GB2110534A - Composition for treatment of venomous bites and stings - Google Patents

Abstract

An anhydrous composition for topical treatment of bites and stings comprises an aluminium salt (such as aluminium sulphate) in particulate form having a maximum particle size of 20 microns (preferably 0.5 to 1.0 microns), and a waterproof vehicle (such as silicone polymers, e.g., dimethicones). The compositions are especially intended for use when bathing in the sea, and may also contain methyl eugenol, which inhibits the discharge of nematocysts of marine stingers, and marine stinger repelling agents, such as menthol, para dichlorobenzene, chlorinated hydrocarbons and camphor. Sun screen agents and perfume may also be present.

Description

SPECIFICATION Composition for treatment of stings etc.

This invention relates to a composition and method for treatment of bites, stings and wounds.

Australian Patents 475036,513983 and 518852 all refer to a compositionfortreatment of bites and stings containing water soluble aluminium salts and in particular aluminium sulphate. Patent 475 036 describes an additional detergent component which is an ethyloxylate of an alcohol containing 12-1 5 carbon atoms.

Patent 513983 describes additional detergent components selected from ionic or non-ionic detergents and in particular the ammonium and substituted ammonium, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts of the higher benzene sulphonates, the higher alkyl sulphates and the higher fatty acid monoglyceride sulphates. Each of the above-mentioned detergent components was useful in removing natural skin oils or any other oily substances such as sunburn cream applied before occurrence of the bite or sting so as to enable the aluminium salt to effectively relieve the effects of the bite or sting.

The mechanism of the action of the aluminium salt in relation to relief of bites or stings is not entirely clear but it is believed that the aluminium ion denatures venoms or toxins and other stinging substances which may be the principal pain causing agent. In relation to stings caused by marine stingers such as Chironex Fleckeri (the "sea wasp") it is considered that the positively charged aluminium ions may penetrate the complicated lattice formed by the macromolecular substances such as proteins which constitute the toxins or venoms and denature same.

While compositions described in Patents 475 513 983, and 518 852 have been useful in treatment of bites and stings it will be appreciated that these compositions were essentially water based and hence had only limited application during swimming or at the beach. Also the water based aluminium compositions did not provide long lasting protection against further stings or wounds because of the fact that the water based compositions while suitable for topical application for immediate relief did not last long on the skin being easily removed by further exposure to water or alternatively being dried out by the sun.

Thus there has now become a need for the provision of a protective lotion or ointment which may be applied to the skin by a bather before entering the water wherein the bather may encounter a marine stinger such as Chironex Fleckeri, Physalia Utriculus (Portuguese Man-o' War or Bluebottle) or sea anemones or hydroids which may possess nematocysts or sticking capsules which are capable of stinging humans with varying degrees of severity causing great discomfort.

Also the composition of Patents 475 036, 513 983 and 518 852 were not appropriate in the situation where people such as professional fishermen required protective creams, ointments or lotions in the advent that they encountered a marine stinger. Heretofore such people especially in the summer months in North Queensland, Australia had to wear protective clothing which was uncomfortable and restrictive during tropical conditions.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a composition and method for treatment of bites, stings and wounds which may be used in the form of a protective cream, lotion or ointment.

The composition of the invention includes the following components: (I) an aluminium salt in the form of finely divided particles having a maxirnum particle size of 20 microns, and (II) a waterproof vehicle.

The method of the invention includes the step of topical application to the skin of the aluminium salt referred to above.

Preferably the aluminium salt has a minimum particle size of 0.5 microns. Most preferably the aluminium salt has a particle size range of 0.5 to 1.0 microns.

Suitable aluminium salts for use in the invention may be selected from aluminium sulphate, aluminium chlorhydrate, aluminium nitrate, aluminium acetate, aluminium chloride, aluminium citrate, aluminium tartrate, aluminium formate and alums.

Preferably the preparation of the aluminium salt in the form of anhydrous finely ground particles is carried out in a ball mill or other suitable grinding apparatus. The grade of aluminium salt should of high purity especially excluding as impurities the heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. Before grinding the aluminium salt (suitable in the form of aluminium sulphate) may be dried by heating in a hot air oven or other appropriate heating means.

The grinding operation is preferably carried out with an organic solvent such as petroleum ether or shellite.

