derived from the plants. Alternatively the extract may be concentrated before mixing with the carrier. For example, substantially all the liquid content of the plant extract may be removed. For example, the extract may be dried, such as by spray drying to yield a powder for mixing with the carrier. The spray drying is preferably carried out at a temperature of about and preferably below 1 Other possible stabilisation processes for the juice include partial concentration of the derived jucie to provide a concentrated liquid, freeze drying of the derived juice, and blending the derived juice with a preserving agent forming an ingredient of the carrier.

Preferably the stabilisation or mixing with the carrier or both is carried out within a short time and preferably within a matter of hours after extraction. Preferably this time is two oo hours. 0 0 0 000 0 0 000 a 0 ooo 0 0oo a 0 oe oooo 000 o o 0 0 0 o o oo ooo o o o o oo IP In an alternative possibility the extract may be produced by Sfirstly drying plant matter after which the dried material is 0 0, comminuted to yield a powder which includes ingredients o0 originally in the juice.

The carrier for the extract may be any suitable material such as a cream, lotion, oil, gel or powder. For example the 0 Scarrier may comprise a vanishing cream which is intended to be absorbed through the skin when externally applied so as to thereby carry the plant e:tract into sub-cutaneous tissue. A water based or aqueous carrier capable of carrying water soluble 2:0 ingredients to sub-surface tissues is preferred.

4, It is believed that the following base creams and ointments may be suitable carriers although the fifth possible carrier may be susceptible to cracking due to incompatability between the extract according to the present invention and the carrier.

1) Chlorhexidine cream aqueous A.P.F. supplied by Sigma.

2) Aqueous cream B.P. supplied by Sigma.

3) Cetomacrogol cream (Sorbolene cream) aqueous A.P.F. 79 00 o a 60 6 o11~ supplied by McGloin's.

4) Simple ointment (white) B.P. supplied by Sigma.

4 .i Cetrimide cream aqueous A.P.F, supplied by McGloin's.

Note: A.P.F. Australian Pharmacopoeia Formulae B.P. British Pharmacopoeia Preferably the carrier includes an anti-microbial agent so as to kill or at least inhibit growth, reproduction or activity of contaminating organisms that may be present in the plant extract or may be introduced during production of the substance. Preferably the anti-microbial agent is an So, anti-bacterial agent. In addition or alternatively the agent oo.'0 may have anti-fungal and anti-yeast properties. The 0° anti-microbial agent may be added to the substance during production or may be present in the carrier if the carrier for 0 0 o °o example is a standard commercially available blend. The anti-microbial agent is preferably active to inhibit any activity of organisms and thereby is operative to inhibit spoilage of the substance, e.g. spoilage of the product when 0000 0 being stored by the user or by a commercial outlet.

SaaIf the anti-microbial is not provided, it is preferred that the extract is substantially sterile when mixed with the 0 o° 0 2 carrier. The plants from which the extract is derived may be ooo.oo grown hydroponically for example under sterile conditions to prevent the introduction of micro-organisms at that stage. The subsequent harvesting and processing may also be carried out under sterile conditions.

It has been found that a suitable carrier is Cetomacrogol emulsion having a typical analysis (by weight): wax paraffin liquid paraffin soft white z I- -rn r- 0 0 o 0 00 000

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0 0 0 Chlorocresol 0.1% propylene glycol water balance to 100 The Chlorocresol is an anti-bacterial agent which is effective as an anti-microbial agent as described,above.

The Cetomacrogol emulsion is believed to be effective since the plant extract ingredients will be dissolved or suspended in the water component. The propylene glycol is a surface active agent enhancing emulsification. The fatty or oily ingredients 0 ijt enhance the texture for skin surface application. Sorbolene can 00 o be included as a stabilising agent.

o"o The ratio of the extract to the carrier may be anywhere oo oo within a large range of possible ratios. For example the ratio of base carrier to plant extract (and other additives if provided) may be anywhere between 1 to 5 and 200 to 1 (by -00 weight). A range of 1 to 30% by weight of extract is 0 0 preferred. About 10% by weight of extract has been found 100 ,o effective.

In analysing and testing substances according to the present 2Q invention it has been found that several ingredients of the .o substance are identifiable and are believed to be active. These 0 ingredients include ascorbic acid.

The ascorbic acid may be present in the range of 0,01 mg (and preferably 0.1 to 1.0 mg) per gram of substance.

Other preferred ingredients include biotin in the range 0.005 0.5 mg (and preferably 0.01 to 0.2 mg) per gram and trypsin in the range 10 to 10,000 U (and preferably in the range 100 to 5,000 U) per gram.

