TWI747514B - Olfactory enrichment composition for soothing and calming the pets - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an olfactory enrichment composition for soothing and calming the pets, which includes a first active ingredient sourced, a second active ingredient sourced, anti-oxidant, solvent, cosolvent, and antimicrobial agent, in this composition, the first ingredient sourced may be dihydroactinidiolide or 2, 3-cyclopentenopyridine, and the weight percentage of the first active ingredient in the composition ranges from 0.01% to 3%; and the second ingredient sourced may be neryl acetate or vetacetyl the weight percentage of the second active ingredient in the composition ranges from 0.01% to 3%.

Description

Composition for soothing and calming pets by smell

The present invention relates to a composition that enriches the pet's sense of smell after smelling the pet, so as to soothe and calm the pet.

Nowadays, pets or companion animals are closely related to the lives of many people, and environmental changes can easily cause pressure and urgency for pets. For example, environmental changes, raising new pets, changing owners, noise and even weather changes may all be sources of stress for pets. , Causing problem behaviors in pets.

When pets face stress or urgency, their response behaviors are mainly dominated by the nervous system and endocrine system. More specifically, pets’ defensive behaviors may be accompanied by blood constancy changes. For example, stress usually prompts pets to release corticotropin (ACTH), which in turn affects the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol (cortisol), resulting in abnormal behavior and growth of pets. Developmental delay, disease occurrence, severe cases even life-threatening. On the other hand, as far as pet groups are concerned, stressful behavior often leads to aggressive fights between pets. Take a domestic cat as an example. When a cat is under stress, it often exhibits specific stressful behaviors, such as scratching claws and abnormal defecation. In addition to threatening the health of the pet, these problematic behaviors may also cause health problems for the owner. Therefore, how to properly relieve the pressure of pets has become a general demand of pet owners.

In response to the above-mentioned needs, a common method nowadays is to improve the stress of pets through environmental enrichment. The term “environmental enrichment” generally refers to any method of improving the health of pets by adjusting the environment, which essentially covers all pets’ senses of sight, hearing, temperature, smell, touch, etc. The multiple environmental conditions that are accessible to the senses can improve pets' behaviors, thereby enhancing pets' resilience when facing stressful and distressed environments.

In terms of the physiological mechanism of pets, smell is an important sensory pathway. For example, the most common olfactory organs of pet dogs and cats have developed vomeronasal organs (VNO), which are responsible for extracting chemical information molecules in the environment. It is an indispensable part of pets' inherent vigilance, defense, foraging, breeding and other functions. There are specific receptors in the nasal hoe. When a specific chemical message molecule binds to a specific receptor, it can initiate a nerve signal to be transmitted to the brain, and then the brain area sends a nerve signal to cause a specific behavioral response. Therefore, it is feasible to soothe and relieve the stress, anxiety, and urgency of the pet through the olfactory pathway of the pet, calm the pet and improve the behavior. In summary, the previous cases will be cited to further illustrate the development status of this technical field.

The United States Patent Publication No. US5709863 discloses a composition for preventing random defecation of domestic cats from becoming a mark, which contains emulsified forms of oleic acid, azelaic acid, pimelic acid, Palmitic acid and other ingredients, but limited by the low vapor pressure of fatty acids and poor water solubility, it is difficult to dissolve in the physiological environment, so it is difficult to exert the effect of stimulating VNO and activating receptors, so the composition contains the aforementioned active ingredients The concentration must be increased to more than 10% by weight.

The United States Patent Application Publication No. US2011/0150822A1 discloses a composition in which squalene, linoleic acid and 1-docosanol are used as pet olfactory enrichment formula , But still limited by fatty acids, the concentration and dosage of these components must be significantly increased to activate the target receptor.

European Invention Patent Application No. EP2954886A1 discloses an esterified fatty acid to solve the problem of free fatty acid diffusion and the restriction of high use concentration, and claims that the weight percentage can be used Esterified fatty acids with a ratio of less than 1% produce an enrichment effect similar to that of high-concentration free fatty acids. However, since esterified fatty acids still have the problems of low vapor pressure and poor water solubility, they still limit the activation effect of the receptor on the VPO, so it is still difficult to perform its function.

International Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Application Publication Patent No. WO2013/043879A1 discloses a pheromone molecule (interomone) derived from the mammary glands of female rabbits, named "2-methyl-2-butenal" (2- methylbut-2-enal), used in a variety of compositions as a chemical signal molecule for cross-species communication to adjust the behavior of vertebrates. However, there is no evidence in the disclosure to show that the composition has the effect of enriching the sense of smell.

On the other hand, aromatherapy, such as essential oils, is gradually gaining attention in pet smell enrichment methods. For example, it has been confirmed that essential oils derived from plants such as basil, valerian, clary sage, vetiver, rosemary, etc., are beneficial to humans and pets. With the effect of calming emotions and relieving stress, there are many related products on the market. However, due to the physiological differences between humans and pets, some specific compounds in the aforementioned essential oils are toxic to pets, such as benzene rings, benzyl alcohol, pinene, and terpineol. (terpineol), cineole, (camphor), phenols, limonene and cyclic monoterpene (cyclic monoterpene), and even the competent authority has warned that some essential oils may be harmful to pets Cause harm.

Based on the above situation and needs, how to achieve effective soothing, calming, soothing, and calming effects through the pet's olfactory pathway through appropriate chemical signal molecules has become a general unmet need of the owners.

According to the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention proposes a composition for pet olfactory application to soothe and calm pets. The composition is composed of a first active ingredient, a second active ingredient, an antioxidant, a solvent, a co-solvent, and an antimicrobial agent. In this composition, the first active ingredient is dihydrokiwi lactone or 2,3-cyclopentapyridine, and the weight percentage of the first active ingredient ranges from 0.01% to 3%, and the second active ingredient is neroli acetate Ester or vetiver acetate, and the weight percentage of the second active ingredient ranges from 0.01% to 3%.

According to the above objective, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the aforementioned composition, the weight percentage of the first active ingredient ranges from 0.05% to 1%, and the weight percentage of the second active ingredient ranges from 0.05% to 1%. %.

According to the above objective and according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weight percentage of the solvent in the composition ranges from 50% to 99%.

According to the above objective and according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weight percentage of the co-solvent in the composition ranges from 3% to 20%.

According to the above objective and according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weight percentage of the antioxidant in the composition ranges from 0.001% to 3%.

According to the above objective and according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weight percentage of the antimicrobial agent in the composition ranges from 0.01% to 5%.

In order to make the purpose, technical features and advantages of the present invention better understood by those in the relevant technical field and able to implement the present invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the technical features and implementation modes of the present invention are explained in detail, and listed The preferred embodiment is further explained. The drawings to be compared in the following text are schematic representations related to the features of the present invention, and are not and do not need to be drawn completely based on actual situations. Regarding the implementation of the technical content that is well known to those skilled in the art, it will not be described again.

In response to pets' soothing and calming needs, the present invention discloses a composition in which the active ingredients are combined with solvents, co-solvents, antioxidants, antimicrobial agents and other ingredients to achieve the effect of soothing pets' emotions and stress. Compared with the prior art, the composition of the present invention requires a lower concentration of active ingredients, and at a lower concentration, you can smell the pet to achieve a pet soothing effect.

More specifically, the present invention discloses a composition for olfactory soothing and calming pets, which is mainly composed of a first active ingredient and a second active ingredient. Among the ingredients contained in the composition, the weight percentage of the first active ingredient in the composition ranges from 0.01% to 3%, and the weight percentage of the second active ingredient ranges from 0.01% to 3%.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the composition proposed by the present invention, the weight percentage of the first active ingredient ranges from 0.05% to 1%, and the weight percentage of the second active ingredient ranges from 0.05% to 1%. .

