WO2006049367A1

WO2006049367A1 - Toothpaste composition comprising essential oil

Info

Publication number: WO2006049367A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/003268
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jong Cheol Kim
Original assignee: Jong Cheol Kim
Priority date: 2004-11-04
Filing date: 2004-12-13
Publication date: 2006-05-11
Also published as: KR20060041347A; KR100760970B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a toothpaste composition including an essential oil in the base of conventional toothpaste compositions to have strong effect on the removal of mouth odors and oral bacteria. In the present invention, the essential oil is selected from the group consisting of peppermint oil, lemon oil, tea tree oil, and combinations thereof, and when used, the peppermint oil is in an amount of 0.50-0.85wt%, the lemon oil in an amount of 0.20-0.65wt%, and the tea tree oil in an amount of 0.07-0.25wt% based on the total weight of the composition. The toothpaste composition of the present invention has excellent effects on the removal of mouth odors and the treatment of periodontal diseases, in addition to the basic function of toothpastes, such as oral cleaning and plaque removal.

Description

[1] TOOTHPASTE COMPOSITION COMPRISING ESSENTIAL OIL

Technical Field

[2] The present invention relates to a toothpaste composition comprising an essential oil to have excellent effects on the removal of mouth odors and the treatment of pe¬ riodontal diseases. Background Art

[3] Toothpaste is commercially available in the form of powders, creams and liquid solutions, and in general, includes, an abrasive agent to clean teeth mechanically, a humectant agent to prevent the toothpaste from being dried and hardened upon exposure to air, and some additives such as a binder, a foaming agent and a sweetening agent, which are required to stimulate dental hygiene such as oral cleaning and plaque removal.

[4] Recently, aromatherapy using natural essential oils extracted from plants has been recognized as an alternative medical treatment, which was the result of the de¬ velopments of the methods of applying essential oils scientifically and measuring the effects of the treatment objectively.

[5] Essential oils are volatile organic compounds extracted from aromatic plants by distillation process, Essential oils contain alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones and oxides, each of which has medical effects such as anti-infection, antihistamine and an¬ tiallergic actions. Accurate mechanisms of the action of essential oils are unknown, but essential oils, when inhaled into the body, are known to regulate the body's balance by stimulating the cerebral cortex to secrete hormones, leading to a decrease in abnormally enlarged volume of & cells, and have a tonic effect on the nervous system, an effect of stimulating brain fiinction and a sedative effect by stimulating brain cells.

[6] Recently, a large number of clinical studies associated with the therapeutic effects of essential oils have also been made in the field of odontology. The inventor of the present invention has developed an essential oil composition having a strong an¬ tibacterial effect against oral bacteria and has applied for a patent in Korea , of which the invention was published in the Official Gazette published by the Korea Industrial Property Office (Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-87380) Based on the results of the studies of the former invention, the present invention intends to apply the essential oil composition to toothpastes. Thus, all contents of the former patent ap¬ plication may be referred to the present invention. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[7] Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a toothpaste composition which has excellent effects on the removal of mouth odors and the treatment of periodontal diseases, as well as the basic function of toothpastes, such as oral cleaning and plaque removal, by containing an essential oil having an excellent antibacterial effect a^inst oral bacteria. Technical Solution

[8] To accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a toothpaste composition comprising an essential oil. The toothpaste composition according to the present invention is characterized by comprising an essential oil plus a base composition including an abrasive agent, a humectant agent and some additives, wherein added the essential oil selected from the group consisting of peppermint oil, lemon oil, tea tree oil, and combinations thereof Preferably, when used, the peppermint oil is in an amount of 0.50-0.85wt%, the lemon oil in an amount of 0.20-0.65wt%, and the tea tree oil in an amount of 0.07-0.25wt%, based on the total weight of the composition. Advantageous Effects

[9] As described hereinbefore, the toothpaste composition comprising essential oils according to the present invention has excellent effects on dental hygiene, especially the removal of mouth odors, and the treatment of periodontal diseases. Brief Description of the Drawings

[10] FlG. 1 is a graph showing the effect of a toothpaste composition according to the present invention on the removal of mouth odors. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[11] Hereinafter, the toothpaste composition containing an essential oil according to the present invention will be described in detail with respect to its composition.

