Background
With the rapidly increasing air pollution and the increasing living pressure of modern society, the balance of free radicals on the surface layers of the skin of more and more people is destroyed due to the bad intervention of the external environment, and the organism generates excessive free radicals, thereby leading the skin to have the aging characteristics of wrinkle, dry keratinization, lackluster, excessive color spot deposition and the like.
The adolescence is the period of handsome and beautiful appearance in the whole life of a human, and at the moment, the skin is soft, smooth, glossy, full, elastic, white, transparent and red. By age 25, metabolism begins to slow, moisture and subcutaneous fat decrease, elastic fibers become thicker, and skin becomes wrinkled and lustrous to disappear. After age 40, the body hormone balance is disturbed, keratin is reduced, elastic fibers are broken, the skin is loose, rough and wrinkles are increased, and the skin gradually enters the aging stage. The aging of the skin is the prominent expression of the aging of the whole body, wherein the aging of the skin on the face is particularly obvious, the number of fibroblasts in the human body is gradually reduced, the secreted collagen and the elastic fibrin are gradually reduced and broken by oxidation, the supporting effect on the skin is eliminated, the inhomogeneous collapse is caused, the dermis layer begins to be thinned, the elasticity of the skin is deteriorated, and wrinkles begin to be gradually generated.
The 'water shortage' is one of the most important patents of the sensitive skin, the worse and worse the skin becomes and the skin is aged, the water replenishing and moisturizing are not only patents of the sensitive skin, various skins are lack of water due to factors such as environment, age, nutrition, health and the like, when the moisture content of the horny layer of the human skin is lower than 10%, the skin loses the fineness and the elasticity, becomes rough and dry, various skin abnormalities occur, if the skin is not corrected for a long time, the skin is easy to age, the skin becomes sensitive due to long spots, and the water replenishing is needed to be paid attention to the anti-aging process.
With the progress of society, the development of economy and the continuous improvement of the living standard of people, the requirements of people on beauty and skin care cosmetics are higher and higher, and the beauty and skin care cosmetics are developed in the direction of naturalization, nutrition and curative effect. However, most of the various cosmetic products on the market contain harmful chemical substances to human body, such as toxic and harmful substances containing lead, mercury and the like, and these cosmetic products are easy to cause skin allergy and damage to human organs and functions.
Therefore, there is a need to develop an antioxidant moisturizing composition and apply the antioxidant moisturizing composition to the anti-aging moisturizing essence.
Disclosure of Invention
The invention mainly aims to provide an antioxidant moisturizing composition and application thereof in anti-aging moisturizing essence, which can effectively replenish water, moisturize, resist aging, repair fine lines, supplement nutritional ingredients lost by skin, make skin moist, smooth and elastic, relieve wrinkles, improve skin, and improve skin brightness and whiteness.
The specific technical scheme is as follows:
an antioxidant moisturizing composition comprises plant extract and humectant.
An antioxidant moisture-keeping composition comprises 15-25 weight parts of plant extract and 0.2-1 weight part of humectant.
In one scheme, the plant extract is prepared by the following method: pulverizing herba Portulacae and flos Camelliae Japonicae to 10-20 mesh to obtain herba Portulacae powder and flos Camelliae Japonicae powder; mixing purslane powder, camellia pollen and water according to a mass ratio of 1: (0.4-0.6): (10-20) mixing, placing in a bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field for extraction at the temperature of 30-50 ℃, and filtering to obtain an extracting solution and filter residues; adding active carbon 1-2% of the weight of the extractive solution, stirring at a rotation speed of 100-.
In another scheme, the plant extract is prepared by the following method: pulverizing herba Portulacae and flos Camelliae Japonicae to 10-20 mesh to obtain herba Portulacae powder and flos Camelliae Japonicae powder; mixing purslane powder, camellia pollen, citric acid and water in a mass ratio of 1: (0.4-0.6): (0.01-0.03): (10-20) mixing, adding into a high-pressure homogenizer, homogenizing for 1-4 times at high pressure, filtering, and collecting filtrate to obtain extractive solution; adding active carbon 1-2% of the weight of the extractive solution, stirring at a rotation speed of 100-.