The waterproof vehicle may also function as a carrier for additional optional components of the composition referred to hereinafter. Additional waterproof carriers specific for the additional components may also be utilized.

The waterproof vehicle is suitably included in the composition in a range of proportions of 20 to 80% on a weight basis. More preferably the waterproof vehicle comprises 20 to 70% of the composition. In contrast the finely divided aluminium salt may comprise from 5.0 to 75.0 percent of the composition and more preferably 1 5 to 60 percent by weight of the composition.

Most preferably the aluminium salt may comprise from 15 to 50% of the composition.

Suitable waterproof vehicles are commercially available silicone polymers suitably in the form of dimethicones. In particular there may be used a mixture of solid and liquid silicones supplied by Consolidated Silicones Pty. Ltd. Alternatively a mixture of liquid dimethicones containing finely divided silica may be used.

Other waterproof vehicles that may be used include petroleum ether, shellite, petroleum products generally such as liquid paraffin, petroleum jeily or paraffin wax. Metallic soaps of aluminium magnesium and calcium may also be utilized. Barrier creams, oils such as coconut oils and higher fatty alcohols may be also used.

Generally any suitably waterproof vehicle may be used which is non-toxic to the skin and which also serves as a suitable vehicle for the finely divided particles of aluminium salt and other components of the composition of the invention. Besides functioning as a vehicle the waterproof substance may inhibit the leaching out of the composition of the aluminium salt and other components described herein. The waterproof vehicle may also prevent the adherence of the tentacles of the marine stingers carrying the nematocysts to the skin. This feature is important in that it greatly reduces the risk of any but a minor non-lethal stinging effect.

Another component that can be employed in the composition of the invention is a substance that inhibits the discharge of nematocysts of marine stingers. This substance may be methyl eugenol. This substance may be included in the composition on a basis of 1 to 30% by weight and more suitably 10% by weight.

Other components that may be utilised in the composition of the invention include a suitable marine stinger repelling agent which has been found to be obnoxious to marine stingers or envenomators capable of locomotion such as jellyfish. Menthol has been found to be particularly suitable. A suitable range of proportions in the composition may be from 0.5% to 5.0 ,0 by weight.

A preferred amount is 3.5% by weight. Other suitable marine stinger repelling agents are para dichlorobenzene, chlorinated hydrocarbons and camphor.

Sun screen agents may also be used in the composition of the invention which are compatible with the components described above. One suitable sun screen agent is PARSOL supplied by Givaudan Pty. Ltd. of Dee Why, Sydney, Australia.

The sun screen agent may be employed in an amount of from 2.5 to 12.0% by weight with a preferred proportion being 7.0 to 7.5% weight.

If desired an appropriate perfume may also be utilized and a suitable perfume is PCS 9019 supplied by Givaudan Pty. Ltd. of Dee Why, Sydney, Australia. A suitable range of proportions is 0.1 to 1.0 percent and more preferably 0.25 percent.

EXAMPLE 1 Commercial grade aluminium sulphate is dried by heating at 200-2500C in a hot air oven for 3 hours. After drying, the aluminium sulphate is ground in a ball mill in a vehicle of petroleum ether at a temperature of 30-600C with a moisture content of not more than 0.4% by weight.

Alternatively the dried aluminium sulphate may be ground in a vehicle in shellite which has been previously dried by standing over calcium chloride desiccant with occasional shaking for at least 2 weeks. Aluminium sulphate is insoluble in both shellite or petroleum ether.

The grinding of the dried aluminium sulphate was accomplished in a ball mill to the required particle size of between 0.5-1.0 microns. The body of the mill is of smooth highly polished stainless steel and the balls are 1.5 inches in diameter. Steel ball bearings which are also highly polished or non-corrodable highly polished ball bearings formed of other suitable metal could also be utilized.

The mill body is hermetically sealed to prevent evaporation of the liquid vehicle. Grinding usually takes 4 days. After grinding the liquid is evaporated and the ground product sieved through suitable nylon material. During grinding the mill body is set at an angle and rotated so that the balls fall on the material being ground.

The required particle size of the aluminium sulphate is determined microscopically using ocular and stage micrometers. It is most desirable that the ground product does not give a gritty feeling when applied to the skin in the form of a suitable cream.

