Liniment for melanin inhibitors

Abstract: An endermic liniment is provided which contains Equisetum giganteum extract. The endermic liniment exhibits superior hypochromic effects and whitening effects on pigment deposition, chloasma, freckles, liver spots, etc. after sunburn and is superior in terms of safety.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an endermic liniment, which by containing an Equisetum giganteum extract, suppresses production of melanin and is effective in the prevention and improvement in conditions including pigment deposition, chloasma, freckles and liver spots after sunburn. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The mechanism of the development of chloasma and such on skin, although there are some unknown details, is generally believed to be the formation of melanin pigment due to hormonal abnormalities or ultraviolet light stimulation from sunlight followed by abnormal deposition of this pigment in the skin. This melanin pigment which causes the coloring of the skin is produced in melanin producing granules (melanosomes) in melanin cells (melanocytes) between the epidermis and the corium. Melanin thus produced is then diffused to neighboring cells by means of osmosis. The biochemical reactions in the melanocytes are speculated as described below. That is, the production process of the melanin pigment is as follows: tyrosine, one of the essential amino acids, becomes dopaquinone through the action of an enzyme tyrosinase, and this is then changed to a red pigment, to a colorless pigment and finally to melanin, which is black, by enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic oxidation. Therefore, in order to suppress the production of melanin, it is important to suppress the first stage of the reactions, i.e. the action of tyrosinase. However, compounds which suppress tyrosinase action, except for hydroquinone, work very slowly and do not give sufficient improvement in pigment deposition in the skin. On the other hand, hydroquinone, although its effects are recognized, has the problem of sensitization and, therefore, its uses are generally limited. For the purpose of improving its safety, attempts have been made to alter it to a monoester of a higher fatty acid, an alkyl monoether and such (Japanese unexamined patent publication Tokkai Sho 58-154507). However, esters are decomposed by hydrolytic enzymes in the body and therefore are not necessarily safe. Sufficiently safe ethers have not been obtained yet either. For the purpose of solving these problems, the inventors investigated a wide variety of substances for the melanin production suppression effect, and discovered that Pinon Negro (scientific name: Jatropha curcas L.) extract, Pinon Blanco extract, Cola de caballo extract (scientific name: Equisetum giganteum) extract, and Piri-Piri (scientific name: Cyperas spacelatus Rottb (C. articulatus L.)) extract, had the melanin production suppression and tyrosinase inhibition actions. There has been no report on the melanin production suppression actions of these substances or their application as whitening agents. JP-A-7025762 and FR-A-2578422 disclose topical compositions for removing freckles and spots on the human skin, said compositions may comprise an Equisetum arvense extract. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention an endermic liniment is provided which characteristically contains Equisetum giganteum (Cola de caballo) extract. The endermic liniment of the present invention exhibits superior hypochromic effects and whitening effects on pigment deposition, chloasma, freckles, liver spots, etc. after sunburn, and is superior in terms of safety. