Whitening cosmetic composition

Abstract: Disclosed is a whitening cosmetic composition comprising γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide, oxidized glutathione or a derivative thereof, the amino group of which is acylated with an alkanoyl group or an aroyl group. The whitening cosmetic composition of the present invention have extremely good in water solubility and heat stability and stability during storage and show a melanin formation inhibitory activity against melanoma cells without any cytotoxicity.

Description: The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition comprising γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide, oxidized glutathione or the amino acylated form of oxidized glutathione with alkanoyl groups or aroyl groups. Cosmetics have hitherto been developed for preventing blackening of the skin by sunburn/suntan, or for preventing or treating pigmentation such as stains of freckles. Glutathione (γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine) is inherently present in vivo . It is known to formulate glutathione in cosmetics or external remedies. Various formulations of glutathione derivatives in cosmetics have also been known (Japanese Published Examined Patent Application Nos. 1505/73 and 29139/73, WO 86/05783, Ger. Offen. 2245903). JP-A-61-189 29 discloses glutathione derivatives such as glutathione-S-sulphonic acid for preventing melanosis, spots and freckles on the skin. JP-A-57-134 410 discloses glutathione derivatives such as N,S-dioctanoylglutathione distearyl for preventing melanization. Hair modifying compositions comprising oxidized glutathione and the like are known (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 188618/88, USP 4,812,307, EP-A-299,764). It is also known to formulate kojic acid or arbutin in cosmetics (Japanese Published Examined Patent Application No. 18569/81 and Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 16906/85). But kojic acid and arbutin are unstable and slightly soluble in water and can not effectively prevent blackening of the skin caused by sunburn/suntan. Further, it is difficult to formulate glutathione in cosmetics because of is unstableness and offensive odour. There is a desire to develop whitening cosmetics which are stable to heat and light, free of toxicity and skin damage, and can be used safely. The present invention provides a whitening cosmetic composition comprising (a) a compound selected from γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide, oxidized glutathione, and the amino acylated form of oxidized glutathione with alkanoyl groups or aroyl groups, and (b) a cosmetically acceptable component selected from fats and oils, hydrocarbons, waxes, fatty acids, synthetic esters, alcohols, surfactants, thickeners, moisturizers, preservatives, fragrances and pigments. The invention also provides a method for whitening the skin cosmetically, which comprises applying to the skin the above cosmetic composition. The structural formulae of γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide and oxidized glutathione are given below: γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine: γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide: oxidized glutathione: Examples of the alkanoyl groups in the amino acylated form of oxidized glutathione include straight or branched saturated or unsaturated alkanoyl groups containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of the aroyl groups include benzoyl and naphthoyl. These compounds are extremely stable and maintain their high stability even when they are incorporated in cosmetics. For example, as shown in Table 1 below, the compounds do not decompose when heat treated at 100°C for 20 minutes at pH 6.5 at a concentration of 10mM. Even when the compounds are allowed to stand at pH 6.5 at a concentration of 10 mM at 40°C for 30 days, no decomposition occurs. Further, in this case, no unpleasant smell at all is given off, although the kojic acid in the compositions containing the compounds is colored. Furthermore, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide, oxidized glutathione and N,N'-diacetyl-oxidized glutathione have markedly high water solubilities as compared with that of arbutin or kojic acid, as shown in Table 2. Test Compound Solubility (g/l) γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine > 742.2 γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide > 554.4 Oxidized glutathione > 320.0 N,N'-diacetyl-oxidized glutathione > 200 Arbutin 141.6 Kojic acid 48.3 (pH not adjusted, 25 °C) Since γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine is converted into glutathione in vivo the glutathione level can be increased. As a result, a whitening effect by the cosmetic can be assumed to be exhibited. Hereafter, the activity level of glutathione recovered from γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine in fibroblasts is illustrated in Experiment 1. Experiment 1 The glutathione level in cells was reduced by an agent for glutathione depletion, diethyl maleate, and the agent was then removed. The activity level of glutathione recovered from γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine in cells was compared according to the following method, using a group of cells with glutathione added and a control group with nothing added. Method: After 2 ml of MEM medium (manufactured by Nissui Pharmaceutical Co.) (serum concentration of 5%) was added to a 6-well culture plate, mouse-derived L929 fibroblasts were placed at 2 x 10⁵ cells/well and cultured at 37°C for 3 days in a 5% CO₂ incubator. 