Abstract:
The invention relates to a photo-stable sunscreen composition comprising a sunscreen stabilizer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly photo-stable sunscreen composition preferably extractable from a natural material while ensuring prolonged efficacy of the UV-A organic sunscreen used therein. The present inventors have achieved this by including Tanshinone IIA which is a diterpenoid othroquinone, which is present in certain plants, to achieve the desired sunscreen stabilisation.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]    The invention relates to a photo-stable sunscreen composition comprising a sunscreen stabilizer. The sunscreen stabilizer may be synthetically prepared or extracted from a plant. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Solar radiation includes ultraviolet (UV) radiation, wavelength of which is between 200 nm and 400 nm. Exposure of skin to UV-A (320 to 400 nm) and UV-B (290 to 320 nm) causes various problems like reddening of the skin, localized irritation, sunburn, melanoma and formation of wrinkles. UV radiation is also known to cause damage to hair. Therefore, it is desirable to protect the skin and other keratinous substrates of the human body from the harmful effects of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. 
         [0003]    Cosmetic compositions comprising sunscreen agents are used to protect the skin against UV radiation. The most commonly used UV-A sunscreen is of the dibenzoylmethane class. They are often used along with UV-B sunscreens to get wide spectrum sunscreen protection. It has been reported that stability of dibenzoylmethane compounds in sunscreen compositions is low when applied to the skin and exposed to solar radiation. The stability is poorer when an oil-soluble UV-B organic sunscreens especially from the class of cinnamic acid is included. 
         [0004]    Synthetic sunscreen stabilizers have been reported to solve this problem e.g. as disclosed in EP 0514491 (L&#39;Oreal, 1991) and more recently in US2009039322 (Hallstar). 
         [0005]    While the above references are directed to improving stability of sunscreen containing compositions, it is desirable to use stabilizers that are available in nature or extractable from natural sources like plants that the consumers consider to be milder and therefore is expected to have less irritation and allergenic potential when applied on the skin. Stabilisers which are available in nature or extractable from natural sources is also expected to be widely available and therefore can be provided to the consumers at low cost. Topical compositions comprising extracts from plant material are known for various purposes. 
         [0006]    US200303091665 discloses a topical cosmetic composition for improving the aesthetic appearance of skin comprising: a blend of neem seed cell broth and one or more botanical ingredients selected from the group consisting of  Salvia miltiorrhiza  extract, pomegranate fruit extract, grape seed extract, cucumber extract, carrot extract, rosemary extract, Iris root extract, white birch extract, and  Laminaria  algae extract. 
         [0007]    US20100292318 discloses a selectively purified tanshinone compounds containing extract from the root of a  Salvia  spp comprising Cryptotanshinone, Dihydrotanshinone, Tanshinone I, and Tanshinone IIA, the extract and formulations thereof have been found to exhibit anti-microbial properties. 
         [0008]    These publications have not disclosed use of actives claimed in the present invention or natural extracts comprising the actives for stabilizing UVA sunscreens. 
         [0009]    It is thus an object of the present invention to obviate the drawbacks of the prior art and provide a highly photo-stable sunscreen composition while ensuring prolonged efficacy of the UV-A organic sunscreen used therein. Another object of the present invention is to achieve the above object while additionally keeping costs low. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides for a photostable sunscreen composition comprising 
         [0011]    a. 0.1% to 10% by weight dibenzoylmethane or its derivative; 
         [0012]    b. a UV-B organic sunscreen selected from the class consisting of cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, diphenyl acrylic acid or derivatives thereof 
         [0013]    c. 0.0001 to 5% by weight a compound of the formula; 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0014]    and 
         [0015]    d. a cosmetically acceptable base. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    These and other aspects, features and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the appended claims. For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilised in any other aspect of the invention. The word “comprising” is intended to mean “including” but not necessarily “consisting of” or “composed of.” In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se. Similarly, all percentages are weight/weight percentages unless otherwise indicated. Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description and claims indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about”. Numerical ranges expressed in the format “from x to y” are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format “from x to y”, it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated. 
         [0017]    By “A Sunscreen Composition” as used herein, is meant to include a composition for topical application to sun-exposed areas of the skin and/or hair of mammals, especially humans. Such a composition may be generally classified as leave-on or rinse off, and includes any product applied to a human body for also improving appearance, cleansing, odor control or general aesthetics. It is more preferably a leave-on product. The composition of the present invention can be in the form of a liquid, lotion, cream, foam, scrub, gel, or toner, or applied with an implement or via a face mask, pad or patch. Non-limiting examples of such sunscreen compositions include leave-on skin lotions, creams, antiperspirants, deodorants, lipsticks, foundations, mascara, sunless tanners and sunscreen lotions. “Skin” as used herein is meant to include skin on the face and body (e.g., neck, chest, back, arms, underarms, hands, legs, buttocks and scalp) and especially to the sun exposed parts thereof. The composition of the invention is also of relevance to applications on any other keratinous substrates of the human body other than skin e.g. hair where products may be formulated with specific aim of providing photoprotection. 
         [0018]    An advantage of the present invention is that inclusion of the sunscreen stabilizer Tanshinone IIA ensures that the UV-A sunscreen does not get degraded in the presence of UV radiation thereby providing UV-protection for long period of time to the substrate of interest. 
         [0019]    The photostable sunscreen composition of the invention comprises UV-A sunscreen dibenzoylmethane or its derivative; a sunscreen stabliser which is the compound Tanshinone IIA and a cosmetically acceptable base. The sunscreen composition of the invention comprises a UV-A sunscreen which is a dibenzoylmethane or its derivatives. Preferred dibenzoylmethane derivatives are selected from 4-tert-butyl-4′-methoxydibenzoylmethane, 2-methyldibenzoylmethane, 4-methyl-dibenzoyl-ethane, 4-isopropyldibenzoyl-methane, 4-tert-butyldibenzoylmethane, 2,4-dimethyldibenzoylmethane, 2,5-dimethyldibenzoylmethane, 4,4′-diisopropyl-dibenzoylmethane, 2-methyl-5-isopropyl-4′-methoxydibenzoylmethane, 2-methyl-5-tert-butyl-4′-methoxy-dibenzoyl methane, 2,4-dimethyl-4′-methoxy dibenzoylmethane or 2,6-dimethyl-4-tert-butyl-4′-methoxy-dibenzoylmethane. The most preferred dibenzoylmethane derivative is 4-tert.-butyl-4′-methoxydibenzoylmethane. The composition of the invention preferably comprises 0.1 to 10%, more preferably 0.2 to 5%, further more preferably, 0.4 to 3%, by weight dibenzoylmethane or a derivative thereof based on total weight weight of the composition and including all ranges subsumed therein. 
         [0020]    Tanshinone IIA has the structure 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0021]    Tanshinone IIA is a compound of the family of orthoquinones. 
