ANTIMICROBIAL PERFUMING COMPOSITIONS

Abstract: The present invention describes perfumes and perfuming compositions having an antimicrobial activity and containing effective amounts of certain perfuming ingredients which have an antimicrobial activity as evaluated by the Microbial Reduction Test.

Description: ANTIMICROBIAL PERFUMING COMPOSITIONS Technical Field and Prior Art The present invention concerns the field of perfuming ingredients and compositions which have an antimicrobial effect. The application also describes a new test which is particularly adapted for determining the antimicrobial activity of perfuming ingredients. In the perfume industry as well as in industries in which perfumes and perfuming compositions are used (as, for example, in companies which manufacture dish-washing liquids, all-purpose cleaners, shampoos or even cosmetic products), there is a great tendency towards the creation and use of perfuming compositions having an antimicrobial effect. This is due to the fact that there is an increasing consumer demand for products which have both an activity against bacteria and other microorganisms, and fulfil the consumer's expectations with regard to their lack of content in the currently used biocids such as Triclocarban and Triclosan. It is known that certain perfuming ingredients of synthetic and natural origin do not only have a pleasant odor, but also have a more or less pronounced activity against microorganisms. However, this potential use of the perfuming ingredients has not been exploited in the past. The reason for this arises, to a great part, from the fact that there does not exist, according to our knowledge, a test allowing the evaluation in a quantitative, safe and reproducible way, of the true antimicrobial properties of perfuming ingredients. The application EP-A-451 889 to Unilever gives a general survey of the various tests which are known to determine a certain antimicrobial activity of known perfuming compounds. The conclusion in the above application is that the methods disclosed are not reliable, e.g. because conflicting results have been obtained for a given ingredient against one and the same microorganism, or because results obtained for a certain microorganism cannot be transferred to another microorganism. As a solution to this problem, this prior art document describes a test called individual challenge test which is said to give reliable data on a compound's antimicrobial activity. However, this known test does not provide quantitative results which permit a real evaluation of a compound's activity. Furthermore, the surfactants employed in the concentrations indicated (iso-octyl-phenoxypolyethoxy-ethanol and sodium dodecyl sulfate) do not solubilize the hydrophobic perfuming ingredients in the aqueous solution. The perfuming ingredient will be present to a greater part as a suspension of micelles. Therefore, they will not make proper contact with the inoculated bacteria, which are present in the aqueous phase. This creates an inherent error in the measurement and renders the procedure unreliable. Description of the Invention We have now developed a test which allows a quantitative and reliable evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of perfuming ingredients against a variety of different bacteria strains. This test is called "Microbial Reduction Test", and the test is particularly appropriate for perfuming ingredients. In this specific " Microbial Reduction Test ", the perfuming ingredient to be evaluated is weighed into an aqueous test solution in a certain concentration (see below) and solubilized with an appropriate solvent which does not negatively affect the bacteria in the inoculum (to be added at a later stage). The appropriate solvents can be of a large variety of alcohols, for example, isopropanol. amyl alcohols and fusel oils. The preferred alcohol, however, is ethanol. We have surprisingly discovered that the addition of alcohols, and in particular of ethanol, makes it possible to obtain reliable and significant results on the antimicrobial activity of a perfuming ingredient, although it is known that ethanol itself has a certain bacteriostatic effect. However, we have surprisingly found that the use of the right amount of ethanol in the test according to the present invention has such a low effect on the bacteria that significant data of the antimicrobial activity of the test perfuming ingredient can be obtained. At the same time, the ethanol ensures a good solubilization of the hydrophobic perfuming ingredient in the aqueous phase which is used as a test medium. The amount of ethanol to be used depends on the amount of perfuming ingredient present in the solution. The concentration of the latter will be between 250 and l ()00 μg/ml. preferably between 300 and 800 μg/ ' ml. w ith the most preferred concentration ranging between 400 and 600 μg/ml. For the latter, it was found that ethanol concentrations in the test solution of between 5 and 20% by weight gave good results, the preferred concentration being around 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the test solution. These values are given with respect to the final aqueous solution containing the perfume, the ethanol and the inoculum. When the perfuming ingredient is then solubilized