AU2016201378A1

AU2016201378A1 - Skin care compositions, method of manufacture and use

Info

Publication number: AU2016201378A1
Application number: AU2016201378A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Manal Nasta
Original assignee: Nasta Manal Ms
Current assignee: Nasta Manal Ms
Priority date: 2016-03-02
Filing date: 2016-03-02
Publication date: 2017-09-21
Also published as: AU2025201954A1

Abstract

This invention provides skin care compositions that include a blend of honeys and extends to the use of such compositions in maintaining skin health and in alleviating symptoms of skin conditions in terrestrial mammalian species including humans. The honey constituent comprises jelly bush honey and organically derived honey, an olive oil-based carrier and a thickener, preferably derived from a bee product such as beeswax.

Description

1 1 2016201378 02 Mar 2016

SKIN CARE COMPOSITIONS, METHOD OF MANUFACTURE AND USE

Field of invention [01] This invention relates to skin care compositions and in particular to skin care compositions that include a blend of honeys. The invention extends to the use of such compositions in maintaining skin health and in alleviating symptoms of skin conditions in terrestrial mammalian species including humans.

Background to the invention [02] For centuries is has been known that honey has healing properties. Numerous patents have been granted over honey-containing compositions for topical application for the relieving of various symptoms both on and below the human skin.

[03] Dado's patent, US 6,482,442 discloses the combination of honey, olive oil and beeswax in a therapeutic composition for skin health. The patent does not disclose jelly bush honey or manuka honey. Nor does it specify extra virgin olive oil. Jelly bush and Manuka varieties of honey are thought to work effectively against a wide range of infectious agents and are suitable for treatment of wounds and various skin conditions. A possible reason why jelly bush honey is particularly effective is its high level of nonperoxide, antibacterial components, making it more potent than other varieties of honey that contain only typical hydrogen peroxide components.

[04] Dado states that in a "suitable combination", honey and olive oil provide effective topical relief for various ailments, those occurring on or under the skin in particular. Since Dado's formulations are invariably honey-rich, this suggests that suitable compositions are those high in honey content - at least 50%.

[05] Beeswax is known for use as a thickener for oil when forming a base for a gel. See Alzahrani et al., US 8,703,205.

[06] Australian patent publication 2013277858 teaches that the chemical, methylglyoxal (MGO, also called 2-oxopropanal and pyruvaldehyde), is a major 2016201378 02 Mar 2016 component of the antibacterial activity of Leptospermum derived honey, such as Manuka honey and jelly bush honey. It suggests isolating MGO for use in various pharmaceuticals.

[07] WO/2015/104523 discloses a cosmetic composition of Manuka honey, beeswax and olive oil. However, the concentration of honey is very low - about lOppm.

[08] From the above it is apparent that various cosmetic compositions that contain honey as an active ingredient, olive oil as a carrier or diluent and beeswax as thickener or carrier are known.

[09] It is an object of this invention to address the shortcomings of the prior art and, in doing so, to provide a composition of natural ingredients suitable for use in maintaining skin health.

[010] A further object of the invention is to provide a topical ointment having a blend of honeys to provide its active ingredient for use in alleviating the symptoms of undesirable skin conditions.

[011] The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere as at the priority date of the present application.

[012] Further, and unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense - that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not being limited to" - as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense - that is to say meaning "including this and nothing else".

Summary of invention [013] According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a skin care composition for topical application wherein the composition is comprised of a honey 2016201378 02 Mar 2016 constituent comprising organically derived honey, an olive oil-based carrier and a thickener.

[014] In a preferred form of the invention, the composition comprises the olive oil-based carrier in the range from 35%-67% by weight. Further preferably, the oil-based carrier component is present in an amount in the range 50 to 62% by weight. Olive oil in various forms may be used.

[015] An example of an olive oil-based carrier found to be exceedingly suitable for use in this invention is extra-virgin olive oil. It is preferred for its press quality, its lighter fragrance than other olive oils, and because it is found to be lighter in texture an easy to apply to skin.

