INHIBITORS OF ESTERASE-PRODUCING MICRO-ORGANISMS, FOR USE PRIMARILY IN DERMATOLOGY AND COSMETICS

Abstract: Inhibitors of esterase-producing micro-organisms, primarily for use in dermatology and cosmetics and with particular application to personal deodorants and to anti-fungal agents and other preparations for the treatment of acne, dandruff and tinea pedis. The active ingredient of the inhibitor comprises an aromatic acid ester of a phenol or of an aromatic alcohol, the phenol or aromatic alcohol being sufficiently water-soluble to impart an anti-microbial action and the aromatic acid being sufficiently water-soluble to impart an anti-microbial action and/or to lower the pH of liquid body-secretions to a level which at least inhibits the growth of micro-organisms in the liquid body-secretions.

Description: INHIBITORS OF ESTERASE-PRODUCING MICRO-ORGANISMS, FOR USE PRIMARILY IN DERMATOLOGY AND COSMETICS ««j This invention relates to inhibitors of esterase- producing micro-organisms. The inhibitors are for use primarily in dermatology and cosmetics and have particular application to personal deodorants and to 5 anti-fungal agents and other preparations for the treat¬ ment of acne, dandruff and tinea pedis. The human skin has a large natural population of- micro-organisms. These organisms are nourished by various skin secreted substances, skin cell debris, 10 breakdown products of the skin and the organisms them¬ selves. The skin secretions are conveniently divided into two groups, water- and lipid-soluble materials; these are .eccrine and apocrine sweat and" sebum which will be referred to as 'liquid body-secretions' and 15 will now be described, as will their functions as are generally understood. Eccrine sweat consists mainly of a watery solut¬ ion of dissolved salts and is produced by glands dis¬ tributed over the whole skin surface. In conditions 20 of occlusion, e.g. feet enclosed in socks and shoes, the eccrine sweat accumulates and in these warm, damp conditions, the skin debris, together with nutrients from the sweat, provide a medium for micro-organism growth with the possibility of massive overgrowth of 25 one type. This can result, 'in' the first instance, of odorous metabolic products, and in the second, of clinical infection with maceration of the skin and irritation. Apocrine sweat is produced by the apocrine 30 glands at specific sites on the body, notably the axillae. the anogenital area and around the nipples. Although present at birth, the apocrine glands are not functional until puberty when they are influenced by circulating androgens. Apocrine secretion differs from eccrine sweat in containing lipids (fatty materials) and pro¬ teins. In the warm, damp occlusion met in the axilla, certain skin micro-organism metabolise this secretion, forming free fatty acids and other breakdown products. These materials are odorous and responsible for 'body odour' . The sebaceous glands are distributed over the skin surface except the palms and dorsae. They are most numerous on the scalp, forehead, face, back and chest. The secretion, sebum, consists mainly of fatty materials, wax esters, cholesterol and its esters and squalene. Normally, sebum flows freely from the glands, spreading over the skin surface. In acneic and certain other skin conditions, the sebaceous duct through which the sebum is normally secreted becomes hyperkeratinised and the opening of the duct becomes blocked. The gland continues to produce sebum and the blocked duct distends to form a comedone. Also blocked in the duct, (the normally) commen¬ sal micro-organisms produce esterases which hydrolyse the sebum lipids, liberating' free fatty acids. These fatty acids are irritant and can result in an inflamma¬ tory reaction along the wall of the duct. Leucocytes invade the inflamed area and the comedone develops into papule and then a pustule. This is a typical acne- 'spot' . The scalp is well supplied with sebaceous glands, and the scalp, like all skin, undergoes desquamation. Due to the presence of " hair, the squames tend to be retained at the scalp surface. Sebum accumulates beneath these squames and in dandruff conditions is hydrolysed by micro-organism produced esterases to form irritant fatty acids. The irritation causes proliferation of the epidermis and increased formation of the stratum corneum which again desquamates unevenly in large clumps - the dandruff scale or flake. It is an object of the present invention to provide effective inhibitors of esterase-producing micro-organisms, and also preparations incorporating such inhibitors for use in dermatology and cosmetics; one specific object to to provide a personal deodorant having a formulation which produces effective action over a substantial period of time, which is safe in application, and which is economical and safe to produce. According to a principal aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inhibitor of esterase- producing micro-organisms, in which the active ingredient comprises an aromatic acid ester of a phenol or of an aromatic alcohol, the phenol or aromatic alcohol being sufficiently water-soluble to impart an anti- microbial action and the aromatic acid being sufficiently water-soluble to impart an anti-microbial ' action and/or to lower the pH of liquid body-secretions (as hereinbe¬ fore referred to) to a level which at least inhibits the growth of micro-organisms in the body-secretions. For use in deodorants, the active ingredient