in the test solution, at the above-identified concentrations, the solution is inoculated with the respective test bacterium to provide a final concentration of bacteria of 10 7 colony forming units (CFU)/ml. The bacteria used were the following : - Escherichia coli, ATCC 10536 (origin : American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md.) - Pseudomonas aeruginosa, CNCN A22 (origin : Institut Pasteur, Paris) - Staphylococcus aureus, ATCC 9144 (origin : Oxford Assay) - Enterococcus hirae. ATCC 10541 (origin : FDA, USA). After a contact time of between 2 and 10 min, preferably about 5 min at about 20°C, the aqueous test solution is then diluted with saline water to a concentration of about 10 3 CFU/ml. At this high dilution, the action of the perfuming ingredient on the bacteria is negligible. A volume corresponding to a theoretical maximum of 10 2 CFU's is then removed, spread on a culture medium, incubated and the number of colonies is counted. In practice, the test will in general be carried out by adding 0.1 ml test sample (containing 10 7 CFU's), to 9.9 ml of saline water and repeating the dilution with the solution obtained, until the desired concentration of about 10 3 CFU/ml was reached. From this solution, a 0.1 ml sample was spread on a casein-peptone dextrose yeast agar plate. The bacteria were then grown under appropriate conditions. We found that good results were obtained when the bacteria were grown overnight in an incubator at 37°C and a humidity of about 60-90%. The number of colonies were then evaluated, for example with a standard colony counter. An antimicrobial activity rate for the respective product tested is then established by dividing the number of colony forming units for the bacteria exposed to the test product by the number of colony forming units counted in a reference or control test in which the same bacterium has been submitted to the same testing sequence as above but without addition of a perfuming ingredient. A perfuming ingredient is said to have successfully passed the test, i.e. is said to have an antimicrobial activity, when 100% of the respective bacteria have been eliminated. According to the invention, the active molecules are defined as compounds which are active against 100% of the bacteria of two or three of the strains mentioned above. A non-limiting list of the compounds obeying the conditions of the present invention is given hereinbelow : Decanal Isoeugenal 10-Undecen-l-al Nerol Nonanal Tetrahydrolinalool 4-Isopropylbenzaldehyde Zestover 3) 4-Undecanolide Intreleven aldehyde 4) Citronellal (2E,6Z)-2,6-nonadien- 1 -ol Citronellol γ-Dodecalactone Cyclamen aldehyde Floralozone 5) Delphone υ Isobutylquinoleine Dihydro eugenol Lilial ® 6 ' 8-p-Menthanol Mayol ® 7 ' Dimetol 2) Phenylhexanol Geraniol 9-Decen-l-ol 3-( 1 ,3-Benzodioxal-5-yl)-2-methylpropanal 1 ) 2-Pentyl-l -cyclopentanone ; origin : Firmenich SA. Geneva. Switzerland 2) 2.6-Dimethyl-2-heptanol : origin : Givaudan-Roure SA. Vernier. Switzerland 3 ) 2.4-Dimethyl- l -carbaldehyde : origin : Firmenich SA. Geneva. Switzerland 4) origin : International Flavors & Fragrances. USA 5) mixture of 3-(4-ethylphenyl)-2.2-dimethylpropanal + 3-(2-ethylphenyl)-2.2- dimethylpropanal : origin : International Flavors & Fragrances. USA 6) ongm Givaudan-Roure SANer er, Switzerland 7) cιs-7-p-menthanol . origin Firmenich SA. Geneva. Switzerland Theiefoie. in the context of the present invention, an active molecule is defined as a compound having an antimicrobial activity as tested by the Microbial Reduction Test when it falls under the list given here-above The use of these compounds as antimicrobial agents is an object of the present invention Another object of the present invention are compositions having an antimicrobial action and containing an effective amount of active molecules as defined above We have found that, in order to be effective, such compositions should contain at least about 30% by weight, of the above-defined active molecules, with respect to the total weight of the composition The preferred compositions are those which contain about 50%) by weight of active molecules, with respect to the total weight of the composition Another object of the invention consists of a perfuming composition or a perfumed product containing an antimicrobial composition as defined above It is hence possible to prepare perfumes and colognes having an antimicrobial activity, by using a composition compπsmg active molecules according to the present invention, thus providing antimicrobial perfummg compositions The antimicrobial perfuming compositions as defined above can advantageously be used to perfume ceitain products, in particular consumer products m the field of household and body care As it will appear from the examples below, these products, thanks to the presence of the antimicrobial compositions incorporated therein, acquire an antimicrobial activity themselves The activity of the final products will of course depend on the amount ol peifummg composition present Νon-hmitmg examples for this type ot application include soaps bath and showei gels shampoos deodorants and antiperspirants. cosmetic compositions aπ -lreshenei s liquid and solid detergents toi the tieatment ot textiles labπc soiteners and all-purpose cleanei s foi household