AU672767B2 - Hair tonic - Google Patents

Description

I; Our Ref: 436139 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT r i

D

I o r r r r r Applicant(s): Address for Service: Minedew Pty Limited 44 Wentworth Road VAUCLUSE NSW 2030

AUSTRALIA

DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 -4 Invention Title: Hair tonic The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 y 0620v/MS HAIR TONIC The present invention relates to hair tonics, and in particular, to hair tonics for hair care and hair restoration.

Hair loss and baldness are physically and psychologically disturbing problems experienced by a great many people. Over the years, many hair tonics and methods have been proposed to overcome and cure these problems.

However, none have proven satisfactory, often only serving to exacerbate the problem.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention I there is provided a hair tonic comprising: i) Pilocarpine or pilocarpine derivative; ii) Quinine or quinine derivative; iii) Cantharides or Cantharadin; Siv) Ammonia; v) Castor oil; vi) Pilocarpus; and vii) an alcohol based perfume such as Eau de Cologne.

In accordance with another aspect the invention is a hair tonic comprising: i) Pilocarpine; ii) Cinchona bark; iii) Cantharides; iv) Ammonia; v) Castor oil; vi) boiled extract of Jaborandi leaves; and vii) Eau de Cologne.

Pilocarpine is an alkaloid of the formula

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.Zr 0620v/MS 2 Pilocarpine is soluble in water, alcohol and chloroform, is less soluble in ether and benzene and is almost insoluable in petroleum ether. It may be an oil, or in crystal form. In a preferred embodiment, the pilocarpine is an oil. Pilocarpine is stereoisomeric with isopilocarpine, having the cis configuration whilst isopilocarpine has the trans configuration. In one embodiment of the present ir. ,ntion, isopilocarpine or salts of pilocarpine or isopilocaipine may be used in place of pilocarpine. Examples of salts include pilocarpine hydrochloride, pilocarpine nitrate, isopilocarpine hydrochloride and isopilocarpine nitrate. However, the particularly preferred component is pilocarpine.

Cinchona bark (also known as Cinchona) is the dried bark of stems or roots from various species of Cinchona (of the family Rubiaceae). The constituents of cinchona bark includes alkaloids (approximately 35); cinchotannic; quinic and quinovic acids; cinchona red and volatile oils. The alkaloid content of the bark varies, depending on the o source. The bark usually contains 7-10% total alkaloids of which approximately 70% is quinine. In one embodiment of the present invention, quinine is used in place of cinchona bark. Cinchona bark, however, is the particularly preferred component. Cinchona bark may be used, in accordance with the present invention is solid form, as a finely ground powder or as a liquid. In a particularly preferred embodiment the cinchona bark is a liquid.

Cantharides (commonly known as Spanish fly) comprises resinous substances, acetic and uric acids and 0.6-1% cantharidin of the formula i l' iI 1 0620v/MS 3 Spanish fly is a powerful irritant, vesicant and rubefacient. In one embodiment, cantharidin may be used alone in place of spanish fly. However, spanish fly is the preferred component.

Ammonia is a colourless gas with a characteristic smell. It is readily soluble in water and may be obtained commercially as ammonia water. In accordance with the present invention it is preferred that ammonia water is used.

Castor oil is a pale yellow, viscous oil obtained by cold pressing the seeds of Ricinus communis L,, Euphorbiaceae. It contains triglycerides of fatty acids, the fatty acid content being approximately ricinoleic 87%, oleic linoleic palmitic stearic 1% and dihydroxystearic trace amounts. Castor oil can be obtained commercially. It keeps well and does not become rancid unless subject to excessive heat.

The boiled extract of jaborandi leaves can be produced by conventional means, such as for example, by boiling jaborandi leaves and decanting the supernatant. Any jaborandi leaves may be used in accordance with the present invention to produce the boiled extract. Particularly preferred are the leaves of Pilocarpus jaborandi Holmes (Pernambuco jaborandi) or of P. Microphyllus. Staph (Maranhao jaborandi). The extract can also be obtained commercially as Pilocarpus. Pilocarpus is obtained from the leaves of Pilocarpus jaborandi Holmes (Pernambuco jaborandi) or of P. Microphyllus. Staph (Maranhao jaborandi).

Pilocarpus comprises approximately 1% alkaloids of which approximately 0.5% is pilocarpine, pilocarpidine, isopilocarpine, jaborine, jaboridine, jaboric acid and pilocarpic acid. The boiled extract of jaborandi leaves, or Pilocarpus may be used in accordance with the present invention. The boiled extract of jaborandi leaves is the particularly preferred component.

Eau de Cologne is well known and available commercially.