can be incorporated in a suitable perfume composition which is then incorporated in a vehicle such as ethanol; for use in a dermatological composition, the active ingredient can be incorporated in an acceptable vehicle containing for example, a polyol or dimethyl sulphoxide which may also act as a skin penetrant. The effect of the active ingredient is produced by the aforementioned microbial enzymes acting to split the constituents of the ester and so hydrolyse the ester back into the aromatic acid and the phenol or aromatic alcohol. On a skin surface, such as in deodor- ant applications, this action occurs almost immediately but where skin penetration is involved, as in most dermatological applications, the action is progressive. The above term 'anti-microbial action' means an action which inhibits microbial growth, rather than one which eliminates microbial growth completely as can be achieved by a microbicide. .In such skin-surface and skin-penetrating applications, the esterases produced by the micro-organism hydrolyse a portion of the active ingredient and, in so doing, inhibit the action of the esterase and further growth of the micro-organism. After a period of time, the micro-organism may resume its metabolic activity and the above-described process is repeated, and repetition will occur until the active ingredient is used up. 'Phenols' are, generally, aromatic compounds containing one or more hydroxyl groups directly attached to a benzene nucleus, but the phenols of the present invention may be restricted to those in which the other positions available on the benzene nucleus are more or less occupied by hydrogen, hydroxyl, aliphatic, benzenoid or heterocyclic groups. Examples of such phenols useful in the present invention include phenol, cresols, xylenols, thymol, carvacrol, eugenol and isoeugenol. 'Aromatic-- alcohols' are, generally, aromatic compounds with a hydroxyl group in a side chain attached to a benzene nucleus. Again, for the present invention, it is preferable that the other positions available on the benzene nucleus are more or occupied by hydrogen. hydroxyl, aliphatic, benzenoid or heterocyclic groups. Suitable examples include benzyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, cinnamic alcohol and anisic alcohol. 'Aromatic acids' are, generally compounds con- 5 taining one or more carboxylic groups which are directly attached to a benzene nucleus or occur in a side chain. Yet again, it is preferable that the other positions available on the benzene nucleus are occupied by hydrogen hydroxyl, aliphatic, benzenoid or heterocyclic groups. 10 Suitable examples include benzoic acid, salicylic acid, cinnamic acid, phenyl-acetic and anisic acid. The inhibitor according to the invention incorp¬ orates a microbial-inhibiting agent as opposed to the more usual triclosan bactericide which acts to eliminates 15 rather than control the relevant microflora. Known microbicides and bactericides are usually powerful, and it is believed that the complete elimination of microflora, specifically cutaneous flora, is medically undesirable. 20 Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way. of example. As a deodorant for use in an aerosol spray or mechanical spray container, about 5% to 50% and preferably 20% of active ingredient of the invention 25 is incorporated in a perfume composition, and about 1% of the perfume composition is added to a 96% ethanol excipient. The perfume composition of the invention will frequently be sold to an end-producer who will add the composition to his chosen vehicle. 30 As a dermatological agent in the form of a skin lotion, for the treatment of acne, between 0.5% and 20% and preferably about 5% of active ingredient is incorporated in a vehicle which may be composed of dimethyl sulphoxide, polyol, ethanol and water in suitable proportions. Anti-inflammatory substances such as hydrocortisone or glycyrrhetic acid and healing 5: agents such as allantoin, may also be incorporated in the; end product. As a scalp lotion for the treatment of dandruff, active ingredient within the above percentages is incorporated in a hydro-alcoholic vehicle, using solubil- 10. ising; agents as necessary. Us a powder for' the treatment of tinea ' pedis and fxsot odour, active ingredient (if liquid) , within the above percentages, is adsorbed onto amorphous silica powder- or light magnesium carbonate which is then mixed 15 with say 50% talcum, starch or other suitable. powder. If the active ingredient is solid, usually crystalline, the crystals are finely ground, for example in a microniser, and then mixed with say 50% talcum, starch or other suitable powder. 20v Suitable perfume compositions may also be incorp¬ orated in the scalp/skin lotions and foot powders. The skin and scalp lotions may be supplied in sprinkler bottles for application to the scalp or the affected skin area in the form of liquid droplets 25 which are massaged into the scalp/skin. Alternatively, . the. lotion may be applied by means of a pad or compress which, is pre-impregnated and supplied in a sealed pack¬ age; the pad is partially exposed and then applied to an affected skin area, at least once per day. In 0 further alternative forms, the inhibitors for use in treating the scalp or skin may comprise ointments, gels, creams, lotions, sprays or powders. The inhibitors for foot treatment are preferably in powder form, as indicated above, but might also be supplied as liquids or in sprays etc.