100 µM of diethyl maleate (manufactured by Sigma Co.) was added to the culture medium and glutathione in the cells was depleted by culturing for a further 3 hours. Diethyl maleate was removed by discarding the culture medium. Then, 2 ml of fresh MEM medium was added and γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine or glutathione was added in a concentration of 1 mM. After incubation at 37 °C for 3.5 hours in a 5% CO₂ incubator, the cells were trypsinized and resuspended in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and a cell count was carried out. The glutathione level in the cells was determined by treating the cells with 4.5% trichloroacetic acid/16 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), extracting an acid-soluble fraction, and then analyzing the fraction by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fig. 1 shows the results of tests on the level of glutathione from L929 fibroblast. In the figure, the coordinate shows a reduced glutathione (GSH) level per 10⁶ cells and the abscissa shows time. □,  and ○ designate the group with added glutathione, the group with added γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine and the control group, respectively. As shown in Fig. 1, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine could significantly increase the glutathione level in the cells, which had been reduced by diethyl maleate, as compared with the non-addition group, although this compound is inferior to glutathione. γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide, oxidized glutathione and the amino acylated form of oxidized glutathione with alkanoyl groups or aroyl groups inhibit melanin formation in melanoma cells. It is thus believed that the utility of these compounds as whitening cosmetics is attributable to the melanin formation inhibitory activity. The melanin formation inhibitory activity of γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide, oxidized glutathione and an amino acylated form of oxidized glutathione (N,N'-diacetyl oxidized glutathione) in melanoma cells is illustrated by Experiment 2. Experiment 2 Method: The melanin formation inhibitory activities of γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide, oxidized glutathione and N,N'-diacetyl oxidized glutathione in melanoma cells were compared by the following method, using groups of cells with added arbutin, kojic acid or nothing as controls. After 2 ml of MEM medium (manufactured by Nissui Pharmaceutical Co.) (serum concentration of 5%) was added to a 6-well culture plate, mouse-derived B16-C melanoma cells were plated at 2 x 10⁵ cells/well and test compounds were then added separately. B16-C melanoma cells were cultured at 37°C in a 5% CO₂ incubator. On Day 3 and Day 5, the medium was changed and, at the same time, the test compounds were added separately. On Day 7, the medium was removed. The cells were trypsinized and resuspended in PBS and pelleted by centrifugation. The cells were treated with 10% trichloroacetic acid and the acid-soluble fraction was removed. The precipitated acid-insoluble fraction was solubilized with an alkali solution (1 N sodium hydroxide/10% dimethylsulfoxide) in order to make a test solution. The protein content in the cells and the amount of melanin formed were determined, whereby the amount of melanin formed (µg) per protein content (mg) were calculated. The protein content and the amount of melanin formed were quantitatively determined by the method of Bradford et al. [Analytical Biochemistry, 72 , 248-254 (1976)] and by measuring absorbance of the test solution at 470 nm [Cancer Research, 45 , 1474-1478 (1985)], respectively. The results are shown in Table 3. As shown in Table 3, it was confirmed that γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide, oxidized glutathione and N,N'-diacetyl oxidized glutathione significantly inhibited melanin formation in B16-C melanoma cells. The activity of kojic acid for inhibiting melanin formation was poorer than that of γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide and oxidized glutathione. Furthermore, with respect to γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide, oxidized glutathione and N,N'-diacetyl oxidized glutathione, no cytotoxicity such as death of cells was observed even at a concentration of 2 mM. However, arbutin showed cytotoxicity at a concentration of 1 mM. γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide and oxidized glutathione, which are used in the present invention, can be synthesized by the method described in Methods in Enzymology [ 113 , 554-564 (1985)]. N,N'-diacetyl oxidized glutathione can be synthesized by the method described in Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 208 , 159-162 (1970) . In the present invention, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide, oxidized glutathione and amino acylated oxidised glutathione with alkanoyl groups or aroyl groups, are generally employed in the composition in an amount of 0.001 to 10 W/W%. Examples of the fats and oils used in the compositions of the invention include jojoba oil, castor oil, olive oil, soybean oil,coconut oil, palm oil, cacao butter, mink oil, turtle oil, coconut oil and fatty acid diethanolamide. Examples of the hydrocarbons include liquid paraffin, vaseline, microcrystalline wax and squalane. Examples of the waxes include