An invigorating herbal gel for supple skin

Abstract: An herbal composition for the body is provided which promotes lipid metabolism by increasing the activity of a lipid metabolism enzyme in the body, and which has a weight reducing effect. The composition contains at least one component selected from fennel extract, inositol and dextrane sulfate. This composition is preferably employed in the form of an invigorating herbal gel for supple skin which is effective in increasing lipase activity and thus accelerating lipid metabolism.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 4-93772 filed on March 19, 1992, which is incorporated herein by reference. 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates in general, to an endermic liniment for the body, and, more specifically, to an invigorating herbal gel for supple skin which is effective in increasing lipase activity and thus accelerating lipid metabolism. 2. Description of Related Art In order to reduce excess fat in the body and thus maintain a well-defined body, various exercises and restrictive diets have been used and cosmetics gels and creams have also been used for body massage to accelarate internal metabolism. Thus far, however, no endermic liniment has been discovered with weight reducing effects which targets lipase, an enzyme which aids in lipid metabolism. WO-A-9112792 discloses a composition for treating skin conditions including smoothing the skin which comprises as an essential component an extract of fennel seed. EP-A-0217413 relates to a cosmetic composition comprising a collagenase activator, such as dextran sulfate in an amount of 5 %. FR-A-2231364 discloses a composition to be applied to the skin comprising 0.2 - 20 % inositol. JP-A-61027910 discloses a cosmetic for healthy clean skin comprising 0.001 to 20 % of an extract of fennel. JP-A-60104005 discloses a skin-beautyfying cosmetic preparation containing 0.001 - 20 % of fennel. JP-A-62043912 discloses an external agent for skin comprising 0.05 - 0.5 % of an alkali metal dextran sulfate. WO-A-8100514 discloses a slimming composition comprising mucopolysaccharadies and the application to creams for cutaneous applications. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a substance which increases lipase activity in the body and thus accelarate lipid metabolism. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an invigorating herbal composition for supple skin comprising fennel extract, inositol and dextran sulfate. The fennel extract can be obtained using water or a hydrophilic organic solvent such as alcohol, or mixtures thereof. This composition increases the activity of lipase which increases lipid metabolism and promotes weight reduction. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The fennel extract used in the present invention can be obtained, by a number of procedures. For example, adding water to thinly sliced fennel and extraction at 50°C for a prescribed duration, filtering the extract, and then concentrating it as desired. Alternatively, 30 vol% ethanol can be added to thinly sliced fennel and extraction carried out at 60°C for a prescribed duration, filtering the extract, and then concentrating it as desired. Also, 60 vol% ethanol can be added to fennel powder and extraction carried out at 100°C for a prescribed duration, filtering the extract, and then concentrating it as desired. The content of fennel extract is preferably 0.001-30 wt%, more preferably 0.01-5 wt%, of the total endermic liniment. By fennel extract is meant the fennel extract on a dry basis without the solvent used in the extraction process. There is no particular limitation regarding the manufacturing process of the inositol used in the present invention. The content of the inositol is preferably 0.001-30 wt%, more preferably 0.01-5 wt%, of the total endermic liniment. For the dextran sulfate used in this invention, either sodium dextran sulfate or potassium dextran sulfate can be used, but sodium dextran sulfate is more preferable. The content of the dextran sulfate is preferably 0.001-30 wt%, more preferably 0.01-5 wt%, of the total endermic liniment. Compared with individual use, a combination of all three of the above components produces an endermic liniment for the body with even higher lipase activity and lipid metabolism acceleration. The endermic liniment for the body of the present invention may contain, as necessary, in the range which does not affect the efficacy of this invention, the following various components which are generally used in cosmetics and medicines: vitamin A's such as vitamin oil, retinol and retinol acetate, vitamin B2's such as riboflavin, riboflavin lactate and flavin adenine dinucleotide, vitamin B6's such as pyridoxine hydrochloride and pyridoxine dioctenoate, vitamin C's such as L-ascorbic acid, L-ascorbyl dipalmitate , sodium-L-ascorbyl-2-sulfate, L-ascorbyl-2- phosphate and dipotassium-DL-α-tocopherol-L-ascorbyl phosphate, pantothenic acids such as calcium pantothenate, D-pantothenyl alcohol, pantothenyl ethylether and