Claims: CLAIMS ' 1. An inhibitor of esterase-producing micro-organisms in which the active ingredient comprises an aromatic acid ester of a phenol or of an aromatic alcohol, the 5 phenol or aromatic alcohol being sufficiently water- soluble to impart an anti-microbial action and the aromatic acid being sufficiently water-soluble to impart an anti-microbial action and/or to lower the pH of liquid body-secretion (as hereinbefore referred to) to a level O: which at least inhibits the growth of micro-organisms in the liquid body-secretions. 2.. An inhibitor as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the available positions on the benzene nucleus of said phenol are more or less occupied by hydrogen, hydroxyl, 5 aliphatic, benzenoid or heterocyclic groups. 3. An inhibitor as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said phenol is selected from phenol, cresols, xylenols, thymol, carvacrol, eugenol and isoeugenol. 4. An inhibitor as claimed in any preceding Claim, D wherein the available positions on the benzene nucleus of the aromatic alcohol are more or less occupied by hydrogen, hydroxyl, aliphatic, benzenoid or heterocyclic groups. 5. An inhibitor as claimed in Claim 4, wherein 51 said aromatic alcohol is selected from benzyl alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, cinnamic alcohol and anisic alcohol. 6 * An inhibitor according to any .preceding Claim, wherein the positions available on the benzene nucleus of said aromatic acid are more or less occupied by hydrogen, hydroxyl, aliphatic, benzenoid or hetero¬ cyclic groups. 7. An inhibitor as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said aromatic acid is selected from benzoic acid, sali- cylic acid, cinnamic acid, phenyl-acetic acid and anisic acid. 8. An inhibitor as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said active ingredient comprises phenol ester or aromatic alcohol ester. 9- An inhibitor as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said active ingredient is incorporated in a perfume composition which is then incorporated in a vehicle. 10. An inhibitor as claimed in Claim 9, wherein 5%-50% of said active ingredient is incorporated in said perfume composition and approximately 1% of the perfume composition is added to an approximately 96% ethanol excipient. 11. A deodorant having an inhibitor as claimed in any preceding Claim and wherein said active ingredient is incorporated in a vehicle which comprises an alcohol. 12. A dermatological agent having an inhibitor as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8 and wherein said active ingredient is incorporated in a vehicle which comprises aqueous alcohol and/or skin penetrants. 13. A dermatological agent as claimed in Claim 12- and further incorporating anti-inflamatory subs¬ tances and/or healing agents. 14. The use of an inhibitor as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, as a dermatological agent. 15. The use of an inhibitor as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, to produce agents against esterase-pro- ducing micro-organisms.

Inventors: BETTS JOHN ADRIAN, BETTS, JOHN, ADRIAN
Applicants: ROBERTET SA, ROBERTET S.A.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: A61K8, A61K31, A61P17, A61P31, A61Q5, A61Q15, A61Q17, A61Q19