beeswax, lanoline, carnauba wax and candelilla wax. Examples of the fatty acids include myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and isostearic acid. Examples of the synthetic esters include isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, butyl oleate, myristyl myristate, octyldecyl myristate, propyleneglycol monostearate, myristyl lactate isostearyl malate, glycerine monostearate and distearyldimethyl ammonium chloride. The fats and oils, hydrocarbons, waxes, fatty acids and synthetic esters are usually employed in the composition in an amount of 0.1 to 30 W/W% collectively. Examples of the alcohols include ethanol, 1,3-butylene glycol, propylene glycol, lauryl alcohol, cetanol, stearyl alcohol and oleyl alcohol. The alcohols are usually employed in the composition in an amount of 0.1 to 25 W/W%. Examples of the surfactants include polyoxyethylene-hardened castor oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, polyoxyethyleneglyceryl pyroglutamate isostearate, sodium alkylbenzenesulfonate, polyoxyethylene (10) stearyl ether, dialkyl sulfosuccinate, cetyl pyridinium bromide, n-octadecyl trimethylammonium chloride, monoalkyl phosphate, N-acylglutamic acid, sucrose fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate, sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate and polyoxyethylene-reduced lanoline. The surfactants are usually employed in the composition an amount of 0.1 to 5 W/W%. Examples of the thickeners include carboxyvinyl polymer, methylpolysiloxane, dextran, carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. The thickeners are usually employed in the composition in an amount of 0.01 to 0.5 W/W%. Examples of the moisturizers include glycerine, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, pyrrolidone-carboxylic acid, lactic acid and hyaluronic acid. The moisturizers are usually employed in the composition in an amount of 0.01 to 25 W/W%. Examples of the preservatives include benzoic acid, salicylic acid, dehydroacetic acid or salts thereof, phenols such as p-oxybenzoic acid ester, 3-trifluoromethyl-4,4'-dichlorocarbanilide and 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether. The preservatives are employed in the composition in an amount of 0.01 to 0.3 W/W%. Any fragrance may be used so long as it is conventionally used in cosmetics. Examples of the pigments include iron oxide, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, kaolin and talc. The pigments are usually employed in the composition in an amount of 0.01to 1 W/W%. Examples of other chemicals which may be employed include wheat germ oil, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin B₂, magnesium ascorbic acid-2-phosphate, D-pantothenyl alcohol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate. The chemicals are usually employed in the composition in an amount of 0.01 to 5 W/W%. The cosmetic composition of the present invention may take the form of, for example, a soluble system, emulsion system or dispersion system. Cosmetic preparations of the present invention may be, for example, a lotion, a cream, an emulsion, a pack composition or a powder. A composition according to the invention may typically comprise: 0.001 to 10.0 W/W% of γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide, oxidized glutathione or the amino acylated form of oxidized glutathione with alkanoyl groups or aroyl groups; 0.1-30 W/W% of a fat, an oil, a hydrocarbon, a wax, a fatty acid and a synthetic ester collectively; 0.1-25 W/W% of an alcohol; 0.1-5 W/W% of a surfactant; 0.01-0.5 W/W% of a thickener; 0.01-25 W/W% of a moisturizer; 0.01-0.3 W/W% of a preservative; 0.01-1 W/W% of a pigment; 0.01-5 W/W% of a cosmetically acceptable chemical; a fragrance; water; and a cosmetically acceptable carrier. The present invention is illustrated below by Examples. Example 1 A lotion having the following composition was prepared. Composition 1: (1) γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine 0.1 g (2) Propylene glycol 3.0 g (3) Sodium pyrrolidonecarboxylate 0.3 g (4) Methylparaben 0.1 g (5) Polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether 1.0 g (6) Ethanol 10.0 g (7) Fragrance suitable quantity (8) Purified water suitable quantity 100.0 g in total Method of preparation: The aqueous layer ingredients (1) to (4) and (8) were mixed and dissolved under heating at 60°C. Then, the oily layer ingredients (5) to (7) mixed and dissolved were added to the solution. The mixture was stirred to make a homogeneous mixture. And the mixture was cooled and filtered to make a lotion. Example 2 A lotion having the following composition was prepared. Composition 2: (1) γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide 0.1 g (2) Propylene glycol 3.0 g (3) Sodium pyrrolidonecarboxylate 0.3 g (4) Methylparaben 0.1 g (5) Polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether 1.0 g (6) Ethanol 10.0 g (7) Fragrance suitable quantity (8) Purified water suitable quantity 100.0 g in total Method of preparation: A lotion was obtained by effecting mixing and treatment in accordance with the formulation similar to that of Example 1 except that γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide was used instead of γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine. Example 3 A lotion having the following composition was prepared. Composition 3: (1) Oxidized glutathione 0.1 g (2) Propylene glycol 3.0 g (3) Sodium pyrrolidonecarboxylate 0.3 g (4) Methylparaben 0.1 g (5) Polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether 1.0 g (6) Ethanol 10.0 g (7) Fragrance suitable quantity (8) Purified water suitable quantity 100.0 g in total Method of preparation: A lotion was obtained by effecting mixing and treatment in accordance with the formulation similar to that of Example 1 except that oxidized glutathione was used instead of γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine. Example 4 A lotion having the following composition was prepared. Composition 4: (1) N,N'-diacetyl oxidized glutathione 0.1 g (2) Propylene glycol 3.0 g (3) Sodium pyrrolidonecarboxylate 0.3 g (4) Methylparaben 0.1 g (5) Polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether 1.0 g (6) Ethanol 10.0 g (7) Fragrance suitable quantity (8) Purified water suitable quantity 100.0 g in total Method of preparation: A lotion was obtained by effecting mixing and treatment in accordance with the formulation similar to that of Example 1 except that N,N'-diacetyl oxidized glutathione was used instead of γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine. Example 5 A cream having the following composition was prepared. Composition 5: (1) Beeswax 4.0 g (2) Cetanol 5.0 g (3) Stearic acid 5.0 g (4) Lanoline 3.0 g (5) Pristane 25.0 g (6) Polyoxyethylene (4) stearyl ether 3.5 g (7) Glyceryl monostearate 1.5 g (8) γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine 2.0 g (9) Propylene glycol 10.0 g (10) Purified water 41.0 g (11) Fragrance, preservative suitable quantity 100.0 g in total Method of preparation: The aqueous layer ingredients (1) to (7) and the oily layer ingredients (8) to (11) were dissolved under heating at 80 °C, respectively. Then, the oily layer mixture was gradually added to the aqueous layer mixture while they were emulsified in a homomixer. The mixture was stirred to make a homogeneous mixture. And the mixture was cooled to make a cream. Example 6 A cream having the following composition was prepared. Composition 6: (1) Beeswax 4.0 g (2) Cetanol 5.0 g (3) Stearic acid 5.0 g (4) Lanoline 3.0 g (5) Pristane 25.0 g (6) Polyoxyethylene (4) stearyl ether 3.5 g (7) Glyceryl monostearate 1.5 g (8) γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide 2.0 g (9) Propylene glycol 10.0 g (10) Purified water 41.0 g (11) Fragrance, preservative suitable quantity 100.0 g in total Method of preparation: A cream was obtained by mixing and treating the above ingredients in accordance with the formulation similar to that of Example 5 except that γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide was used instead of γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine. Example 7 A cream having the following composition was prepared. Composition 7: (1) Beeswax 4.0 g (2) Cetanol 5.0 g (3) Stearic acid 5.0 g (4) Lanoline 3.0 g (5) Pristane 25.0 g (6) Polyoxyethylene (4) stearyl ether 3.5 g (7) Glyceryl monostearate 1.5 g (8) Oxidized glutathione 2.0 g (9) Propylene glycol 10.0 g (10) Purified water 41.0 g (11) Fragrance, preservative suitable quantity 100.0 g in total Method of preparation: A cream was obtained by mixing and treating the above ingredients in accordance with the formulation similar to that of Example 5 except that oxidized glutathione was used instead of γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine. Example 8 A cream having the following composition was prepared. Composition 8: (1) Beeswax 4.0 g (2) Cetanol 5.0 g (3) Stearic acid 5.0 g (4) Lanoline 3.0 g (5) Pristane 25.0 g (6) Polyoxyethylene (4) stearyl ether 3.5 g (7) Glyceryl monostearate 1.5 g (8) N,N'-diacetyl oxidized glutathione 2.0 g (9) Propylene glycol 10.0 g (10) Purified water 41.0 g (11) Fragrance, preservative suitable quantity 100.0 g in total Method of preparation: A cream was obtained by mixing and treating the above ingredients in accordance with the formulation similar to that of Example 5 except that N,N'-diacetyl oxidized glutathione was used instead of γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine.

Claims: A whitening cosmetic composition comprising (a) a compound selected from γ-L-glutamyl-L-cystine, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine disulfide, oxidized glutathione, and the amino acylated form of oxidized glutathione with alkanoyl groups or aroyl groups, and (b) a cosmetically acceptable component selected from fats and oils, hydrocarbons, waxes, fatty acids, synthetic esters, alcohols, surfactants, thickeners, moisturizers, preservatives, fragrances and pigments. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of component (a) is 0.001-10.0 W/W%. A composition according to claim 1 which comprises: 0.001-10.0 W/W% of component (a); 0.1-30 W/W% of a fat, an oil, a hydrocarbon, a wax, a fatty acid and a synthetic ester collectively; 0.1-25 W/W% of an alcohol; 0.1-5 W/W% of a surfactant; 0.01-0.5 W/W% of a thickener; 0.01-25 W/W% of a moisturizer; 0.01-0.3 W/W% of a preservative; 0.01-1 W/W% of a pigment; 0.01-5 W/W% of a cosmetically acceptable chemical; a fragrance; water; and a cosmetically acceptable carrier. A method for whitening the skin cosmetically, which comprises applying to the skin a cosmetic composition as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3.

Inventors: FURUKAWA TADAYASU, HARA TAKAHIRO, TAKASAWA SEIGO, YOKOO YOSHIHARU, FURUKAWA, TADAYASU, HARA, TAKAHIRO, TAKASAWA, SEIGO, YOKOO, YOSHIHARU
Applicants: KYOWA HAKKO KOGYO KK, KYOWA HAKKO KOGYO CO., LTD.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: A61Q19, A61K8