[12] The present invention employs conventional toothpaste compositions as a base composition, which includes an abrasive agent and a humectant agent as basic in¬ gredients, as well as some additives such as a binder, a foaming agent, a sweetening agent and a pharmaceutically effective substance.

[13] The abrasive agent functions to mechanically clean teeth. Examples of the abrasive include precipitated calcium carbonate, calcium hydrogen phosphate, calcium sulfite, magnesium carbonate, magnesium chloride, hydrated alumina, hydrated silica, silicon dioxide, silica gel, zirconium silicate, aluminum silicate, calcium pyrophosphate, and insoluble metaphosphate. In the present invention, one or more abrasive agents selected from the examples are used. If the abrasive qgent has unsuitable particle size, hardness and shape, it may damage the surface of teeth. Thus, an abrasive qgent to be used in the present invention must meet the following requirements: an uniform particle size of about 1-20 m m, a shape not highly sensitizing and a mohs hardness of about 3.

[14] The humectant qgent is a basic ingredient essential for formulation into ointments, which prevents toothpaste from being dried and hardened upon exposure to air and makes the surface of toothpaste lustrous. Examples of the humectant qgent include glycerin, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, one or two of which are contained in the present composition.

[15] The binder prevents solid and liquid components of a powder form of toothpaste from separating from each other, and any one of water-soluble polymers may be used as a binder. Commonly used examples of the binder include sodium carboxymethyl cellulose synthesized from plant cellulose, carrqgeenans extracted from algae, and xanthan gum generated by bacterial metabolism, one or two of which are contained in the present composition.

[16] The foaming qgent has the following fiinctions: it acts to improve the feeling of using a toothpaste, helps the cleaning action of a toothpaste, promotes dispersion and penetration of a pharmaceutically effective qgent, and fecilitates the removal of impurities in the mouth by reducing surface tension. Typically, an anionic surfactant, kiryl sodium sulfite, is mainly used, and the following auxiliary qgents are also used according to the feature of pharmaceutical formulations: poly oxy ethylene, copolymers of polyoxypropylene, polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil, and polyoxyethylene ήtty acid esters. One or two of these examples are contained in the present composition.

[17] Recently, a variety of pharmaceutically effective agents are employed to increase the therapeutic effects of toothpastes. To increase the hardness of teeth (to prevent tooth decay), a water-soluble fluoride, for example, sodium monofluorophosphate, sodium fluoride, amine fluoride or stannous fluoride, is used. These fluorides form apatite fluoride by a substitution reaction with hydroxyapatite of tooth enamel, thus increasing the hardness of teeth. Substances effective in inhibiting plaque formation include sodium pyrophosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium metaphosphate, potassium pyrophosphate and enzymes. Cationic surfactants are used to inhibit bacterial growth in the mouth. To prevent periodontal diseases, water-soluble salts providing high osmotic pressure, such as sodium chloride or sodium hydrogen carbonate, aminocaproic acid having a hemostatic effect, allantoin derivatives such as aluminum chlorohydroxy allantoinate, and vitamins, such as tocopherol acetate, are used. One or two of these pharmaceutically effective agents are contained in the present composition.

[18] The conventional toothpaste composition may fiirther comprise additives such as an aromatic, a sweetening qgent, a coloring qgent and a preservative. Examples of the aromatic include spearmint oil, fruit extracts and methyl salicylate. The most commonly used sweetening agents are sodium saccharin and xylitol. Examples of the coloring qgent include titanium dioxide that provides a white color. Examples of the preservative for preventing toothpastes from deteriorating include methyl paraben. One or more of these additives are used in the present invention.

[19] The aforementioned components of a conventional toothpaste composition are provided only to illustrate components commonly used in the art. Thus, the spirit and scope of the present invention includes all components generally used in toothpastes in addition to the aforementioned components.

[20] The most characteristic feature of the present invention is to include an essential oil having a strong inhibitory effect q^inst oral bacteria in the aforementioned con¬ ventional toothpaste composition. Hereafter, the essential oil will be described in detail.