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The Cola de caballo extracts used in the present invention is a plant found on dry grassy plains and pastures in South America, particularly in the Andes. The extraction solvent used in the present invention can be any solvent which is normally used for extraction. Examples include alcohols such as methanol and ethanol, hydrated alcohols, and organic solvents such as acetone and ethyl acetate, and they can be used either independently or in combination. In the present invention, the content of the Cola de caballo extract on a dry basis, is 0.005 to 20.0 wt%, preferably 0.01 to 10.0 wt%, of the total endermic liniment. If it is less than 0.005 wt%, then the effects of the present invention cannot be sufficiently achieved, and if it is more than 20 wt%, then pharmaceutical preparation becomes difficult. Therefore, neither case is preferable. No significant increase in the effect is observed when using more than 10 wt%. In addition to the essential ingredients described above, the endermic liniment of the present invention can contain, as necessary, those ingredients such as normally used in cosmetics, drugs, etc. in the form of an endermic liniment, including other whitening agents, humectants, antioxidants, oil-based ingredients, ultraviolet light absorbents, surfactants, thickeners, alcohols, powder ingredients, colorings, water-based ingredients, water and various skin nutrients. Further, sequestering agents including disodium edetate, trisodium edetate, sodium citrate, sodium polyphosphate, sodium metaphosphate and gluconic acid, drugs including caffeine, tannin, verapamil, tranexamic acid and its derivatives, Glycyrrhiza extract, glabridin, various crude drugs, tocopherol acetate, glycyrrhizic acid and its derivatives or its salts, whitening agents including vitamin C, ascorbic acid phosphate magnesium, ascorbic acid glucoside, arbutin and kojic acid, and sugars including glucose, fructose, mannose, sucrose and trehalose can also be added. The endermic liniment of the present invention can be in any form which is usually used for endermic liniment, including ointment, cream, emulsion, lotion, facial packs and bath additives. The present invention is described in detail below by referring to examples. The present invention is not limited to these examples. The blend ratios are in weight percent units. Before explaining the examples, the testing methods and the results of the melanin suppression effect, tyrosinase activity inhibition effect and whitening effect of the plant extract of the present invention are described. Cola de caballo Extracts 1. Sample Preparation 50 g of stem and branch parts of Cola de caballo were immersed in ethanol at room temperature for a week. The extract solution was then concentrated to obtain 2.4 g of an ethanol extract. This extract was dissolved in DMSO to obtain a 1% solution, and this solution was diluted to adjust the concentration for the following experiments. 2. Cell Culture B16 melanoma culture cells from mice were used. A culture was conducted in a CO2 incubator (95% air and 5% carbon oxide) at 37°C using Eagle's medium containing 10% FBS and theophylline (0.09 mg/ml). After 24 hours of culturing, the sample solution was added to it such that the final concentration (in dried extract) was 10 -2 to 10 -5 wt%. The culture was continued for 3 more days, and melanine production was visually evaluated and the tyrosinase activity inihibition effect was measured. 3. Visual Evaluation Of The Amount Of Melanin A diffusion plate was placed on top of the lid of the well plate, and the amount of melanin in the cells was evaluated using an inverted microscope. The evaluation was compared with that of a sample with no added Cola de caballo extract (control sample). The results are shown in Table 1. For a reference, the same testing was conducted on Nepeta japonica Maxim. (Lamium album L. subfamily, perilla family) extract which was already known to suppress melanin production. These results are also shown in Table 1. In the table, "toxicity" means there is cell toxicity. Criteria: ○: White (amount of melanin) Δ: Somewhat white (amount of melanin) X: Control (amount of melanin) 4. Tyrosinase Activity Measurement Before the measurement, the medium was removed, followed by washing twice with 100 microliters of PBS. 45 microliters of PBS containing 1% Triton X (surfactant from Rohm & Haas) was then added to each well. The plate was vibrated for 1 minute to thoroughly destroy the cell membranes, and the absorbance at 475 nm was measured using a microplate reader, which was defined as the