acetyl pantothenyl ethylether, vitamin D's such as ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol, nicotinic acids such as nicotinic acid, nicotinic-acid amide and benzyl niacinate, vitamin E's such as alpha-tocopherol, tocopherol acetate, DL-alpha-tocopherol niacinate and DL-alpha-tocopherol succinate, vitamins such as vitamin P and biotin, oils such as avocado oil, palm oil, peanut oil, beef tallow, rice bran oil, jojoba oil, evening primrose oil, carnauba wax, lanolin, liquid paraffin, squalane, isostearyl palmitate, isostearyl alcohol and tri-2-glyceryl ethylhexanoate, one or more humectants such as glycerine, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, collagen, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, ultra violet light absorbents such as paradimethyl amino amyl benzoate, methoxy octyl cinnamate, 4-tert-butyl-4-methoxydibenzoilmethane, diparamethoxy cinnamic glyceryl mono-2-ethylhexanoate, 2-hydoroxy-4-methoxybenzophenon, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenon-5-sodium sulfonate, urocanic acid and diisopropyl ethyl cinnamate, antioxidants such as sodium erythorbate and parahydroxy anisole, surfactants much as sodium stearyl sulfate, diethanolamine cetyl sulfate, cetyltrimethyl ammonium saccharin, polyethylene glycol isostearate, glyceryl arachidate, diglycerine diisostearate and phospholipid, preservatives such as ethylparabene and butylparabene, antiphlogistics such as glycyrrhizic acid derivatives, glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives, salicylic acid derivatives, hinokitiol, zinc oxide and allantoin, skin whitening agents such as placenta extract, glutathlone and creeping saxifrage extract, extracts from Amur cork, gold thread, purple root, peony, Japanese green gentian, birch, sage, loquat, carrot, aloe, mallow, iris, grape, adlay seeds, dishcloth gourd, lily, saffron, cnidium rhizome, ginger, Saint-John's wort, prickly restharrow, rosemary and garlic, royal jelly, activators such as phosensitive elements, cholesterol derivatives and calf blood extracts, blood circulation accelerators such as gamma-oryzanol, anti-seborrhea agents such as sulfur and thiantol, thickners such as carboxyvinyl polymers, carboxymethyl cellulose and carboxyhydroxy propyl cellulose, perfumes, water, alcohol, coloring materials such as titanium yellow, carthamin and safflower, and resin powder such as polyethylene and nylon. The endermic liniment of this invention can take any form. It can take the form of oil, solubilized lotions, emulsified systems such as milky lotions and creams, or ointments, dispersed liquid powder products and such. The effects of the present invention are described herein by reference to experimental data, as set forth in the following examples. EXAMPLE 1 The lipase activity acceleration effect of the fennel extract, inositol and dextran sulfate. Triolein is added to a polyvinyl alcohol solution and the solution is emulsified by a homogenizer. Lipase, which has a lipid decomposition action, is added to this triolein solution, and the reaction is carried out at 37°C for a fixed amount of time. At that time, the fennel extract, inositol or dextran sulfate is added separately or in combinations. The fatty acid released from decomposed triolein is titrated with a sodium hydroxide solution. The results of the experiment are shown below. (1) Water extract of fennel Sample Titration volume (ml) Control 3.8 ± 0.4 Fennel extract 6.1 ± 0.7 (2) 30% alcohol extract of fennel Sample Titration volume (ml) Control 1.3 ± 0.2 Fennel extract 3.7 ± 0.5 (3) 60% alcohol extract of fennel Sample Titration volume (ml) Control 0.4 ± 0.1 Fennel extract 3.0 ± 0.2 (4) Inositol Sample Titration volume (ml) Control 3.5 ± 0.4 Inositol 4.0 ± 0.3 (5) Dextran sulfate Sample Titration volume (ml) Control 3.6 ± 0.4 Sodium dextran sulfate 5.1 ± 0.3 (6) 60% alcohol extract of fennel and dextran sulfate Sample Titration volume (ml) Control 2.2 ± 0.3 Fennel extract + Sodium dextran sulfate 10.5 ± 0.2 (7) 30% alcohol extract of fennel and inositol Sample Titration volume (ml) Control 3.1 ± 0.3 Fennel extract + Inositol 11.3 ± 0.3 (8) Fennel extract, inositol and dextran sulfate Sample Titration volume (ml) Control 3.5 ± 0.3 Fennel extract + Dextran sulfate + Inositol mean ± SD 14.3 ± 0.3 A greater titration volume indicates accelerated lipid decomposition, releasing more fatty acid. The results shown above indicate that the fennel extract, inositol and dextran sulfate are effective in accelerating the lipase activity, and that the combined use of the fennel extract, inositol and dextran sulfate shows a particularly high degree of lipase activity acceleration. For the fennel extract, the activation effect of accelerating multiplication of skin cells (fibroblasts) was also observed. EXAMPLE 2 Lipid metabolism effect . For the sample with the highest lipid decomposition action, the lipid metabolim effect was evaluated using the following method. Ninety women in their twenties and thirties were instructed to apply the milky lotion of Example 5 all over