In a preferred embodiment, the plant extract is prepared by the following method: pulverizing herba Portulacae and flos Camelliae Japonicae to 10-20 mesh to obtain herba Portulacae powder and flos Camelliae Japonicae powder; mixing purslane powder, camellia pollen and water according to a mass ratio of 1: (0.4-0.6): (10-20) mixing, placing in a bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field for extraction at the temperature of 30-50 ℃, and filtering to obtain a primary extracting solution and primary filter residue; mixing the primary filter residue, citric acid and water according to a mass ratio of 1: (0.01-0.03): (8-11) mixing, adding into a high-pressure homogenizer, homogenizing for 1-4 times at high pressure, filtering, and collecting filtrate to obtain a secondary extract; mixing the primary extract and the secondary extract, adding activated carbon 1-2% of the weight of the primary extract, stirring at a rotation speed of 100-.
The electric field intensity of the pulse extracted from the bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field is 15-30kV/cm, the electrode distance is 15-35mm, the frequency is 250-350Hz, the pulse width is 50-100 mus, and the treatment time is 20-35 min.
The pressure of the high-pressure homogenization is 50-90MPa, and the time is 3-8 min.
The humectant is at least one of N-maleylation-O-carboxymethyl chitosan and trehalose quaternary ammonium salt. Further, the moisturizing additive is N-maleylation-O-carboxymethyl chitosan and trehalose quaternary ammonium salt according to the mass ratio of 1: (0.4-0.6).
The invention also discloses application of the antioxidant moisturizing composition in anti-aging moisturizing essence.
The concrete application is as follows:
the anti-aging moisturizing essence consists of the following raw materials: 0.2-1 part by weight of hydroxyethyl urea, 1-2 parts by weight of glycerol, 0.05-0.15 part by weight of carbomer 940, 4-8 parts by weight of 1, 3-propylene glycol, 0.3-0.6 part by weight of 1, 2-hexanediol, 0.03-0.07 part by weight of sodium hyaluronate, 0.05-0.15 part by weight of triethanolamine, 0.1-0.5 part by weight of oat beta-glucan, 0.3-0.7 part by weight of betaine, 15-26 parts by weight of the antioxidant moisturizing composition and 75-85 parts by weight of water; weighing the raw materials according to the parts by weight, adding hydroxyethyl urea, glycerol, carbomer 940, 1, 3-propylene glycol, 1, 2-hexanediol and sodium hyaluronate into water, stirring for 5-15min at the temperature of 65-85 ℃ and the rotating speed of 200-.
The invention has the beneficial effects that:
the plant extract in the antioxidant moisturizing composition has the effects of resisting oxidation, maintaining stable hydration of keratinocytes, preventing loss of moisturizing factors, promoting metabolism, and removing oxygen radical damage, thereby delaying skin aging. The antioxidant moisturizing composition disclosed by the invention is applied to the anti-aging moisturizing essence lotion, can deeply maintain the skin, effectively moisturize, moisturize and resist aging, repair fine lines, supplement lost nutrients of the skin, make the skin moist, smooth and elastic, relieve wrinkles, improve the skin, and improve the brightness and the whiteness of the skin.
Detailed Description
The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent and appreciated from the following detailed description of the invention.
The materials used are described below:
the hydroxyethyl urea is provided by Guangzhou Bokuaihua engineering technology limited in cosmetic grade. N-maleylation-O-carboxymethyl chitosan was prepared according to the method shown in example 1 of Chinese patent application No. 200710116056.3. The sodium hyaluronate is provided by Xian Jinzhengchang chemical industry Co., Ltd, has a molecular weight of 120 ten thousand, and is in a cosmetic grade. Betaine, CAS No.: 107-43-7. Oat beta-glucan is supplied by shanxi forest fr natural products limited. Purslane is provided by Xiangguang medicinal materials Co., Ltd., West county, and the origin is Yunnan. The camellia is provided by the Shang city Shuyun Chinese medicinal material limited company, and the origin place is Yunnan. Citric acid, CAS No.: 77-92-9. The activated carbon is coconut shell activated carbon provided by Suzhou Longlong chemical technology Co., Ltd, and is primary carbon with a particle size of 200 meshes. The trehalose quaternary ammonium salt is prepared according to the method shown in example 1 in the Chinese patent with the application number of 200810139283.2. Carbomer 940 is supplied by lubosun, usa. The high-pressure homogenizer is provided by Shanghai Nuoni light industry machinery Co., Ltd, and has the model of GJJ-0.1/100.
