GB2094623A

GB2094623A - Compositions containing hydrogen peroxide

Info

Publication number: GB2094623A
Application number: GB8202289A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Key Pharmaceuticals Inc
Current assignee: Key Pharmaceuticals Inc
Priority date: 1981-01-30
Filing date: 1982-01-27
Publication date: 1982-09-22
Also published as: FR2498932A1; JPS57176911A; EP0057403A1; DE3202347A1; AU7956482A; IL64881A; IL64881A0; CA1173364A

Description

SPECIFICATION Antibacterial compositions This invention relates to antibacterial compositions. Hydrogen peroxide has long been known for its potent disinfectant activity. However, the benefits of this activity are counterweighted by the instability (and resulting short shelf life) of aqueous hydrogen peroxide. When any hydrogen peroxide preparation is placed on the skin, the hydrogen peroxide is immediately in danger of decomposition by enzyme processes, such as by catalase which is present in human tissues and in a wide variety of bacteria. Furthermore, applications of aqueous hydrogen peroxide rapidly lose their effectiveness because they run off the skin. According to the present invention there is provided an antibacterial composition comprising an intimate mixture of a lecithin and hydrogen peroxide. The compositions of the invention provide a means to deliver topical hydrogen peroxide in a stable form to a patient. The compositions according to the invention find particular value in treating acne. The major strains of bacteria that cause acne and other pathogenic skin processes may be killed outright or effectively inhibited in their growth by the application of small quantity of hydrogen peroxide to the skin. The lecithin and hydrogen peroxide are conveniently brought into intimate admixture in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, e.g. a solvent. The concentration of the hydrogen peroxide in a composition of this invention is preferably in the range of from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight, most preferably from about 4 to about 8% by weight of hydrogen peroxide, based upon the total weight of the composition. The total lecithin concentration is preferably in the range of from about 0.25 to about 15% by weight, most preferably from about 1 to about 2% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition. The lecithin is conveniently a vegetable lecithin such as soy lecithin. The preferred carrierfor use in compositions of the invention is water. There may be added to the compositions of the invention in order to provide additional skin moisturization and other cosmetic effects, other suitable carriers, humectants, or emollients. The compositions of this invention exhibit low toxicity. This invention also includes a method of treating acne by applying a composition of this invention, using water or other pharmaceutically acceptable solvent or other carrier, to the skin of a patient. The invention is further illustrated by the following Examples.

EXAMPLE Compositions in accordance with this invention were evaluated in their action in vitro against two common pathogens of the skin, S. aureus and P. acneus. Filter paper discs, 1.3 cm in diameter, were saturated with a lecithin-hydrogen peroxide mixture in water and placed on petri dishes containing cultures of the test bacteria on an agar-based medium. In each case the degree of bactericidal action was determined by measuring the total width of the zone of inhibition around the disc. Table I below sets forth results of these tests, the inhibition zone width figures excluding the diameter of the test disc:

TABLE

EXAMPLE//

In order to determine whether the lecithin inhibited or masked the therapeutic effect of the hydrogen peroxide in the test of Table I, aqueous hydrogen peroxide was compared against a 4% lecithin 1% hydrogen peroxide aqueous composition according to this invention, formulated as set forth below.

5 The data set forth below in Table II show that there is no meaningful difference in in vitro inhibition of S. aureus between 1% aqueous hydrogen peroxide and a composition according to this invention containing the same amount of hydrogen peroxide: TABLE 1/

* Test disc fell off when dish was turned. While the plaque tests set forth above do not distinguish between bactericidal and bacteriostatic action, this test method is considered to provide information of significance in predicting in vivo activity.

EXAMPLE 11/ In addition to the compositions of Examples I and II, the following higher potency compositions have been found to be active using less lecithin:

Claims

1. An antibacterial composition comprising an intimate mixture of a lecithin and hydrogen peroxide.

2. An antibacterial composition as claimed in Claim 1, dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

3. An antibacterial composition as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is a solvent for the mixture.

4. An antibacterial composition as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the solvent is water.

5. An antibacterial composition as claimed in Claim 1,2,3 or 4, wherein said composition comprises a mixture of from about 0.25 to about 15% by weight of a lecithin and from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of hydrogen peroxide based on the total weight of the composition, in a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent.

6. An antibacterial composition as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the hydrogen peroxide concentration is in the range of from about 4 to about 8% by weight.

7. An antibacterial composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the composition contains from about 1 to about 4% by weight of a lecithin.

8. An antibacterial composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, where the composition contains about 1% by weight of a lecithin.

9. An antibacterial composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lecithin is soy lecithin.

10. An antibacterial composition as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as described in any one of the foregoing Examples.