[016] In preferred embodiments, the olive oil-based carrier is extra-virgin olive oil. In still further preferred embodiments, the acidity rating of the extra-virgin olive oil does not exceed 1.1% as measured according to the protocols of the International Olive Oil Council. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the acidity of the olive oil used in the composition is less than 0.6% [017] The thickener is derived preferably from bee products. A particularly preferred example is beeswax. Less preferable, but still useful for its resinous characteristics, is propolis. Non-bee product alternatives include coconut oil and jojoba oil wax.

[018] In a preferred form of the invention, the thickener comprises beeswax as its major constituent. Preferably the beeswax makes up from 20%-60% by weight of the end product.

[019] In a preferred form of the invention, the honey constituent includes jelly bush honey. In an embodiment, the jelly bush honey is organically derived.

[020] Preferably the honey constituent comprises 50%-85% organic honey and from 15% to 50% jelly bush honey by weight of the total honey component. Ideally, the selection comprises 3 parts organic honey to 1 part jelly bush honey by weight. 2016201378 02 Mar 2016 [021] In this invention, the term organic honey is used to refer to honey derived from pollen sources organically cultivated or from pollen sources in the wild. These pollen sources may include wild or organically cultivated jelly bush plants. Honey types considered unsuitable for the compositions of this invention are any derived from bees that were fed artificial foods, such as a processed sugar. Instead, honey sold under the brand "Pure Peninsula" and available from www.farmhousedirect.com.au is found to be well suited for use in this invention.

[022] In a preferred form of the invention, the composition comprises from 10% to 30% of the honey constituent by weight. Further preferably, the composition comprises from 15% to 24% honey constituent by weight. In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises 18-22% total honey constituent. Ideally, the composition comprises 20% honey constituent by weight in total.

[023] In an embodiment, the composition comprises 45-55% of the olive oil-based carrier, 25-35% thickener and 17-25% total honey by weight.

[024] A particularly preferred composition comprises by weight total honey 20%, beeswax 30% as thickener and extra-virgin olive oil 50% as the carrier.

[025] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of alleviating symptoms of undesirable human skin conditions or for maintaining a healthy human skin, the method including the step of topically applying, in a therapeutically effective amount, a composition comprising a honey constituent comprising organically derived honey, an olive oil-based carrier and a thickener.

[026] The method preferably includes repeating the topical application periodically until the symptoms are alleviated.

[027] In a preferred form of the method of the invention, the honey constituent includes jelly bush honey. In an embodiment, the jelly bush honey is organically derived.

[028] In a further preferred form of the invention, the thickener is derived from a bee product. Preferably, the bee product comprises beeswax as its major constituent. 2016201378 02 Mar 2016 [029] In preferred embodiments of the method, the olive oil-based carrier comprises extra-virgin olive oil. In still further preferred embodiments, the acidity rating of the extra-virgin olive oil does not exceed 1.1% as measured according to the protocols of the International Olive Oil Council. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the acidity of the olive oil used in the composition is less than 0.6%.

[030] The invention extends in a third aspect to the use in maintaining skin health of a skin care composition comprised of a honey constituent comprising organically derived honey, an olive oil-based carrier and a thickener.

[031] In a preferred form of the composition used in this invention, the honey constituent includes jelly bush honey. In an embodiment, the jelly bush honey is organically derived.

[032] In a further preferred form of the invention, the thickener is derived from a bee product. Preferably, the bee product is beeswax.

[033] In a fourth aspect of the invention, a process for preparing a composition for use in alleviating undesirable skin symptoms and for maintaining skin health includes the steps of a. Melting a thickener in a vessel, b. Introducing organic honey and combining it with the thickener c. Introducing jelly bush honey and combining it with the thickener d. Agitating the combination of honey and thickener while introducing an olive oil-based carrier component e. Agitating the combination including the olive oil based carrier to achieve a creamy consistency, f. Allowing the combination to cool and harden to at least be non-flowing at a temperature of 30 degrees C.