and also industrial use I n these applications the antiiniuobial compositions can be used alone oi in admiMin c w ith othu pei turning mgiedients soh ents oi ants ol cuπcnt use in perfumery. The nature and the variety of these coingredients do not require a more detailed description here, which, moreover, would not be exhaustive, and the person skilled in the art will be able to choose the latter through its general knowledge and as a function of the nature of the product to be perfumed and of the desired olfactive effect. These perfuming ingredients belong to chemical classes as varied as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, ethers, acetates, nitriles, terpene hydrocarbons, sulfur- and nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds, as well as essential oils of natural or synthetic origin. A large number of these ingredients is moreover listed in reference textbooks such as the book of S. Arctander, Perfume and Flavor Chemicals, 1969, Montclair, New Jersey. USA, or its more recent versions, or in other works of similar nature. The invention will now be illustrated in greater detail in the following examples. Embodiments of the Invention Example 1 An antimicrobial composition was prepared with the following ingredients Ingredients Parts by weight Benzyl acetate 500 Hexylcinnamic aldehyde 1000 x (2E,6Z)-2,6-nonadien-l-ol* 5 x Citronellol 500 Coumarine 300 x γ-Dodecalactone 50 Lorysia ® " 1000 Heliotropine 200 x I obutylquinoleine 50 x Filial c " 2500 x Mayol * 1000 Phenethylol 400 x Phenylhexanol 1500 Polysantol ® 500 Total 9505 * in dipropylene glycol x = active compound according to the present invention 1) 4-(l ,l -dimethylethyl)- l -cyclohexyl acetate ; origin : Firmenich SA, Geneva, Switzerland The composition thus prepared showed an antimicrobial activity of 100% against Escherichia coli. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, as measured by the test according to the present invention. Example 2 A perfuming composition was prepared by using the following ingredients : Ingredients Parts by weight Benzyl acetate 500 Linalyl acetate 500 x Citronellol 300 x Cyclamen aldehyde 100 x γ-Dodecalactone 20 x Geraniol 200 Habanolide ® " 500 x Filial ® 1000 x ayol ® 300 Phenethylol 8 0 Phenvlhexanol 500 Benzyl salicylate 800 Terpineol 1000 Total 6520 x = active compound according to the present invention 1 ) mixture of pentadec-1 l-en-15-olide and pentadec-12-en-15-olide ; origin : Firmenich SA, Geneva, Switzerland The composition thus prepared showed an antimicrobial activity of 100% against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. as measured by the test according to the present invention. Example 3 There was prepared a perfuming composition using the following ingredients : Ingredients Parts by weight x Nonanal 10 Hexylcinnamic aldehyde 800 Intreleven aldehyde 10 x 4-Undecanolide 10 x Citronellol 1500 x Geraniol 1000 Habanolide ® 0 800 Iralia ® Total 2) 200 Isopentyrate λ) 400 Dorisyl " 800 Lyral ® 41 500 x Phenylhexanol 1000 Tctrahvdrolinalool 1500 Total 8530 x = active compound according to the present invention 1 ) see Example 2 2) methylionone mixture ; origin : Firmenich SA, Geneva, Switzerland 3) 1 ,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl isobutyrate ; origin : Firmenich SA, Geneva, Switzerland 4) mixture of 4- and 3-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexene-l -carbaldehyde ; origin : International Flavors & Fragrances, USA The composition thus prepared showed an antimicrobial activity of 100% against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, as measured by the test according to the present invention. Example 4 Activity of antimicrobial perfuming compositions in a fabric softener The in vitro Bacterial Contact Time (BCT) test provides a measure of the efficacy with which a product solution, at a certain concentration, will kill a given type of bacteria in the solution. This test is described in the international patent application WO 98/16194, the content of which is here-included by reference. General method . Three different antimicrobial compositions of the invention containing different percentages of active compounds formulated at 1 %, were tested in a fabric softener base prepared from the following ingredients : Ingredients Parts by weight Stepantex & VS90 π 16.5 CaCF ( 10% aqueous solution) 0.2 Dye ( 1 % aqueous solution) 0.3 Water 82.0 Total 99.0 1 ) origin : Slepan. Prance The bacteria used in this study were Escherichia coli ATCC 10536 (gram -) (origin : American Type Culture Collection. Rockville, Md). The test organisms were grown in Tryptone Soya Broth (TSB) at 37° (OD 600 = 1.0). After a 5 times dilution of the initial inoculum (OD 600 = 0.2), 100 μl of bacteria were mixed with 100 μl of the sample softener. The bacteria kill was measured by sampling the bacteria/softener mix at short time intervals (respectively 30, 60, 90. 