Example 1
The preparation process of the anti-aging moisturizing essence comprises the following steps:
adding 0.5 part by weight of hydroxyethyl urea, 1.5 parts by weight of glycerol, 0.1 part by weight of carbomer 940, 6 parts by weight of 1, 3-propylene glycol, 0.5 part by weight of 1, 2-hexanediol and 0.05 part by weight of sodium hyaluronate into 80 parts by weight of deionized water, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 10min at the temperature of 75 ℃, uniformly mixing, cooling to 40 ℃, adding 0.1 part by weight of triethanolamine, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 3min, uniformly mixing, then adding 0.2 part by weight of oat beta-glucan, 0.5 part by weight of betaine and 20.6 parts by weight of antioxidant moisturizing composition, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 25min, and uniformly mixing to obtain the anti-aging moisturizing essence.
The antioxidant moisturizing composition is prepared by uniformly mixing 20 parts by weight of plant extract and 0.6 part by weight of N-maleylation-O-carboxymethyl chitosan.
The preparation method of the plant extract comprises the following steps: respectively pulverizing herba Portulacae and flos Camelliae Japonicae to 16 mesh to obtain herba Portulacae powder and flos Camelliae Japonicae powder; mixing purslane powder, camellia pollen and water according to a mass ratio of 1: 0.5: 15 mixing the raw materials, placing the mixture in a bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field for extraction at the temperature of 40 ℃, wherein the intensity of a pulse electric field extracted from the bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field is 20kV/cm, the electrode distance is 25mm, the frequency is 300Hz, the pulse width is 60 mu s, the treatment time is 30min, and then filtering the mixture by adopting 300-mesh filter cloth to obtain a primary extracting solution and primary filter residue; mixing the primary filter residue, citric acid and water according to a mass ratio of 1: 0.02: 10 mixing, adding into a high-pressure homogenizer, homogenizing for 3 times at 80MPa for 5min, filtering with 300-mesh filter cloth, and collecting filtrate to obtain secondary extractive solution; mixing the primary extractive solution and the secondary extractive solution, adding activated carbon 1 wt% of the primary extractive solution, stirring at 150r/min for 30min, centrifuging at 9000r/min for 30min to remove bottom precipitate, and filtering the supernatant with 0.3 μm ceramic membrane to obtain plant extract.
Example 2
The preparation process of the anti-aging moisturizing essence comprises the following steps:
adding 0.5 part by weight of hydroxyethyl urea, 1.5 parts by weight of glycerol, 0.1 part by weight of carbomer 940, 6 parts by weight of 1, 3-propylene glycol, 0.5 part by weight of 1, 2-hexanediol and 0.05 part by weight of sodium hyaluronate into 80 parts by weight of deionized water, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 10min at the temperature of 75 ℃, uniformly mixing, cooling to 40 ℃, adding 0.1 part by weight of triethanolamine, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 3min, uniformly mixing, then adding 0.2 part by weight of oat beta-glucan, 0.5 part by weight of betaine and 20.6 parts by weight of antioxidant moisturizing composition, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 25min, and uniformly mixing to obtain the anti-aging moisturizing essence.
The antioxidant moisturizing composition is prepared by uniformly mixing 20 parts by weight of plant extract and 0.6 part by weight of N-maleylation-O-carboxymethyl chitosan.