[034] In a preferred form of the invention, the thickener is derived from a bee product. Preferably, the bee product is beeswax. Alternatives include propolis. A nonbee-derived product that could be used as an alternative is coconut oil. 2016201378 02 Mar 2016 [035] In a preferred embodiment of the process, the olive oil-based carrier comprises extra-virgin olive oil. In a further preferred embodiment, the acidity rating of the extra-virgin olive oil does not exceed 1.1% as measured according to the protocols of the International Olive Oil Council. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the acidity of the olive oil used in the composition is less than 0.6% [036] In a preferred form of the process, the total amount of honey combined with 100 parts beeswax is in the range from 15 to 150 parts by weight honey. More preferably, from 20 to 75 parts honey are combined with 100 parts by weight beeswax.

[037] The proportion of oil-based carrier per 100 parts beeswax is preferably in the range from 58 to 330 parts by weight.

[038] Preferably the honey constituent comprises 50%-85% organic honey and from 15% to 50% jelly bush honey by weight of the total honey component. Ideally, the honey constituent comprises 3 parts organic honey to 1 part jelly bush honey by weight.

[039] In a preferred form of the process, the beeswax is heated to a temperature not exceeding 48°C. Preferably, it is heated to a temperature in the range from 30°C to 40°C. Ideally, the temperature to which the beeswax is heated is 37.5°C.

Detailed description of embodiments [040] According to the invention, the skin care composition has its active ingredients provided by a combination of honey types, in which the major component is organic honey and the balance is jelly bush honey (which itself may be organically derived too). The organic honey component (other than organic jelly bush honey) may contain any other types of honey alone or in combination, provided they are organically derived, with the bees concerned not being artificially fed on sugars.

[041] The overall honey constituent contains at least 10% by weight of jelly bush honey, but no more than 50% jelly bush honey, except where the jelly bush honey is organic. In cases where it is organically derived, jelly bush honey may make up as much as 90% of the total honey constituent. It is surprisingly found by the inventor that there needs to be a proportion of the honey blend that is not comprised of jelly bush honey. The reason for this is not known, but, without being bound by theory, it is thought that the substantial absence of peroxides in jelly bush honey, when complemented by a honey type that is relatively rich in hydrogen-peroxide provides a composition having broadly based anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. 2016201378 02 Mar 2016 [042] After extensive experimentation, the inventor noticed that the composition of the invention was suitable not only for application to the human skin, but that it did not cause discomfort, even if applied to open wounds, or near the recipient's eyes, ears, or mouth and, in fact, was ingestible. A young female trialled a cream formulation made according to the invention on an infected portion of her gums. This was found to help heal and clear infection. Again, without wishing to be bound by theory, it is thought that the use of organic honey minimises the presence of skin irritants and substances to which the eyes are sensitive. .

[043] The composition is provided as a cream, ointment or salve and its uses include reducing various infections and assisting in healing skin damage such as burns (including sunburn), cuts and other injuries. It has been found to be effective on animals and on humans. It has a soothing effect when applied to arms and legs. Application accompanied by light massaging is reported even to ease muscle and joint pain in recipients. Anecdotal results from a trial carried out with the assistance of two elderly volunteers, further support the view that the invention is effective in the relief of joint pain. A volunteer has also reported relief from the painful symptoms associated with varicose veins.

[044] In an embodiment of the invention, a process for preparing the composition in a cream formulation is as follows: [045] An open vessel is charged with beeswax and heat is applied to cause melting. Once the beeswax has melted and is at a temperature between 30°C and 40°C, the honey components are added. They may be blended together beforehand, or be added separately. The sequence is not found to be crucial. These constituents are then mixed together, with agitation continuing until the honey has visibly dissolved into the wax, forming what appears to be an emulsion. Heat is removed and this intermediate product is continuously agitated while the olive oil is added slowly. While the olive oil is being added, the agitation rate is increased gradually to achieve a soft, viscous and creamy-looking mixture. 2016201378 02 Mar 2016 [046] When the mixture has achieved desired consistency and texture, which may be varied as discussed below, the product is divided into predetermined quantities for storage in designated containers. These may be the containers for sale of end products in therapeutic quantities, or may be bulk containers for transportation to a destination where final dividing and packaging will occur. Depending on destination temperatures, the product may need to be reheated to facilitate dividing by pouring or for re-agitation prior to final dividing.

