Patent Application
20110236333
Humans and all other mammals (hereafter “Animal”(s)) are living biological organisms which tend to secret various substances. Bromhidrosis (or “body odor”) is the smell of the eco-environment created within these secretions. Once the body, skin, scalp, or coat is covered in secretions they are usually accompanied by bacteria or other microbial substances growing in the microscopic spaces.
The secretions themselves are not only harmless to Animals; they are also needed and desirable for a normal and healthy skin, scalp, or coat. It is the unwanted bacteria and other potential microbial infestations that are the actual causes of odors. This invention uses the powerful antimicrobial properties of green tea catechins (e.g. Natural Catchin Extract from Green Tea, hereafter “Extract”) combined with an effective surfactant (e.g. Polyglyceryl Monolaurate, or Polyglyceryl-10 Monolaurate, or Decaglyceryl Monolaurate, hereafter “Surfactant”)
Catechins (not the green tea itself) are the specific ingredient having the effective antimicrobial attributes. Combined with the gentle cleansing and extra anti-microbial action of the non-ionic Surfactant, the combination can effectively be applied. The higher catechin concentrations offer benefits, among other things, of killing and/or preventing the bacteria from growing—and it can deodorize the skin and hair—but it is not as harsh on the skin of the Animal. The catechins can also kill (or more accurately “deactivate”) enzymes that live in the scalp and are detrimental to hair health. Deactivation of these enzymes can lead to generally improved status of scalp health, as measured by such factors as Hair Folicles/sq. cm, stiffness of hair follicle, and average diameter of hair follicles.
The non-ionic Surfactant has high foaming and cleaning properties, but washes away less amino acids from the skin compared to other common skin, scalp, or animal coat cleaning and/or treatment product bases.
It is not new to include “green tea” in a skin or coat treatment product. However, catechins as an “active” ingredient require higher concentration than those currently available. Without the high catechin content, products will not have the same effect as the present invention and some may consider the “Green Tea” product branding only a marketing gimmick.
A problem in skin or coat treatment products that use a “cat-ionic” or “an-ionic” base has been instability. There will be precipitation and color change (darkening) in just a few hours/days and the product would not be commercially viable due to extremely short shelf life. An objective of the present invention is to achieve an efficacious level of catechins (in ranges up to and over 2% by weight) a proper emulsification method for the high catechin content in a skin, scalp, or coat treatment is one embodiment of the invention. In other embodiments of the invention the objective might be to deodorize rugs or carpets or even for human use such as a deodorizing shampoo. In yet other embodiments, the objective may not be to deodorize (or just to deodorize); there are numerous benefits or healthy consequences that can be achieved by applying or otherwise presenting a high catechin content emulsion to a system or living organism. The benefits of green tea, in particular, have been well documented.
This invention solves the instability problem by using a non-ionic Surfactant (e.g. Polyglyceryl Monolaurate). It is stable with green tea catechins at high levels and will not easily precipitate nor easily change (darken) color. It is common that bacteria living on the surface of the scalp of Animals produce waste products that cause odors. Commonly available shampoos or skin treatments wash away oils and odor, but do not kill the microorganisms that cause the odor. Immediately after shampooing the animal with currently available products, the bacteria begins to multiply and the odor quickly returns.
Other commonly available “deodorizing” or “treatment” shampoos use chemicals to kill the bacteria, but there is a harsh effect to the Animal's skin. Dryness occurs from washing away amino acids from the skin surface and can result in dandruff. The dander welcomes more unwanted microbial pests that feed on it.
Extract is a (food grade) natural catechin extract from green tea It is an herbal extract, therefore it is not designed to do anything in particular. The surfactant is nonionic, which means for this embodiment, the Extract emulsifies well in the Surfactant and results in, among other things, having a superior detergent and foaming ability. Since the “surfactant” is non-ionic, and has superior detergency and foaming ability. The “extract” has superior “deodorizing” and “anti-microbial” activity. The “surfactant” in this embodiment acts as the delivery vehicle.
Nonionic surfactants comprise a broad group of over 250 types of surface-active molecules. They can include fatty acid amides and esters, alcohol amine, and phenol alkoxylates, fluorinated alcohols, organic polymers, and organo-silicone copolymers. The international trade Commission Reported in 1976 that Nonionic Surface-Active compounds produced in the United States as follows: Carboxylic acid amides; Carboxylic acid esters; Alkylphenol ethoxylates; and Nonbenzenoid ethers.
Applicant would contemplate that many surfactants exists and not all have been tried, but the Applicant of this invention has discovered that a surfactant such as e.g. Polyglyceryl Monolaurate. In specific embodiments, it is more accurately called either Polyglycerly-10 Monolaurate, or Decaglyceryl Monolaurate); it is a nonionic surfactant, which conforms to the Japanese Cosmetic Ingredients Codex and the Japanese Standard of Food Additives. This Surfactant, then, is a superior detergent with excellent foaming ability. Unlike conventional polyglyceryl fatty acid esters, Surfactant has a monoester as its main ingredient. It has a very good low irritant composition which is mild on the eyes and skin. Surfactant will not lead to dry or tight skin and tends to leave no slimy residue on the skin. During application and/or cleansing Surfactant has an appropriate wet feeling on the skin. It is stable under a broad pH range and thanks to all the above described qualities Surfactant can be effectively used in face cleansers, body soap, shampoo and hand soap.
Surfactant Chemical and Physical Properties in a Preferred Embodiment
In the preferred embodiment of a skin, hair, or coat cleanser, “High Foaming” “Food-Grade” “nonionic surfactant” was found superior. Applicant also considers that many nonionic surfactants do not produce foam (some are actually used as anti-foaming agents for industrial applications). These would be preferred in non-foaming applications such as creams, oils, or other than the Animal applications. The term “Food-Grade” will also reduce the number of possible compounds. Many nonionic surfactants are used in herbicides, lubricants, or other industrial applications.
The Polyglycerol Monolaurate is commercially available and is primarily in the form of Polyglycerol approx 10%, Mono-Ester approx 78%, and Di- and higher esters approx 12%). It is typically mixed with equal amounts of water before incorporation into the final product. Other concentrations of premixing are still effective in combination with other concentrations of the Extract.
Extract is a commercially available high catechin content natural green tea extract which has been specifically supplied for the making of Human and or Animal care products. Catechin content has been shown to be greater than 70%.
Green Tea Catechins are a subset of compounds known as “Flavonoids.” Catechins are found in green tea, and also known as a type of “polyphenols” because they have several hydroxyl (OH) groups in each molecule. Catechins are considered the main healthy anti-oxidant component present in green tea. The extraction process normally involves extraction with water, purification, decaffeination, and condensation, where it is sprayed, dried, and collected as an embodiment of the Extract.
Extract Chemical and Physical Data in a Preferred Embodiment
The primary source of catechins is Green Tea (camellia sinensis). However catechins also exist in a wide variety of other plants, including Cocoa (and seeds from Theobroma cacao) and Mimosa catechu (Acacia catechu). Catechins are also found in many other plant species, for example fruits, vegetables, and wine. Additionally, it is possible to synthesize catechins, but to date and for the foreseeable future, the synthetic material is not a viable option due to high production costs.
Priority is claimed in this application to the Provisional Patent Application No. 61/308,336, accorded a filing date of Feb. 26, 2010, by same inventor.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61308336 | Feb 2010 | US |