         [0022]    Tanshinone IIA is preferably present in 0.0005 to 3%, more preferably 0.001 to 2% by weight of the sunscreen composition. 
         [0023]    The stable sunscreen composition of the invention preferably also comprises 0.0001 to 2% a compound of the formula 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0024]    Tanshinone I is a compound of the family of orthoquinones. 
         [0025]    Tanshinone I is preferably present in 0.001 to 0.5% by weight of the sunscreen composition. 
         [0026]    According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the Tanshinone IIA and or Tanshinone I is present by including in the composition 0.1 to 10% by weight an extract of a plant comprising higher than 50 weight % diterpenoid orthoquinones. The extract is preferably included at 0.1 to 5% by weight of the composition. The extract preferably comprises higher than 1.0% by weight diterpenoid orthoquinones. The plant is preferably  Salvia miltiorrhiza.    
         [0027]      Salvia miltiorrhiza  ( S. miltiorrhiza,  also know as danshen), is a perennial plant which grows mainly in China and Japan in the forests, hillsides and along stream banks. This plant is highly valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine system (TCM). It is used as an internal medicine for promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, regulating menstruation to relieve pain, cooling the blood to relieve carbuncle, clearing away heat from the heart and tranquilizing the mind. 
         [0028]    Botanical classification of  Salvia miltiorrhiza  Bunge is as follows; 
         [0029]    Kingdom: Plantae 
         [0030]    Sub kingdom: Angiosperms 
         [0031]    Order: Lamiales 
         [0032]    Family: Lamiaceae 
         [0033]    Genus:  Salvia    
         [0034]    Species:  S. miltiorrhiza    
         [0035]    The sunscreen composition comprises a UV-B organic sunscreen selected from the class of cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, diphenyl acrylic acid or derivatives thereof. Illustrative non-limiting example of UV-B sunscreens which are commercially available and useful for inclusion in the composition of the invention are Octisalate™, Homosalate™, NeoHelipan™, Octocrylene™, Oxybenzone™ or Parsol MCX™. The UV-B sunscreen is most preferably 2-ethyl-hexyl-4-methoxy cinnamate which is commercially available as Parsol MCX. The UV-B organic sunscreen is preferably included in 0.1 to 10%, more preferably 0.1 to 7% by weight of the composition. It has been observed that presence of an organic UV-B sunscreen like 2-ethyl-hexyl-4-methoxy cinnamate causes further rapid degradation of the UV-A dibenzoylmethane sunscreen in the presence of UV radiation. The presence of the Tanshinone IIA compound is found to be very efficacious in stabilizing the sunscreen composition even when UV-B sunscreens are present. 
         [0036]    The composition of the invention comprises a cosmetically acceptable base. The cosmetically acceptable base preferably comprises 1 to 25% fatty acid. The cosmetically acceptable bases are such as to have a product in preferably a cream, lotion, gel or emulsion format. A more preferred format is a cream, further more preferably a vanishing cream. Vanishing cream base is one which comprises 3 to 25%, more preferably 5 to 20% fatty acid. The base preferably comprises 0.1 to 10%, more preferably 0.1 to 3% soap. C 12  to C 20  fatty acids are especially preferred in vanishing cream bases, further more preferred being C 14  to C 18  fatty acids. In creams, the fatty acid is preferably substantially a mixture of stearic acid and palmitic acid. Soaps in the vanishing cream base include alkali metal salt of fatty acids, like sodium or potassium salts. The soap is preferably the potassium salt of the fatty acid mixture. The fatty acid in vanishing cream base is often prepared using hystric acid which is substantially (generally about 90 to 95%) a mixture of stearic acid and palmitic acid. Thus, inclusion of hystric acid and its soap to prepare the vanishing cream base is within the scope of the present invention. It is particularly preferred that the composition comprises at least 6%, preferably at least 10%, more preferably at least 12% fatty acid. The cosmetically acceptable base is usually from 10 to 99.9%, preferably from 50 to 99% by weight of the composition. Another preferred base is a lotion. Lotions generally comprise 1 to 20% fatty acid. The cosmetically acceptable base preferably includes water. Water is preferably included in 35 to 90%, more preferably 50 to 85%, further more preferably 50 to 80% by weight of the composition. 
         [0037]    Other useful sun-protective agents e.g. inorganic sun-blocks may be preferably used in the present invention. These include, for example, zinc oxide, iron oxide, silica, such as fumed silica, or titanium dioxide. The total amount of sun block that is preferably incorporated in the composition according to the invention is from 0.1 to 5% by weight of the composition. 
         [0038]    The composition of the invention may additionally comprise a skin lightening agent. The skin lightening agent is preferably chosen from a vitamin B3 compound or its derivative e.g. niacin, nicotinic acid, niacinamide or other well known skin lightening agents e.g. aloe extract, ammonium lactate, azelaic acid, kojic acid, citrate esters, ellagic acid, glycolic acid, green tea extract, hydroquinone, lemon extract, linoleic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, vitamins like vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin A, a dicarboxylic acid, resorcinol derivatives, hydroxycarboxylic acid like lactic acid and their salts e.g. sodium lactate, and mixtures thereof. Vitamin B3 compound or its derivative e.g. niacin, nicotinic acid, niacinamide are the more preferred skin lightening agent as per the invention, most preferred being niacinamide. Niacinamide, when used, is preferably present in an amount in the range of 0.1 to 10%, more preferably 0.2 to 5% by weight of the composition. 
         [0039]    The composition according to the invention may also comprise other diluents. The diluents act as a dispersant or carrier for other materials present in the composition, so as to facilitate their distribution when the composition is applied to the skin. Diluents other than water can include liquid or solid emollients, solvents, humectants, thickeners and powders. 
         [0040]    The composition of the invention may comprise a conventional deodourant base as the cosmetically acceptable carrier. By a deodorant is meant a product in the stick, roll-on, or propellant medium which is used for personal deodorant benefit e.g. application in the under-arm or any other area which may or may not contain anti-perspirant actives. 
         [0041]    Deodorant compositions can generally be in the form of firm solids, soft solids, gels, creams, and liquids and are dispensed using applicators appropriate to the physical characteristics of the composition. 
         [0042]    The compositions of the present invention can comprise a wide range of other optional components. The CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Handbook, Second Edition, 1992, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, describes a wide variety of non-limiting cosmetic and pharmaceutical ingredients commonly used in the skin care industry, which are suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention. Examples include: antioxidants, binders, biological additives, buffering agents, colorants, thickeners, polymers, astringents, fragrance, humectants, opacifying agents, conditioners, exfoliating agents, pH adjusters, preservatives, natural extracts, essential oils, skin sensates, skin soothing agents, and skin healing agents. 
         [0043]    When the composition is prepared by including an extract of  Salvia miltiorrhiza  comprising the Tanshinone IIA in the desired concentration a preferred process comprises the steps of
   (a) extracting the plant  Salvia miltiorrhiza  with a hydroalcoholic solution comprising 5 to 95 wt % ethanol to prepare a hydro-alcoholic extract; and   (b) fractionating the desired extract from said hydro-alcoholic extract using ethyl acetate.   
 