absorbance at time 0 minutes. Quickly after this, 5 microliters of 10 mM L-Dopa solution was added and the plate was transferred to an incubator kept at 37°C to react for 60 minutes. The plate was vibrated for 1 minute and the absorbance (475 nm) at time 60 minutes was measured. The tyrosinase activity inhibition ratio (%) was defined as a decrease in the absorbance difference between time 0 minutes and time 60 minutes for the sample to which Cola de caballo extract was added compared with the absorbance difference between time 0 minutes and time 60 minutes for the sample to which Cola de caballo extract was not added. The results are shown in Table 1. For a reference, the same testing was conducted on Nepeta japonica Maxim. extract which was already known to inhibit tyrosinase activity. These results are also shown in Table 1. In the table, "toxicity" means there is cell toxicity, and "-" indicates that no significant difference compared with the control was observed within 5%-level of significance. Visual Evaluation of Melanin Production Tyrosinase Activity Activity Inhibition Ratio (%) Concentration (wt%) 10 -5 10 -4 10 -3 10 -2 10 -5 10 -4 10 -3 10 -2 Cola de caballo extract × ○ ○ Δ 24 28 38 56 Nepeta japonica Maxim. extract × × × × - - - 55 5. Whitening Effect Testing 40 testees were exposed to summer sunlight for 4 hours (2 hours a day for 2 days) and the skin of an inner lateral part of their upper arm was used as the subject of the test. Beginning after 5 days from the day they were exposed to the sunlight, each sample was applied to this skin once in the morning and once in the afternoon for 4 weeks. The panel was divided into 5 groups with 8 persons in each group. Testing was conducted using the following formulations. Alcohol Phase 95% ethyl alcohol 55.0 wt% Polyoxyethylene (25-mole) hardened castor oil ether 2.0 Antioxidant/preservative Appropriate amount Perfume Appropriate amount Drug Specified in Table 2 Water Phase Glycerine 5.0 Sodium hexamethaphosphate Appropriate amount Ion exchange water Balance Preparation Method : The water phase and the alcohol phase were prepared separately and then mixed and solubilized. Evaluation Method : The hypochromic effect after the application was evaluated based on the criteria below. Criteria: o ○: Very effective or effective on 80% or more of the testees ○: Very effective or effective on 50% to less than 80% of the testees Δ: Very effective or effective on 30% to less than 50% testees ×: Very effective or effective on less than 30% of the testees Samples were prepared with the blend compositions described in the aforementioned test method, and the drugs listed in Table 2 were used to compare the whitening effect. The results are shown in Table 2. Drug Blend Ratio (wt%) Effect Nothing added - × Hydroquinone 1.0 Δ Cola de caballo extract 0.1 ○ Cola de caballo extract 1.0 ○ Cola de caballo extract 10.0 o ○ The Cola de caballo extracts in Table 2 were obtained by heated reduction of the whole plant of Cola de caballo in ethanol, followed by filtering and concentration/drying. As clearly shown in Table 2, it was confirmed that the samples with Cola de caballo extract more effectively prevented excessive deposition of the melanin pigment and thus prevented darkening of the skin. Example 1: Cream Formula Stearic acid 5.0 wt% Stearyl alcohol 4.0 Isopropyl myristate 18.0 Glycerine monostearic ester 3.0 Propylene glycol 10.0 Cola de caballo methanol extract 0.01 Caustic potash 0.2 Sodium hydrogen sulfite 0.01 Preservative Appropriate amount Perfume Appropriate amount Ion exchange water Balance Preparation Method : Propylene glycol, the Cola de caballo extract and caustic potash were added to the ion exchange water and the mixture was heated to and kept at 70°C (water phase). Other ingredients were mixed, then heat-melted and the temperature was kept at 70°C (oil phase). The oil phase was gradually added to the water phase, and after all of it had been added, the temperature was kept at that temperature to allow the mixture to react. Finally, the mixture was homogeneously emulsified by a homo-mixer and cooled to 30°C while being thoroughly stirred. Example 