0 0 oo 0 0 0 o0 0 o 0 I 09 ~I r- SA typical analysis of a s ubstance may be: ascorbic acid 0. 13 mg biotin 0.048 mg trypsin 1000 U Chlorocresol about 1 g balance carrier substance with possible inclusion of other active ingredients.

Preferably the substance has a generally neutral pH in the

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oo range 6.0 to 8.0. For example, the pH may be in the range 0- 0 oo o) to 7.5. Analyses have shown a pH in the range 7 to 7.3.

The composition outlined above can be made up in 0 0 Cetomacrogol cream. This substance has been found to be o' 0 o' suitable for application externally to the skin and has been found effective in the treatment of cold sores.

The mechanism of the action of the substance has not been o a determined. The identified constituents of the cream are ooo o 00 00 believed to be important in maintaining normal skin function or 00 o in aiding wound healing. For example, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is required for collagen synthesis. It is believed that there is a synergistic effect of the ingredients is in operation.

0 0oo oOs.. The uses of the substances according to the present invention include cosmetic uses, medicinal uses, pharmaceutical uses.

The present invention has been tested and the following examples give basic summaries of tests carried out. However, the present invention is not limited to any of the specific particulars given in the following examples.

i' 4 7 E xample 1 Sprouted wheat grass. was treated to yield the juice which was prepared to provide unjointed, dehydrated wheat grass tablets, which were purchased commercially at a health food store. These tablets had been coated or mixed with non-animal tableting aids, The tablets were comminuted and mixed with Cetomacrogol cream (Sorbolene cream) iqueous A.P.F. 79 supplied by McGloin's. This preparation was externally applied to a cold 0 0o sore which healed effectively in three days compared to the two 0 0 0 o°o°I) or more weeks normal healing time for the person who was o o 0000 0 oo treated.

"0000 Example 2 o 00 °ooo Dried barley grass juice in powder form was mixed with a carrier or excipient and the preparation was applied to multiple surface eruptions. The treated eruptions receded while the 0000 0 0 o-oo untreated eruptions showed no substantial improvement in the 0 '3 0 0 ooo 0 0 0 o o same time period.

0000 0 To a significant extent the cosmetic and medicinal uses of 0o°o29 the invention overlap. It has been found that or is postulated o that the preferred substances can be effective in the surface or topical treatment of pimples and acne, minor burns including sunburn, eczema, cracked (fissured) skin, chafed nipples, thrush and vaginal itch, psoriasis, tinea, herpes 1, 2, and 3 (cold sores, genital herpes and herpes zoster or shingles), muscle rub, inflammed joints, piles, anal itch, genital warts, contusions, bruises, scalp treatment including hair tonic uses, gum or mouth lesions and ulcers other surface lesions. Apart from direct physical application involving working the substance

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into the ti.ssues, it is al.'o belie.ved that the substance can be Sused. for preparations fo.i use as a bathing additive or as a wash including as a mouth wash say for treatment of mouth ulcers or lesions.

It has furthermore been found that the substances may be effective in inhibiting colds and influenza when applied to the nasal mucosa externally, i.e. around the sinus area and the base of the nostrils. The application of the substance to these 0 o" areas has been carried out daily in test subjects over a o°l0o significant period. The substances are for external use only 0 0oo o since internal application, e.g. to the nasal tissues, can cause o 0o°0 discomfort and irritation. It is believed that the substances 0 o0 ooo000 when externally applied are very slowly taken up by the tissues and in fact do reach the nasal mucous tissues but at very low 15 rates due to the method of administration.

0000 0 0 o00o Although external application to reach nasal mucous tissues 0.00 0 0 0 0o a has been found preferred, the substances can however be directly 0000 Soo- applied to the vaginal and anal mucous tissues.

The wide range of possible fields of use of the substances are believed to indicate the possibility of effective activity 0 00 0ooc 0 being induced or augmented in the immune system. General supply O 0 to tissues of several ingredients, including organic and inorganic substances and electrolytes may be effectively supplementing or boosting body defence or immune mechanisms.

S i C- i; .y i I

Claims

3. A substance as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the carrier is a water based carrier.capable of carrying said water soluble components to sub-surface tissues when applied to a user's skin.
4. A substance as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the substance is maintained in a pH range of 6.0 to A substance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein an anti-microbial agent is present in the pharmaceutically acceptable base carrier or excipient.
6. A substance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims SI G which includes ascorbic acid. c" 7. A substance as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the ascorbic acid is present in proportion of 0.1 to 10 mg per gram of the Ssubstance.
8. A substance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further including biotin present in the range of 0.01 to mg per gram of the substance. 0 o
9. A substance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further including trypsin present in the range of 100 to 10,000 U per gram of the substance. )'o2b 10. A substance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims I o wherein the extract is derived from green leafy components of the plants. Dated 11th April 1990 PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES Attorneys for DAVID RUDOV 11