         [0046]    The hydroalcoholic solution preferably comprises 10 to 99%, more preferably 90 to 98% ethanol by weight of the hydroalcoholic solution. The root part of the plant  Salvia miltiorrhiza  is preferably used for extraction. The plant and the hydro-alcoholic solution is preferably contacted in a weight ratio of 1:5 to 1:50. The hydroalcoholic extract and the ethyl acetate are preferably contacted in a weight ratio of 1:10 to 1:30 to fractionate the desired extract. The process is preferably carried out at a temperature in the range of 20 to 60° C., preferably 25 to 45° C. 
         [0047]      S. miltiorrhiza,  for use in the present invention, was obtained from Unilever R&amp;D Lab, in Shanghai China. 
         [0048]    The invention is now further described by way of the following non-limiting examples. 
       EXAMPLES 
     Examples 1 to 4 
     Photostability of the Composition of the Invention as Compared to Compositions Outside the Invention 
       [0049]    Several compositions as shown in table 1 were prepared. The procedure used to prepare the extract of  Salvia miltiorrhiza  (example 3) was as follows: 
         [0050]    Aqueous ethanolic extract of  S. miltiorrhiza  (50 g), was re-dissolved in distilled water (1 L) at 45-50° C. by stirring for 15 minutes. The resultant suspended solution was extracted with ethyl acetate (200 ml×5). Ethyl acetate layer was collected over Na 2 SO 4  and dried on rota evaporator. About 10 g of a dried powder was obtained. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Example 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Example 1, 
                 Example 2, 
                 Example 3, 
                 Example 4, 
               