[21] As described above, essential oils are used as major components in aromatherapy that has recently gained increasing interest as alternative medicine, and are composed of volatile organic compounds extracted from plants by a distillation process. Essential oils are classified according to their original locations in plants into four groups: oils obtained from leaves (e.g., eucalyptus, peppermint, clove, etc.), oils obtained from flowers (e.g., lavender, rose, etc.), oils obtained from branches (e.g., juniper, etc.), oils obtained from stalks (e.g., sandalwood, tea tree, etc.), and oils obtained from roots or fruits (e.g., vetiver, calamus, lemon, etc.)

[22] The inventor of the present invention found that the essential oils of lavender, clove, peppermint, lemon and tea tree have a strong inhibitory effect against oral bacteria. This finding is described in detail in the aforementioned Official Gazette for Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2003-87380. Based on the finding, the inventor of the present invention performed intensive and thorough researches to apply the above essential oils promoting oral hygiene to daily activities, resulting in the de¬ velopment of the toothpaste containing the essential oil according to the present invention. During the researches, among the five essential oils, lavender and clove oils were excluded because they have flavors unsuitable for use in toothpastes. For the remaining peppermint, lemon and tea tree oils, an optimal amount capable of exerting a strong antibacterial effect with no use of polyphosphate or sodium fluoride, used in the cited patent application, was determined.

[23] Hereinafter, the three essential oils contained in the toothpaste composition according to the present invention will be described in more detail.

[24] Peppermint oil (botanical name: Mentha piperita, origin: USA ) contains menthol and menthone as major components, and has antiseptic, antispasmodic and expectorant effects. In accordance with the present invention, peppermint oil is preferably used in an amount of 0.50-0.85wt%. If the content of peppermint oil is lower than 0.50wt%, peppermint oil cannot exert its medical effects as described above. If the content of peppermint oil exceeds 0.85wt%, peppermint oil may disturb sleep due to its stimulating effect.

[25] Lemon oil (botanical name: Citrus limonum, origin: USA ) contains aldehydes and monoterpene hydrocarbons as major components, and is known to have antiseptic, an¬ tibacterial and immunoenhancing effects. In particular, lemon oil was identified to have excellent antibacterial activity as^inst tooth decay-causing bacteria among oral bacteria. In accordance with the present invention, lemon oil is preferably used in an amount of 0.20-0.65wt%. If the content of lemon oil is lower than 0.20wt%, lemon oil cannot exert its medical effects as described above. If the content of lemon oil exceeds 0.65wt%, lemon oil is unsuitable for use in toothpastes due to its unique irritating taste.

[26] Tea tree oil (botanical name: Melaleuca alternifolia, origin: Australia ) contains monoterpene alcohol and cineol as major components, and is known to have an¬ tibacterial, antiviral and immunoenhancing effects. In particular, tea tree oil was identified to have excellent antibacterial activity against tooth decay-causing bacteria among oral bacteria. In accordance with the present invention, tea tree oil is preferably used in an amount of 0.07-0.25 wt%. If the content of tea tree oil is lower than 0.07wt%, tea tree oil cannot exert its medical effects as described above. If the content of tea tree oil exceeds 0.25wt%, tea tree oil causes irritation of sensitive skin.

[27] In the present invention, peppermint, lemon and tea tree oils may be used singly or in combinations of two or more. When an essential oil is mixed with another essential oil, it serves as a balancer improving the effects of the other essential oil as well as exerting its own effects. This synergistic effect is well known in the art. Thus, in the present invention, peppermint, lemon and tea tree oils may be used singly or in com- binations of two or more within the above range in such a way of being added to a con¬ ventional toothpaste composition.

[28] The accurate mechanism of the antibacterial action of essential oils is unknown, but essential oils have been known to have antibacterial activity by damaging the plasma membrane of bacteria. That is, hydrophobic essential oils easily penetrate the hydrophobic plasma membrane in an aqueous solution, expand the plasma membrane and increase the fluidity of the plasma membrane, leading to an increase in membrane permeability and eventually the death of bacterial cells.

[29] In addition, unlike synthetic compounds used for inhibiting oral bacteria, the above essential oils do not greatly affect beneficial bacteria in the mouth while exerting strong inhibitory activity against harm&l bacteria (causing tooth decay or paradentitis) inhabiting the mouth. These effects of essential oils are because natural extracts such as essential oils contain both molecules having antibacterial activity and quencher molecules supplementing and suppressing the activity, whereas antibiotics con¬ ventionally used as antibacterial agents are prepared only with molecules having an¬ tibacterial activity.