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the composition proposed by the present invention, the aforementioned first active ingredient may be dihydroactinidiolide, nepetalactone, 2,3-cyclopentenepyridine (2,3-cyclopentenopyridine), nepetalic acid, valerenic acid, dihydronepetalactone, actinidine or dolicholactone, or from the aforementioned A mixture of compounds.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the composition proposed by the present invention, the aforementioned second active ingredient may be neryl acetate, linalyl acetate, vetiver acetate ), linalool, citral, nerol, geranyl acetate, angelic acid, isovaleric acid, camomile tiglic acid) and other compounds, or a mixture of the foregoing compounds.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the composition proposed by the present invention further includes a solvent, and the weight percentage generally ranges from 50% to 99%; however, when the present invention is implemented, the weight percentage ranges from 70% The effect is better when it reaches 90%. As for the type of solvent, it depends on the first active ingredient and the second active ingredient selected. The principle of selection is that the solvent must be able to easily dissolve the first active ingredient and the second active ingredient to achieve the aforementioned first active ingredient and The weight percentage concentration of the second active ingredient is therefore not substantially limited by the present invention. However, the composition according to the present invention is designed to be applied by the pet olfactory route. Therefore, considering the absorption effect of the pet nasal device, the ideal solvent should have good water solubility or polarity, and be suitable for spray and spray application Methods and devices. According to the foregoing considerations, the specific options of the solvent contained in the composition proposed by the present invention include, but are not limited to, ethanol, isopropanol (IPA), n-propanol (n-propanol), butanol (butaonl), and mixtures of the aforementioned solvents. The group formed.

The composition proposed by the present invention must rely on the active ingredients contained in it to perform its function, so the composition of the present invention may further include a cosolvent, and its weight percentage generally ranges from 3% to 20%; At the time of invention, the effect is better when the weight percentage ranges from 5% to 15%. As for the type of co-solvent, it depends on the first active ingredient and the second active ingredient to be selected. The principle of selection is that the co-solvent must be able to sufficiently extend the amount of the first active ingredient and the second active ingredient contained in the composition at room temperature. Time, and promote the effect of spray/spray application, so the present invention is not substantially limited. Of course However, when the composition according to the present invention is designed to be applied through the pet olfactory route, the ideal co-solvent needs to have lower vapor pressure characteristics (compared to the solvent) and is not toxic to pets of a specific species. According to the foregoing considerations, the specific options of the co-solvents proposed in the present invention include but are not limited to glycol compounds. However, in terms of practical applications, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol There are toxic concerns for pets, so the ideal co-solvent options are relatively long chain diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and tripropylene glycol. (tripropylene glycol), diethylene glycol ethyl ether (ethyl carbitol), diethylene glycol butyl ether (butyl carbitol), and the group consisting of a mixture of the aforementioned co-solvents.

Based on preserving the active ingredients contained in the composition proposed by the present invention, the composition of the present invention may further comprise an antioxidant (antioixdant), and its weight percentage generally ranges from 0.001% to 3%; however, when the present invention is implemented, its weight percentage The effect is ideal when the range is between 0.01% and 1%. As for the types of antioxidants, there is no restriction, and the main purpose is not to affect the effectiveness and safety of the active ingredients. Specific options include, but are not limited to, dibutylhydroxytoluene (BHT), butylhydroxymethoxybenzene (BHA), and the anti-oxidants mentioned above. A group consisting of a mixture of oxidants.

Based on the preservation of the active ingredients contained in the composition proposed by the present invention, the composition of the present invention may further include an antimicrobial agent, with a weight percentage generally ranging from 0.01% to 5%; however, when implementing the present invention, it The effect is ideal when the weight percentage ranges from 0.05% to 1%. As for the selection of types, in accordance with the active ingredients, formula, dosage form and other characteristics of the composition of the present invention, the ideal antimicrobial agent is short-chain fatty acid. Specific options include, but are not limited to, acetic acid, propanoic acid, and propanoic acid. acid, lactic acid, pyruyic acid, succinic acid, butyric acid, and valeric acid.

Since the composition proposed by the present invention is applied by the smell of pets, the preferred embodiment is to prepare sprays and sprays for use, such as with spray bottles, spray devices, and heating devices. The scope of application is mainly where pets are located. It can also be applied locally to places where pets have problem behaviors. If a domestic cat is taken as an example, the composition can be diffused in the air of the place where pets are located through a heating device or sprayer, or it can be applied locally by spraying.

In order to further illustrate the implementation and effects of the composition proposed by the present invention, the following examples are listed for description.

Example 1

According to the composition proposed by the present invention, three formulas are listed: A formula, B formula, and C formula are illustrated as examples, and solvents and co-solvents without active ingredients are used as control formulas. There are four groups of formulas. The specific composition of the ingredients is shown in the table below. Show.

Example 2

Topical application to equipment: To evaluate the effect of spraying the composition of the present invention on specific equipment with a sprayer on adjusting the behavior of domestic cats.