The preparation method of the plant extract comprises the following steps: respectively pulverizing herba Portulacae and flos Camelliae Japonicae to 16 mesh to obtain herba Portulacae powder and flos Camelliae Japonicae powder; mixing purslane powder, camellia pollen and water according to a mass ratio of 1: 0.5: 25 mixing, placing in a bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field for extraction at the temperature of 40 ℃, wherein the electric field intensity of a pulse extracted from the bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field is 20kV/cm, the electrode distance is 25mm, the frequency is 300Hz, the pulse width is 60 mu s, the treatment time is 30min, and then filtering by adopting 300-mesh filter cloth to obtain an extracting solution and filter residues; stirring activated carbon with an extract weight of 1% at a rotation speed of 150r/min for 30min, centrifuging at a rotation speed of 9000r/min for 30min to remove bottom precipitate, and filtering the supernatant with 0.3 μm ceramic membrane to obtain plant extract.
Example 3
The preparation process of the anti-aging moisturizing essence comprises the following steps:
adding 0.5 part by weight of hydroxyethyl urea, 1.5 parts by weight of glycerol, 0.1 part by weight of carbomer 940, 6 parts by weight of 1, 3-propylene glycol, 0.5 part by weight of 1, 2-hexanediol and 0.05 part by weight of sodium hyaluronate into 80 parts by weight of deionized water, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 10min at the temperature of 75 ℃, uniformly mixing, cooling to 40 ℃, adding 0.1 part by weight of triethanolamine, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 3min, uniformly mixing, then adding 0.2 part by weight of oat beta-glucan, 0.5 part by weight of betaine and 20.6 parts by weight of antioxidant moisturizing composition, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 25min, and uniformly mixing to obtain the anti-aging moisturizing essence.
The antioxidant moisturizing composition is prepared by uniformly mixing 20 parts by weight of plant extract and 0.6 part by weight of N-maleylation-O-carboxymethyl chitosan.
The preparation method of the plant extract comprises the following steps: respectively pulverizing herba Portulacae and flos Camelliae Japonicae to 16 mesh to obtain herba Portulacae powder and flos Camelliae Japonicae powder; mixing purslane powder, camellia pollen, citric acid and water in a mass ratio of 1: 0.5: 0.02: 25 mixing, adding into a high-pressure homogenizer, homogenizing for 3 times at 80MPa for 5min, filtering with 300 mesh filter cloth, and collecting filtrate to obtain extractive solution; adding activated carbon 1 wt% of the extractive solution into the extractive solution, stirring at rotation speed of 150r/min for 30min, centrifuging at rotation speed of 9000r/min for 30min to remove bottom precipitate, and filtering the supernatant with 0.3 μm ceramic membrane to obtain plant extract.
Example 4
The preparation process of the anti-aging moisturizing essence comprises the following steps:
adding 0.5 part by weight of hydroxyethyl urea, 1.5 parts by weight of glycerol, 0.1 part by weight of carbomer 940, 6 parts by weight of 1, 3-propylene glycol, 0.5 part by weight of 1, 2-hexanediol and 0.05 part by weight of sodium hyaluronate into 80 parts by weight of deionized water, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 10min at the temperature of 75 ℃, uniformly mixing, cooling to 40 ℃, adding 0.1 part by weight of triethanolamine, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 3min, uniformly mixing, then adding 0.2 part by weight of oat beta-glucan, 0.5 part by weight of betaine and 20.6 parts by weight of antioxidant moisturizing composition, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 25min, and uniformly mixing to obtain the anti-aging moisturizing essence.
The antioxidant moisturizing composition is prepared by uniformly mixing 20 parts by weight of plant extract and 0.6 part by weight of N-maleylation-O-carboxymethyl chitosan.
The preparation method of the plant extract comprises the following steps: respectively pulverizing herba Portulacae and flos Camelliae Japonicae to 16 mesh to obtain herba Portulacae powder and flos Camelliae Japonicae powder; mixing purslane powder, camellia pollen and water according to a mass ratio of 1: 0.5: 15 mixing the raw materials, placing the mixture in a bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field for extraction at the temperature of 40 ℃, wherein the intensity of a pulse electric field extracted from the bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field is 20kV/cm, the electrode distance is 25mm, the frequency is 300Hz, the pulse width is 60 mu s, the treatment time is 30min, and then filtering the mixture by adopting 300-mesh filter cloth to obtain a primary extracting solution and primary filter residue; mixing the primary filter residue and water according to a mass ratio of 1: 10 mixing, adding into a high-pressure homogenizer, homogenizing for 3 times at 80MPa for 5min, filtering with 300-mesh filter cloth, and collecting filtrate to obtain secondary extractive solution; mixing the primary extractive solution and the secondary extractive solution, adding activated carbon 1 wt% of the primary extractive solution, stirring at 150r/min for 30min, centrifuging at 9000r/min for 30min to remove bottom precipitate, and filtering the supernatant with 0.3 μm ceramic membrane to obtain plant extract.