120, 180, 155 and 300 s) ; and then stopping the kill reaction by a dilution in TSB. When the reaction time was reached, 5μl of the preparation were diluted into 500μl and 5μl of this last preparation were diluted again into 50 volumes TSB. 50μl of the latter dilution were then plated on a Tryptone Soya Agent (TSA) plate and incubated overnight at 37°. The average colony number was estimated with a Countermat Flash (IUL Instruments). Table 1 below reports the time (in s) required to achieved at least 99% kill, for respectively the unperfumed fabric softener base and the same base perfumed at 1%> with 3 different antibacterial compositions of the invention, namely : - antimicrobial composition 1 (AC 1) which is the composition described in Example 2 and which contains 37% of active compounds according to the invention ; - antimicrobial composition 2 (AC 2) which is the composition described in Example 3 and which contains 59% of active compounds according to the invention ; and - antimicrobial composition 3 (AC 3) which contains 100% of active compounds according to the invention and which was prepared by using the following ingredients : Ingredients Parts by weight Nonanal 10 Intreleven aldehyde 10 4-Undecanolide 10 Citronellol 1500 Geraniol 1000 Phenylhexanol 1000 Tetrahydrolinalool 1500 Total 5030 Table 1 : Bacterial Contact Test carried out respectively on a fabric softener base unperfumed and on the same base perfumed with 3 different compositions It clearly appears from these results that the softener base comprising the antimicrobial compositions of the invention performed better than the base alone which required at least 300 s to reach a 99% kill. Composition of fabric softener and AC 3 (containing 100% active ingredients) also attained a 99.9% kill after a contact time of 90 s. Probability values for 99 and 99.9% kills were 0.1 and 0.01 respectively.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Antimicrobial composition, characterised in that it contains an effective amount of one or more active compounds the antimicrobial activity of which is 100% when measured by the Microbial Reduction Test. 2. An antimicrobial composition according to claim 1 , characterised in that the active compound is chosen from the group consisting of decanal, 10-undecen-l-al, nonanal, 4-isopropylbenzaldehyde, 4-undecanolide, citronellal, citronellol, cyclamen aldehyde, delphone, didydro eugenol, 8-p-menthanol, dimetol, geraniol, 3-(l,3- benzodioxal-5-yl)-2-methylpropanal, isoeugenal, nerol, tetrahydrolinalool, zestover, intreleven aldehyde, (2E,6Z)-2,6-nonadien-l-ol, γ-dodecalactone, floralozone, isobutylquinoleine, Lilial ® , Mayol ® , phenylhexanol, 9-decen-l-ol. 3. Antimicrobial composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it contains at least 30% by weight of active compounds. 4. Antimicrobial composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it contains at least 50% by weight of active compounds. 5. Perfuming composition or perfumed article containing an antimicrobial composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. A perfumed article according to claim 5, in the form of a soap, a bath or shower gel, a shampoo or other hair-care product, a deodorant or antiperspirant, a cosmetic preparation, an air-freshener, a liquid or solid detergent for the treatment of textiles, a fabric softener or an all-purpose cleaner for household or industrial use. 7. Use of a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, to impart an antimicrobial activity or to enhance the antimicrobial activity of an article for personal care or a functional product. 8. A method to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of a compound, characterised in that said method comprises : - solubilizing in an aqueous medium in a concentration between 250 and 1000 μg/ml relative to the medium of the ingredient to be tested in the presence of an effective 5 amount of solvent which is substantially non toxic for a subsequently added bacteria and which allows a complete solubilizing of said perfuming ingredient; - adding an inoculum of the desired bacterium such that the final concentration in the medium will be 10 7 colony forming units/ml of the medium; - diluting the medium so as to reduce the bacteria concentration to 10 3 colony forming o units/ml of medium ; - spreading 10 2 bacteria onto an appropriate culture medium, counting the surviving colonies after incubation and comparing the value obtained with a control, containing no perfume. 5 9. The method according to claim 8, characterised in that the solvent is an alcohol. 10. The method according to claim 9, characterised in that the alcohol is ethanol. 0 11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the ethanol concentration in the aqueous medium is between 5 and 20%> by weight, preferably around 15% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the medium. 12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 1 1 , characterised in that the 5 contact time is about 5 min. 13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterised in that the concentration of perfuming ingredient in the aqueous medium is between 400 and 600 μg/ml. 0 14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13. characterised in that the bacteriae are selected from the group consisting of the species Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococcus aureus and Enlerococcus hirae.

Inventors: BRETLER GIL, BRETLER, GIL
Applicants: BRETLER GIL, FIRMENICH & CIE, BRETLER, GIL, FIRMENICH SA
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: A01N25, A01N31, A01N35, A01N43, A01N49, A01N61, A61K8, A61L9, A61Q5, A61Q15, A61Q19, C11B9, C11D3, C12Q1