               
                   
                 wt % 
                 wt % 
                 wt % 
                 wt % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Stearic acid 
                 17.00 
                 17.00 
                 17.00 
                 17.00 
               
               
                 Potassium 
                 0.57 
                 0.57 
                 0.57 
                 0.57 
               
               
                 hydroxide 
               
               
                 Glycerine 
                 1.00 
                 1.00 
                 1.00 
                 1.00 
               
               
                 Titanium 
                 0.90 
                 0.90 
                 0.90 
                 0.90 
               
               
                 dioxide 
               
               
                 Cetyl alcohol 
                 0.53 
                 0.53 
                 0.53 
                 0.53 
               
               
                 Parsol 1789 
                 0.40 
                 0.40 
                 0.40 
                 0.40 
               
               
                 Parsol MCX 
                 0.75 
                 0.75 
                 0.75 
                 — 
               
               
                 Isopropyl 
                 0.75 
                 0.75 
                 0.75 
                 0.75 
               
               
                 Mysristate 
               
               
                 Silicone oil 
                 0.33 
                 0.33 
                 0.33 
                 0.33 
               
               
                 200/300 cst 
               
               
                 Niacinamide 
                 1.25 
                 1.25 
                 1.25 
                 1.25 
               
               
                 Titanium 
                 0.90 
                 0.90 
                 0.90 
                 0.90 
               
               
                 dioxide 
               
               
                 Octocrylene 
                 — 
                 0.5 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 
                   Salvia 
                 