their bodies every morning and night continuously for 3 months. After this continuous application, the body fat ratio (ratio of total fat in a body) was measured by an instrument which uses near infrared light reflection (body fat meter BFT-2000, manufactured by Ketto Kagaku Co. Ltd.). Forty of the 90 women were chosen as the control group for whom the fennel extract, inositol and dextran sulfate were absent in the milky lotion. The averages of the body fat ratio measurements were calculated. The results are shown in Table 1. Before Continuous Application After Continuous Application Control 34.7 ± 5.6 32.0 ± 6.0 Fennel extract + Dextran sulfate + Inositol 36.2 ± 4.8 28.3 ± 6.3 Twelve women in their twenties and thirties were instructed to apply the milky lotion of Example 5 all over their bodies every morning and night continuously for 3 months. After this continuous application, the body fat ratio (ratio of total fat in a body) was measured by an instrument which uses near infrared light reflection (body fat meter BFT-2000, manufactured by Ketto Kagaku Co. Ltd.). Six of the 12 women were chosen as the control group for whom the fennel extract, inositol and dextran sulfate were absent in the milky lotion. The averages of the body fat ratio measurements were calculated. The results are shown in Table 2. Panel Before Application After 3 Month Continuous Application Control A 30.0 31.5 B 29.5 26.0 C 35.0 32.0 D 37.0 37.5 E 39.0 37.5 F 35.5 33.0 Average 34.33 32.92 Fennel extract, Dextran sulfate Inositol G 39.8 29.0 H 30.0 26.5 I 32.0 25.5 J 36.8 30.5 K 40.5 29.5 L 35.0 28.0 Average 35.68 28.17 As clearly shown in the results shown above, this invention shows a remarkable reduction in the body fat ratio compared with the control group. This invention is described in detail by referring to examples. This invention is not limited to these examples. The contents are in wt% units. EXAMPLE 3 A milky lotion is prepared as follows: (1) Steraric acid 1.5 (2) Cetyl alcohol 0.5 (3) Bees wax 2.0 (4) Polyoxyethylene (10) monooleic ester 1.0 (5) Methoxy octyl cinnamate 2.0 (6) Birch extract 0.2 (7) Fennel extract 5.0 (8) Sodium hyaluronate 0.01 (9) Triethanol amine 0.75 (10) Glycerine 7.0 (11) Inositol 5.0 (12) Sodium dextran sulfate 5.0 (13) Ethyl parabene 0.3 (14) Perfume 0.03 (15) Purified water Balance The birch extract, the fennel extract, sodium hyaluronate, glycerine, inositol, sodium dextran sulfate and triethanol amine are added to the purified water and the temperature is maintained at 70°C (water phase). Other components are mixed and heat-melted/dissolved, and the temperature is maintained at 70°C (oil phase). The oil phase is added to the water phase, the preliminary emulsification is conducted, and then the mixture is homogeneously emulsified using a homogenizing mixer. The milky lotion is then obtained after a rapid cooling while stirring. EXAMPLE 4 A cosmetic liquid is prepared as follows: (1) Inositol 1.5 (2) Potassium dextran sulfate 1.5 (3) Fennel extract 10.0 (4) Placenta extract 0.5 (5) Sodium hyaluronate 0.01 (6) Glycerine 10.0 (7) 1,3-butyleneglycol 5.0 (8) Carboxy vinyl polymer 0.3 (9) Ethanol 7.0 (10) Polyoxyethylene (60) oleil alcohol ether 0.8 (11) Macademia nut oil 0.1 (12) Evening primrose oil 0.01 (13) Tocopherol acetate 0.01 (14) Methyl parabene 0.15 (15) Perfume Appropriate amount (16) Potassium hydroxide 0.08 (17) Purified water Balance Items (1) through (8) are dissolved in item (17). Items (10) through (15) dissolved in item (9) are added to it. Then, item (16) is added to obtain the cosmetic liquid. The endermic liniment of the present invention increases the lipase activity and shows the superior effect of accelerating lipid metabolism.

Claims: An invigorating herbal composition for supple skin comprising fennel extract, inositol and dextran sulfate. The herbal composition of claim 1, wherein the fennel extract or inositol comprises from about 0.001 to 30 wt.% of the total herbal composition. The herbal composition of claim 1, wherein the fennel extract or inositol comprises from about 0.01 to 5 wt.% of the total herbal composition. The herbal composition of claim 1, wherein the dextran sulfate is sodium dextran sulfate, or potassium dextran sulfate. The herbal composition of claim 4, wherein the sodium dextran sulfate or potassium dextran sulfate comprises from about 0.001 to 30 wt.% of the total herbal composition. The herbal composition of claim 4, wherein the sodium dextran sulfate or potassium dextran sulfate comprises from about 0.01 to 5 wt.% of the total herbal composition. A method of promoting lipid metabolism with attendant weight reduction comprising applying to the human body the composition of claim 1. The method of claim 7, wherein the composition is in the form of either a lotion, cream, foam mask, ointment, gel or milky lotion.

Inventors: TAMINAGA NAOKI, YOSHIOKA TOSHIO, TAMINAGA, NAOKI, YOSHIOKA, TOSHIO
Applicants: SHISEIDO CO LTD, SHISEIDO COMPANY LIMITED
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: H01L21, A61Q19, A61K8, A61P3, A61K36