[30] A better understanding of the present invention may be obtained through the following example which is set forth to illustrate, but is not to be construed as the limit of the present invention.

[31] [EXAMPLE]

[32] A conventional toothpaste composition was prepared using silicon dioxide and hydrated silica as abrasives; sorbitol and polyethylene glycol as humectants; tocopherol acetate sodium monofluorophosphate, sodium metaphosphate and aluminum chlorohydroxy allantoinate as pharmaceutically effective agents; sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as a binder; sodium lauryl sulfate as a foaming qgent; sodium saccharin and sylitol as sweetening qgents; titanium dioxide as a coloring qgent; and methyl paraben as a preservative. The conventional toothpaste composition was sup¬ plemented with essential oils, that is, 0.6wt% of perppermint oil, 0.3wt% of lemon oil and 0.1 wt% of tea tree oil, thus providing a toothpaste composition according to the present invention.

[33] Fifty subjects were divided into two groups each of which consisted of 25 in¬ dividuals. For a period of five weeks, one group (control group) brushed teeth using the conventional toothpaste composition, and the other group (test group) used the toothpaste composition of the present invention. During this test period, an increase or decrease in mouth odors and cell number of bacteria responsible for periodontal diseases were examined.

[34] Mouth odors are typically divided into two types: one is generated in the mouth, and the other comes from the stomach. About 90% of mouth odors are generated in the mouth due to the decomposition of proteins by bacteria inhabiting the mouth. Thus, the degree of mouth odors depends mainly on the kind of bacterial populations in the mouth. That is, mouth odors may be reduced when mouth odor-causing bacteria decrease in cell number, the bacteria show a drop in fonction with no change in cell number, or the bacteria display a decrease in adhesion to oral tissue.

[35] Mouth odors were evaluated by dividing the tongue into three parts: a front part

(lcm away from the tip of the tongue), a middle part (2cm away from the tip of the tongue) and a rear part (3cm away from the tip of the tongue) The results are given in the graph of FlG. 1. As shown in FlG. 1, when the toothpaste composition containing essential oils according to the present invention was used for three weeks, it displayed a similar effect on reducing mouth odors through the whole region of the tongue compared to the conventional toothpaste composition. However, after four weeks, the present toothpaste composition remarkably reduced mouth odors. The essential oils contained in the present toothpaste composition were not identified to display this effect by any one among the three aforementioned mechanisms for the reduction of mouth odors. However, the above test clearly demonstrated that the toothpaste composition containing essential oils according to the present invention has an excellent effect of reducing mouth odors.

[36] Next, the toothpaste composition containing essential oils according to the present invention was evaluated to determine whether it has a therapeutic effect on gum diseases (periodontal diseases), one of the representative oral diseases. Periodontal diseases result from the combinational action of several fectors, but the most critical direct cause of periodontal diseases is the infection of the gums with oral bacteria. Thus, bacterial samples were collected in the gingival sulcus, a space between the teeth and the gums surrounding the teeth, where bacterial populations capable of directly affecting the gums inhabit. Then, the collected bacteria were grown under the same conditions as in the gingival sulcus, that is, anaerobic conditions (absence of oxygen), and total colonies of various bacteria grown were counted.

[37] As a result, when the conventional toothpaste composition was used, bacterial cell number in the gingival sulcus decreased by only 35%. In contrast, the use of the toothpaste composition containing essential oils according to the present invention resulted in a decrease of 86% in bacterial growth. These results indicate that the present toothpaste composition has an inhibitory effect against periodontal disease- causing bacteria more than twice that of the conventional toothpaste composition.

Claims

[1] [ CMm 1 1

A toothpaste composition, comprising an essential oil plus a base composition including an abrasive qgent, a humectant qgent and some additives, wherein the essential oil is selected from the group consisting of peppermint oil, lemon oil, tea tree oil, and combinations thereof, and when used, the peppermint oil is in an amount of 0.50-0.85 wt%, the lemon oil in an amount of 0.20-0.65 wt%, and the tea tree oil in an amount of 0.07-0.25 wt% based on the total weight of the composition.