The experiment of this embodiment was carried out after the consent of the owner of the domestic cat was raised, and the behavior of the domestic cat's scratching and grinding claws was used as the observation index. First, spray the two groups of cat scratching boards with formula A and the control formula respectively for treatment, and then place the two groups of cat scratching boards treated with different sprays next to each other in a closed room. Then, 21 domestic cats (11 male cats and 10 female cats) between the ages of 11 months and 7 years old were brought into this room and observed for 2 hours. At the same time, they were recorded and calculated separately. The number of times the cat scratches the two sets of scratchers. The record results showed that the total number of times of spraying the cat's claw board of the control formula for 21 domestic cats was 41 times; on the other hand, only 2 of the 21 domestic cats were scratching and grinding the cat's claw board of spraying A formula. The total number of times is only 3 times. Statistical analysis of this test data showed that the difference in scratching between the two groups (Formulation A and the control formulation) is statistically significant, that is, the treatment and application of Formulation A can significantly reduce the scratching behavior of domestic cats.

Example 3

Environmental spray application: To evaluate the effect of spraying the composition of the present invention into the environment on the behavior of domestic cats.

The experiment of this example was carried out after the consent of domestic cat owners was recruited, and 63 domestic cats who exhibited one or more of the following behaviors were recruited to participate in the experiment: abnormal defecation (random urination), scratching of paws, aggressiveness, depression, loss of appetite, pacing Step, roar. The aforementioned 63 domestic cats with problem behaviors were equally divided into 3 groups for the following tests:

Group A: The test subjects are 21 domestic cats that have not been administered any composition. The owner is asked to continue to observe the behavior of the aforementioned domestic cats within a week.

Group B: The test subjects are 21 domestic cats with the aforementioned problem behaviors, and these domestic cats are exposed to the control formula spray (dose is to apply 2 ml of the composition within 8 hours a day) for one week. During this period, please The owner continued to observe the behavior of the domestic cat for a week.

Group C: The test subjects are 21 domestic cats with the aforementioned problem behaviors, and these domestic cats are exposed to formula B spray (the dosage is 2 ml of the composition within 8 hours a day) for one week. During this period, please The owner continued to observe the behavior of the domestic cat for a week.

This test is a blind test, that is, the owners of domestic cats do not know what composition to use during the test. When evaluating the effect, simply ask the owner if he noticed an improvement in the behavior of the domestic cat during the one-week trial. The owner only needs to answer "Yes" or "No". The statistical results are listed in the table below.

The results listed in the above table show that in the group (group B) where the composition proposed by the present invention was sprayed, most of the owners noticed that the behavior of the domestic cat was significantly improved.

It can be seen from the above examples that, in terms of the concentration of active ingredients, the composition proposed by the present invention is significantly lower than the concentration of active molecules used in the prior art by as much as 10 times, and it has been confirmed by experiments that the composition proposed by the present invention can indeed The effect of soothing and calming pets is sufficient to demonstrate the utility of the present invention. In addition, since the active ingredients in the composition formula proposed by the present invention are simple, safe and low in active concentration (the expected effect can be achieved under low concentration conditions), it also achieves a reduction in product manufacturing costs and thus increases additional benefits.

Claims (6)

A composition for soothing and calming pets through the sense of smell, the composition is composed of a first active ingredient, a second active ingredient, an antioxidant, a solvent, a co-solvent and an antimicrobial agent. Wherein, the first active ingredient is dihydrokiwi lactone or 2,3-cyclopentapyridine, and the weight percentage of the first active ingredient ranges from 0.01% to 3%, and the second active ingredient is neroli acetate Ester or vetiver acetate, and the weight percentage of the second active ingredient ranges from 0.01% to 3%. The composition according to claim 1, wherein in the composition, the weight percentage of the first active ingredient ranges from 0.05% to 1%, and the weight percentage of the second active ingredient ranges from 0.05% to 1% . The composition according to claim 1, wherein the weight percentage of the solvent in the composition ranges from 50% to 99%. The composition according to claim 1, wherein in the composition, the weight percentage of the co-solvent ranges from 3% to 20%. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the weight percentage of the antioxidant in the composition ranges from 0.001% to 3%. The composition according to claim 1, wherein in the composition, the weight percentage of the antimicrobial agent ranges from 0.01% to 5%.