Example 5
The preparation process of the anti-aging moisturizing essence comprises the following steps:
adding 0.5 part by weight of hydroxyethyl urea, 1.5 parts by weight of glycerol, 0.1 part by weight of carbomer 940, 6 parts by weight of 1, 3-propylene glycol, 0.5 part by weight of 1, 2-hexanediol and 0.05 part by weight of sodium hyaluronate into 80 parts by weight of deionized water, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 10min at the temperature of 75 ℃, uniformly mixing, cooling to 40 ℃, adding 0.1 part by weight of triethanolamine, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 3min, uniformly mixing, then adding 0.2 part by weight of oat beta-glucan, 0.5 part by weight of betaine and 20.6 parts by weight of antioxidant moisturizing composition, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 25min, and uniformly mixing to obtain the anti-aging moisturizing essence.
The antioxidant moisturizing composition is prepared by uniformly mixing 20 parts by weight of plant extract and 0.6 part by weight of trehalose quaternary ammonium salt.
The preparation method of the plant extract comprises the following steps: respectively pulverizing herba Portulacae and flos Camelliae Japonicae to 16 mesh to obtain herba Portulacae powder and flos Camelliae Japonicae powder; mixing purslane powder, camellia pollen and water according to a mass ratio of 1: 0.5: 15 mixing the raw materials, placing the mixture in a bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field for extraction at the temperature of 40 ℃, wherein the intensity of a pulse electric field extracted from the bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field is 20kV/cm, the electrode distance is 25mm, the frequency is 300Hz, the pulse width is 60 mu s, the treatment time is 30min, and then filtering the mixture by adopting 300-mesh filter cloth to obtain a primary extracting solution and primary filter residue; mixing the primary filter residue, citric acid and water according to a mass ratio of 1: 0.02: 10 mixing, adding into a high-pressure homogenizer, homogenizing for 3 times at 80MPa for 5min, filtering with 300-mesh filter cloth, and collecting filtrate to obtain secondary extractive solution; mixing the primary extractive solution and the secondary extractive solution, adding activated carbon 1 wt% of the primary extractive solution, stirring at 150r/min for 30min, centrifuging at 9000r/min for 30min to remove bottom precipitate, and filtering the supernatant with 0.3 μm ceramic membrane to obtain plant extract.
Example 6
The preparation process of the anti-aging moisturizing essence comprises the following steps:
adding 0.5 part by weight of hydroxyethyl urea, 1.5 parts by weight of glycerol, 0.1 part by weight of carbomer 940, 6 parts by weight of 1, 3-propylene glycol, 0.5 part by weight of 1, 2-hexanediol and 0.05 part by weight of sodium hyaluronate into 80 parts by weight of deionized water, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 10min at the temperature of 75 ℃, uniformly mixing, cooling to 40 ℃, adding 0.1 part by weight of triethanolamine, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 3min, uniformly mixing, then adding 0.2 part by weight of oat beta-glucan, 0.5 part by weight of betaine and 20.6 parts by weight of antioxidant moisturizing composition, stirring at the rotating speed of 300r/min for 25min, and uniformly mixing to obtain the anti-aging moisturizing essence.
The antioxidant moisturizing composition is prepared by uniformly mixing 20 parts by weight of plant extract, 0.4 part by weight of N-maleylation-O-carboxymethyl chitosan and 0.2 part by weight of trehalose quaternary ammonium salt.