                 — 
                 — 
                 0.5 #   
                 — 
               
               
                 
                   miltiorrhiza 
                 
               
               
                 extract 
               
               
                 Water 
                 To 100 
                 To 100 
                 To 100 
                 To 100 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   # The  Salvia miltiorrhiza  extract used was analysed to contain ~2.0% Tanshinone IIA. The concentration of Tanshinone IIA in the extract was determined using chromatographic separation over silica gel in Combiflash, and eluted with gradual increment of ethyl acetate in hexane. 
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Procedure to Measure Photostability of Dibenzoylmethane Compound 
       [0051]    10 mg of the composition comprising dibenzoylmethane based UVA sunscreen was spread on an area of 2 cm 2  of a glass slides. Several such glass slides were prepared. The slides were exposed to sunlamp. After time period of 0 (blank, no exposure), 30, 60 and 120 minutes of UV exposure, the slides were removed. The compositions in the exposed and unexposed slides were extracted in methanol, the volume made up to 25 ml in a volumetric flask and the absorbance was measured using a Perkin-Elmer spectrophotometer. From the absorbance, the amount of sunscreen remaining was calculated. The sunscreen in unexposed slide was taken to be 100% and all others were quantified with respect to it using equation given below. 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               Q 
               t 
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                    
                   t 
                 
                 
                    
                   0 
                 
               
                
               X 
                
               
                   
               
                
               100 
             
           
         
       
     
         [0052]    Where Q t  is the percentage of sunscreen present after t minutes of sun exposure, A 0  and A t  are the absorbance of extracted solutions after sun exposure for zero time and time of ‘t’ minutes. 
         [0053]    The stability of the UV-A sunscreen was measured for the compositions of Examples 1 to 3 and the data is summarized in table 2. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Time of Exposure 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 (minutes) 
                 Example 1 
                 Example 2 
                 Example 3 
                 Example 4 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 0 
                 100 
                 100 
                 100 
                 100 
               
               
                 30 
                 40 
                 69 
                 87 
                 80 
               
               
                 60 
                 31 
                 52 
                 78 
                 58 
               
               
                 120 
                 14 
                 36 
                 66 
                 36 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0054]    The data in table 2 indicates that use of Tanshinone IIA rich fraction (example 3) significantly enhances efficacy of a sunscreen composition comprising UVA and UVB sunscreen. The efficacy is vastly superior as compared to well known chemical stabilizer Octocrylene (example 2). 
       Examples 5 and 6 
     Demonstration of Pure Tanshinione IIA as a Photostabiliser for Parsol-1789  
       [0055]    The efficacy of Tanshinone IIA for photostabilisation of UV-A sunscreen Parsol-1789 (a dibenzoyl methane compound) was demonstrated in chloroform solution at 5 ppm concentration. Example 5 is a solution of Parsol-1789 alone at 5 ppm while example 6 contains both Parsol-1789 and Tanshinone IIA at 5 ppm each. In example 5, pure Tanshinone IIA was extracted from the plant  Salvia miltiorrhiza  using the following procedure: 
         [0056]    Hydroalcoholic extract of  Salvia miltiorrhiza  was first prepared by contacting root of the plant  Salvia miltiorrhiza  (50 g) in 95% ethanol/water mixture at a weight ratio of root to mixture of 1:20. The extract was then re-dissolved in distilled water (1 L) at 45-50° C. by stirring for 15 minutes. The desired fraction was fractionated with ethyl acetate and water. The ethyl acetate fraction was dried in a rotary evaporator. This fraction (ethyl acetate) was adsorbed on a silica gel column chromatographic equipment (from Combiflash). The Column was then eluted with gradual increment of ethyl acetate in n-hexane up to 5% level. Using this procedure Tanshinone-IIA was prepared in pure form. 
         [0057]    Degradation profile of Parsol-1789 on exposure to UV radiation was carried out similar to examples 1 to 3. The data is presented in table 3. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Time of Exposure 
                   
                   
               
               
                 (minutes) 
                 Example 5 
                 Example 6 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 0 
                 100 
                 100 
               
               
                 30 
                 58 
                 77 
               
               
                 60 
                 47 
                 70 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0058]    The data in table 3 indicates that Tanshinone IIA is capable of stabilizing UV-A sunscreen of the dibenzoylmethane class. 
         [0059]    The present invention thus provides for stable sunscreen composition with prolonged efficacy of the UV-A sunscreen used. All this is achieved using actives extractable from natural sources.