7 0620v/MS 4 Whilst Eau de Cologne is particularly preferred, in one embodiment of the present invention, any alcohol based perfume, alcohol, or an alcohol/water mix may be used in place of Eau de Cologne.

In addition, the hair tonic may include one or more emulsifying agents, preservatives or colouring agents selected from, for example, those commonly known for use in hair tonics.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method of producing the hair tonic comprising admixing pilocarpine, cinchona bark, spanish fly, ammonia, castor oil, the boiling extract of jaborandi leaves and Eau de Cologne to produce a homogeneous solution.

4 Table 1 below lists a preferred embodiment of the hair tonic by parts volume/volume.

.TABLE 1 Component Parts (v/v) Pilocarpine 0.30 Cinchona bark 50.00 ~Spanish fly 10.00 Ammonia 3.00 Castor Oil 30.00 Pilocarpus 300.00 Eau de Cologne 100.00 W The hair tonic may be admixed by hand on a small scale, or by conventional methods on a larger scale.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method for using the hair tonic comprising applying to the hair and effective amount of the hair tonic and massaging it through the hair and onto the scalp. The hair tonic is allowed to dry and is left on i-i 0620v/MS overnight, being washed off the next morning. The process can be repeated. In a preferred embodiment of the process, the hair is dry prior to applying the hair tonic and approximately 25 mls of hair tonic is massaged into the hair and scalp. The process is repeated once a day until the desired result is achieved.

It has been found that the hair tonic of the present invention helps to generally improve hair and scalp health and may strengthen hair, protect and strengthen the hair cuticles, clean the scalp, help to prevent dandruff, control hair loss a'd may assist in preventing baldness. As such, the present invention is useful for those people who suffer hair loss and/or baldness.

In a further embodiment, the hair tonic of the present invention may be used as a component of conventional shampoos, conditioners, soaps or hair dyes.

m The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting examples.

4 EXAMPLE 1 Following a stroke, it was observed that the hair of the female subject fell out very easily. The hair loss was most notable in the region where she parted her hair, with a bare strip of about two fingers width. Prior to the stroke, the subject had not suffered hair loss. Further, the I subject had had white hair for many years, having lost her dark hair colour in her thirties. The subject applied the hair tonic of the present invention, comprising pilocarpine, cinchona bark, spanish fly, ammonia, castor oil, boiled 1 extract of jaborandi leaves and Eau de Cologne, to her dry hair nightly. The tonic was left on overnight and washed off the following morning. After repeated applications for about three months, it was observed that newly grown hair had the subjects original dark colour. Further, the newly grown hair was healthy and not prone to falling out. It was also observed that new hair had grown in the region of the 0620v/MS 6 part in her hair where all hair had been previously lost.

EXAMPLE 2 A female subject had suffered total hair loss as a result of stress. The subject applied the hair tonic of the prr3ent invention, comprising pilocarpine, cinchona bark, spanish fly, ammonia, castor oil, boiling extract of jaborandi leaves and Eau de Cologne nightly, leaving it on overnight and washing it off the following morning. After about three months repeated application, it was observed that hair growth had begun. The subject regained a full head of hair, which was healthy and of the subject original colour.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications could be made to the composition and method of the present invention as described without departing from the overall scope or spirit of the invention.

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Claims (6)

1. A hair tonic comprising: i) Pilocarpine or pilocarpine derivative; ii) Quinine or quinine derivative; iii) Cantharides or Cantharadin; iv) Ammonia; v) Castor oil; vi) Pilocarpus; and vii) an alcohol based perfume such as Eau de Cologne

2. A hair tonic comprising: i) Pilocarpine; ii) Cinchona bark; iii) Cantharides; S,O iv) Ammonia; v) Castor oil; vi) boiled extract of Jaborandi leaves; and Svii) Eau de Cologne

3. A hair tonic as substantially herein described and with S. reference to the example shown in Table 1.

4. A hair treatment composition comprising the hair tonic as claimed in claim 1 or 2 as a component of any conventional shampoo, conditioner, soap or other hair treatment product.

S. or A method of maintaining healthy hair by applying an effective amount of the hair tonic of any one of claims 1 to 3 in to hair.

6. A method of maintaining healthy hair by applying a hair tonic to hair substantially herein described and with reference to the example shown in Table 1. DATED this 18th day of January, 1993. MINEDEW PTY LIMITED By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE I I 44 4 0620v/MS ABSTRACT A hair tonic comprising Pilocarpine or pilocarpine derivative, quinine or quinine derivative preferably from Cinchona bark, Cantharides (Spanish Fly) or Cantharadin, Ammonia, Castor oil, Pilocarpu; preferably as a boilded extract of jaborandi leaves and ani alcohol based perfume such Eau de Cologne. A *4 4 4 1* *444 .44444 I 44,4 44 444044 4 II A