The preparation method of the plant extract comprises the following steps: respectively pulverizing herba Portulacae and flos Camelliae Japonicae to 16 mesh to obtain herba Portulacae powder and flos Camelliae Japonicae powder; mixing purslane powder, camellia pollen and water according to a mass ratio of 1: 0.5: 15 mixing the raw materials, placing the mixture in a bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field for extraction at the temperature of 40 ℃, wherein the intensity of a pulse electric field extracted from the bipolar square wave high-voltage pulse electric field is 20kV/cm, the electrode distance is 25mm, the frequency is 300Hz, the pulse width is 60 mu s, the treatment time is 30min, and then filtering the mixture by adopting 300-mesh filter cloth to obtain a primary extracting solution and primary filter residue; mixing the primary filter residue, citric acid and water according to a mass ratio of 1: 0.02: 10 mixing, adding into a high-pressure homogenizer, homogenizing for 3 times at 80MPa for 5min, filtering with 300-mesh filter cloth, and collecting filtrate to obtain secondary extractive solution; mixing the primary extractive solution and the secondary extractive solution, adding activated carbon 1 wt% of the primary extractive solution, stirring at 150r/min for 30min, centrifuging at 9000r/min for 30min to remove bottom precipitate, and filtering the supernatant with 0.3 μm ceramic membrane to obtain plant extract.
Test example 1
The anti-aging moisturizing essence of examples 1 to 6 was tested for moisturizing performance. Specific results are shown in table 1.
And (4) moisture retention performance test: 180 female subjects were randomized into 6 groups of 30 subjects, age: 35-45 years old. Health condition: the skin of the subject was healthy and free of dermatosis allergyHistory, according with the volunteer enrollment standard of the subject. The test method comprises the following steps: the skin elasticity Cotomerma MPA580 host manufactured by Courage + Khazaka, Germany (CK, Germany) was used, the probe used was a ReviscometerRV600 elastic fiber tissue test probe, and the average was taken five times. Test area: the forehead area 2cm above the middle of the eyebrow, the chin area 2cm below the middle of the lower lip, and the left and right cheek areas at the intersection of the nose tip and the pupil. Measuring blank value (R2) 30min after cleaning tested area, and regulating the subject to use the anti-aging moisturizing essence in an amount of 0.1g/cm in the morning and evening2(ii) a The skin elasticity index R2 value of the test area after 2 weeks of testing (the negative pressure during the test was constant at 450 mbar). Specification of indexes: the closer the skin elasticity index R2 is to 1, the better the elasticity of the skin. R2 ═ Ua/Uf. Uf — maximum amount of skin stretch. Ua-the recovery value of the skin from the elimination of the negative pressure to the next successive test of the skin surface plus the negative pressure. The comparative test results of each group show that P is less than 0.05, and the difference has statistical significance.
The radical scavenging rate of the antioxidant moisturizing compositions of examples 1-6 was determined by the DPPH method: DPPH is accurately weighed and prepared into a solution with 0.2mmol/L DPPH, and the solution is stored in a brown bottle in dark at low temperature. And diluting the antioxidant moisturizing composition sample to 1.0mg/mL by using deionized water to obtain a sample solution. Taking 2mL of sample liquid in a test tube, adding 2mL of 0.2mmol/L DPPH solution, uniformly mixing, standing in the dark at room temperature for 30min, measuring the absorbance value at 517nm by using an ultraviolet spectrophotometer UV-2000 (Enicoco, Shanghai) limited instrument company) and calculating as Ai, simultaneously measuring the absorbance value at 517nm by using 2mL of absolute ethyl alcohol in the 2mL of sample liquid, standing in the dark at room temperature for 30min, measuring the absorbance value at 517nm by using the ultraviolet spectrophotometer UV-2000 (Enicoco, Shanghai) limited instrument company) and calculating as Aj, and measuring the absorbance value at 517nm by using the ultraviolet spectrophotometer UV-2000 (Enicoco, Shanghai) limited instrument company and calculating as Ac. The DPPH radical clearance rate of the sample is calculated according to the following formula: DPPH radical clearance ═ 1- (Ai-Aj)/Ac ] × 100%.
Table 1: test result table
The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims of the present invention should be covered by the present invention.