2: Cream Formula Stearic acid 2.0 wt% Stearyl alcohol 7.0 Hydrated lanolin 2.0 Squalane 5.0 2-octyldodecyl alcohol 6.0 Polyoxyethylene (25-mole) cetyl alcohol ether 3.0 Glycerine monostearic ester 2.0 Propylene glycol 5.0 Cola de caballo extract 0.05 Sodium hydrogen sulfite 0.03 Ethyl paraben 0.3 Perfume Appropriate amount Ion exchange water Balance Preparation Method : Propylene glycol was added to the ion exchange water and the mixture was heated to and kept at 70°C (water phase) . Other ingredients were mixed, then heat-melted and the temperature was kept at 70°C (oil phase). The oil phase was added to the water phase, and after pre-emulsification, the mixture was homogeneously emulsified by a homo-mixer and cooled to 30°C while being thoroughly stirred. Example 3: Cream Formula Solid paraffin 5.0 wt% Been wax 10.0 Vaseline 15.0 Liquid paraffin 41.0 Glycerine monostearic ester 2.0 Polyoxyethylene (20-mole) sorbitan monolauric ester 2.0 Soap powder 0.1 Borax 0.2 Cola de caballo acetone extract 0.05 Cola de caballo ethanol extract 0.05 Sodium hydrogen sulfite 0.03 Ethyl paraben 0.3 Perfume Appropriate amount Ion exchange water Balance Preparation Method : Soap powder and borax were added to the ion exchange water and the mixture was heated to and kept at 70°C (water phase). Other ingredients were mixed, then heat-melted and the temperature was kept at 70°C (oil phase). The oil phase was gradually added to the water phase while stirring was conducted to allow the reaction to occur. When the reaction was complete, the mixture was homogeneously emulsified by a homo-mixer and then cooled to 30°C while being thoroughly stirred. Example 4: Emulsion Formula Stearic acid 2.5 wt% Cetyl alcohol 1.5 Vaseline 5.0 Liquid paraffin 10.0 Polyoxyethylene (10-mole) monooleic ester 2.0 Polyethylene glycol 1500 3.0 Triethanol amine 1.0 Carboxyvinyl polymer (Product name: Carbomer 941 from B.F. Goodrich Chemical Company) 0.05 Cola de caballo ethyl acetate extract 0.01 Sodium hydrogen sulfite 0.01 Ethyl paraben 0.3 Perfume Appropriate amount Ion exchange water Balance Preparation Method : Carboxyvinyl polymer was dissolved in a small amount of the ion exchange water (A phase). Polyethylene glycol 1500 and triethanol amine were added to and heat-dissolved in the rest of the ion exchange water, and the temperature was kept at 70°C (water phase). Other ingredients were mixed, then heat-melted and the temperature was kept at 70°C (oil phase). The oil phase was added to the water phase, and, after pre-emulsification, the A phase was added and the mixture was homogeneously emulsified by a homo-mixer and cooled to 30°C while being thoroughly stirred. Example 5: Emulsion Formula Microcrystalline wax 1.0 wt% Bees wax 2.0 Lanolin 20.0 Liquid paraffin 10.0 Squalene 5.0 Sorbitan sesquioleic ester 4.0 Polyoxyethylene (20-mole) sorbitan monooleic ester 1.0 Propylene glycol 7.0 Cola de caballo acetone extract 10.0 Sodium hydrogen sulfite 0.03 Ethyl paraben 0.3 Perfume Appropriate amount Ion exchange water Balance Preparation Method : Propylene glycol was added to the ion exchange water and the mixture was heated to and kept at 70°C (water phase). Other ingredients were mixed, then heat-melted and the temperature was kept at 70°C (oil phase). The oil phase was gradually added to the water phase while stirring was conducted, and the mixture was homogeneously emulsified by a homo-mixer and then cooled to 30°C while being thoroughly stirred. Example 6: Jelly Formula 95% ethyl alcohol 10.0 wt% Dipropylene glycol 15.0 Polyoxyethylene (50-mole) oleyl alcohol ether 2.0 Carboxyvinyl polymer (Product name: Carbomer 940 from B.F. Goodrich Chemical company) 1.0 Caustic soda 0.15 L-arginine 0.1 Cola de caballo 50% ethanol aqueous solution extract 7.0 Sodium 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenonesulfonate 0.05 Ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid trisodium dihydrate 0.05 Methyl paraben 0.2 Perfume Appropriate amount Ion exchange water Balance Preparation Method : Carbomer 940 was homogeneously dissolved in the ion exchange water. Cola de caballo 50% ethanol aqueous solution extract and polyoxyethylene (50-mole) oleyl alcohol ether were dissolved in 95% ethanol and this mixture was added to the water phase. Other ingredients were then added, and the mixture was neutralized and thickened with caustic soda and L-arginine. Example 7: Essence Formula Phase A Ethyl alcohol (95%) 10.0 wt% Polyoxyethylene (20-mole) octyl dodecanol 1.0 Pantothenyl ethyl ether 0.1 Cola de caballo methanol extract 1.5 Methyl paraben 0.15 Phase B Potassium hydroxide 0.1 Phase C Glycerine 5.0 Dipropylene glycol 10.0 Sodium hydrogen sulfite 0.03 Carboxyvinyl polymer (Product name: Carbomer 940 from B.F. Goodrich Chemical Company) 0.2 Purified water Balance Preparation Method : The Phase A and Phase C were independently dissolved homogeneously, and then the A phase was added to Phase C and solubilized. The Phase B was then added, and finally containers were filled. Example 8: Facial pack Formula Phase A Dipropylene glycol 5.0 wt% Polyoxyethylene (60-mole) hardened castor oil 5.0 Phase B Cola de caballo methanol extract 0.01 Olive oil 5.0 Tocopherol acetate 0.2 Ethyl paraben 0.2 Perfume 0.2 Phase C Sodium hydrogen sulfite 0.03 Polyvinyl alcohol (Degree of saponification 90, degree of polymerization 2,000) 13.0 Ethanol 7.0 Purified water Balance Preparation Method : The A, B and C phases were independently dissolved homogeneously, and then Phase B was added to Phase A and solubilized. Phase C was then added to this, and finally containers were filled. Example 9: Solid foundation Formula Talc 43.1 wt% Kaolin 15.0 Sericite 10.0 Zinc flower 7.0 Titanium dioxide 3.8 Yellow iron oxide 2.9 Black iron oxide 0.2 Squalene 8.0 Isostearic acid 4.0 POE sorbitan monooleate 3.0 Isocetyl octate 2.0 Cola de caballo ethanol extract 1.0 Preservative Appropriate amount Perfume Appropriate amount Preparation Method : The powder ingredients, i.e. from talc to black iron oxide, were thoroughly mixed by a blender, and the oil-based ingredients, i.e. from squalene to isocetyl octate, Cola de caballo ethanol extract, the preservative and the perfume were added to this. After a thorough kneading, the product was filled into a container and molded. Example 10: Emulsified foundation (cream type) Formula Powder Portion Titanium dioxide 10.3 wt% Sericite 5.4 Kaolin 3.0 Yellow iron oxide 0.8 Red iron oxide 0.3 Black iron oxide 0.2 Oil Phase Decamethylpentasiloxane 11.5 Liquid paraffin 4.5 Polyoxyethylene modified dimethylpolysiloxane 4.0 Water Phase Purified water 50.0 1,3-butylene glycol 4.5 Cola de caballo ethanol extract 1.5 Sorbitan sesquioleic ester 3.0 Preservative Appropriate amount Perfume Appropriate amount Preparation Method : After heating and stirring the water phase, the powder portion, thoroughly mixed and crushed, was added to it and the mixture was treated with a homo-mixer. The heat-mixed oil phase was then added to this mixture and the resulting mixture was treated with a homo-mixer. Finally, the perfume was added while the mixture was stirred and the temperature was lowered to room temperature.

Claims: An endermic liniment comprising Equisetum giganteum extract. 2. The endermic liniment according to claim 1, wherein the content of the extract on a dry basis is 0.005 to 20.0 wt% of the total endermic liniment. The endermic liniment according to any one of claims 1 and 2, which is a whitening endermic liniment. The endermic liniment according to claim 3, which suppresses pigment deposition after sunburn. Use of the endermic liniment as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 as a cosmetic. Use of the endermic liniment as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 as a cosmetic whitening agent.

Inventors: FUKUDA MINORU, KOMASAKI HISAYUKI, NAGANUMA MASAKO, SHIBATA YUKI, YAGI EIICHIRO, FUKUDA, MINORU, KOMASAKI, HISAYUKI, NAGANUMA, MASAKO, SHIBATA, YUKI, YAGI, EIICHIRO, Fukuda, Minoru The Shiseido Research Center, Komasaki, Hisayuki The Shiseido Research Center, Naganuma, Masako The Shiseido Research Center, Shibata, Yuki The Shiseido Research Center, Yagi, Eiichiro The Shiseido Research Center
Applicants: SHISEIDO CO LTD, SHISEIDO COMPANY, LTD.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: A61Q19, A61Q1, A61K8