EXAMPLE 2 The following compositions exemplary of the present invention were prepared by initially weighing each component prior to mixing in an evaporating basin with a spatula. The mixing operation took half an hour and was carried out at room temperature.

Percentage Proportion by Weight of Grams Composition FORMULATION 1 Silicone Polymer 33.0 52.0 Paraffin Jelly 11.0 1 7.3 Menthol 1.95 3.0 Parsol 4.5 7.0 Aluminium Sulphate 13.0 20.5 Perfume 0.25 0.2 FORMULATION 2 Silicone Polymer 22.2 33.7 Paraffin Jelly 22.0 33.6 Menthol 1.95 5.0 Parsol 4.5 7.0 Aluminium Sulphate 13.0 20.5 Perfume 0.25 0.2 FORMULATION 3 Silicone Polymer 11.0 17.3 Paraffin Jelly 33.0 52.0 Menthol 1.95 3.0 Parsol 4.5 7.0 Aluminium Sulphate 13.0 20.5 Perfume 0.25 0.2 FORMULATION 4 Silicone Polymer 43.5 49.8 Menthol 2.65 3.0 Parsol 6.15 7.0 Aluminium Sulphate 35.0 40.0 Perfume 0.25 0.2 FORMULATION 5 Silicone Polymer 43.5 34.9 Menthol 3.3 3.0 Percentage Proportion by Weight of Grams Composition Parsol 7.65 7.0 Aluminium Sulphate 35.0 45.0 Liquid Silicone 5.45 6.0 Methyl Eugenol 4.1 3.9 Perfume 0.25 0.2 FORMULATION 6 Silicone Polymer 43.5 34.7 Menthol 3.25 3.0 Parsol 8.75 7.0 Aluminium Sulphate 56.25 45.0 Liquid Silicone 12.75 10.1 Perfume 0.25 0.2 FORMULATION 7 Silicone Polymer 43.5 45.7 Menthol 2.65 2.7 Parsol 6.15 6.4 Aluminium Sulphate 35.0 36.7 Methyl Eugenol 8.9 9.3 Perfume 0.25 0.2 Each of the above formulations was applied topically to bathers at Proserpine, Queensland, Australia and it was found that protection was obtained against stinging from Bluebottles for 80 minutes before a new application was required.

In relation to ChironexEleckeri, it was found that only minor stings were encountered when contact was made with this organism.

Inflammation and blistering of the skin was found to be very much reduced. Also only minor weals were raised by the nematocysts. it was also found that discharge of the venom-laden thread from the nematocysts into the skin was substantially inhibited. Also the adherence of such threads to the skin was found to be substantially reduced.

The above formulations were applied topically to skin and were found to be effective in substantially minimizing pain caused by stings from spiders, bees, sandflies, wasps, hornets and mosquitoes. Symptoms such as blisters, itching, allergic reactions and secondary infections were also substantially minimized or in some cases eliminated entirely.

The above formulations were also found to be effective in substantially alleviating pain associated with contact with the spined fishes such as John Dory or Butterfly Cod. Contact with such spined fishes often provides extremely painful wounds or bites.

The above formulations were also found to be effective in providing protection against stings from stinging trees and nettles.

Claims (12)

1. An an hydros composition for treatment of bites. stings and wounds comprising: (I) an aluminium salt in the form of finely divided particles having a maximum size of 20 microns; and (ii) a waterproof vehicle

2. A composition as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the particles of aluminium salt have a size within the range of 0.5 to 1.0 microns.

3. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the proportion of aluminium salt included within the composition is from 5.0 to 75% by weight.

4. A composition as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the proportion of aluminium salt included within the composition is from 1 5 to 50% by weight.

5. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the proportion of waterproof vehicle included in the composition is from 20 to 80% by weight.

6. A composition as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the proportion of waterproof vehicle included in the composition is from 20 to 70% by weight.

7. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the aluminium salt is aluminium sulphate.

8. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, further including methyl eugenol.

9. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, containing a silicone polymer as a waterproof vehicle.

10. A method of treatment of bites, stings or wounds including the step of application to the skin of a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.

11. An anhydrous composition for treatment of bites, stings and wounds prepared substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Example 1.

12. An anhydrous composition for treatment of bites, stings and wounds substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the formulations in Example 2.