[047] Certain variations in the preparation method and conditions can be tolerated without diminishing the effectiveness of the final product. The texture will, however, be altered as the carrier and thickener proportions change. It is found that these can be changed by up to 20% by weight, without diminishing the effectiveness of the formulation to a material degree.

[048] Embodiments of the composition were tested as described in the examples that follow:

Example 1 [049] A first composition (composition #1) is prepared for use in alleviating the suffering resulting from severe sunburn. In weight percent, the ingredients are the following : a. Olive oil (extra-virgin): 40% b. Beeswax: 35% c. Organic honey: 18% d. Jelly bush honey: 7% [050] A mass of 100kg of beeswax is melted and then held in liquid form at 37.5 °C. The 7 kg of jelly bush honey is poured slowly in to the vessel. The mixture is agitated using a paddle rotating at about 90 RPM. While agitation continues and the temperature is maintained, the organic honey is added, again slowly. 2016201378 02 Mar 2016 [051] The rate of agitation is increased by 15 RPM every 3 minutes while the extravirgin olive oil is added by pouring. The agitation continues until the mixture was visibly consistent and had achieved a smooth and creamy texture. Heat was removed. Agitation continued for another 10 minutes and then was decreased to rest over a period of another 6 minutes. The mixture was left to stand for 2 hours in a temperature controlled nitrogen-rich environment at 21°C.

[052] The mixture was then scooped into waiting jars which, once filled, were sealed in a nitrogen chamber and placed in storage, ready for labelling and distribution.

[053] In a field test, a female of 25 years, presenting with severe redness on her legs due to sunburn 3 hours earlier, applied composition #1 to her left leg and a commercially available "aftersun" cream to her right leg at 2 hour intervals. While the commercially available cream gradually served to reduce pain discomfort over a period of about 5 hours, pain relief was experienced in the skin of the left leg within about 20 minutes of composition #1 being applied. Within about 60 minutes, soreness in the skin on the left leg had dissipated entirely. The recipient reported too that the skin on her left leg was far more supple than the skin on her right leg after 24 hours of two-hourly applications of the respective products.

Example 2 [054] A composition #2 was prepared using the methods described previously. The final product comprised 20% honey, 32% beeswax and 48% extra-virgin, cold pressed olive oil, by weight.

[055] A male recipient aged 53 presenting with a groups of scratches on both arms, sustained while pruning rosebushes, applied composition #2 to the scratches on his right arm and a medically regulated antibacterial cream available on doctors' prescription only to the scratches on this left arm at 6 hour intervals (morning, noon and night). The 2016201378 02 Mar 2016 initial appearance and range of severity of the scratches was approximately the same in both groups. The redness of both sets of scratches was reduced at about the same rate. However, the scars on the right arm, after 7 days of 3 times daily treatment with composition #2 appeared to be noticeably less obvious than those on the left arm.

Example 3 [056] A composition, #3, was prepared from the following ingredients (% w/w): a. Extra-virgin olive oil: 65% b. Beeswax: 25% c. Organic honey 6% d. Jelly bush honey 4% [057] The mixture was heated and held at a temperature of 39 °C and stirred with a paddle revolving at about 200RPM until it appeared fully emulsified. The composition appeared as a yellowish spreadable ointment. It was applied in the morning and evening by a female recipient aged 70 who had initially had patches of flaky skin in and above her eyebrows. After regular application for 4 days, accompanied by gentle massage, the flakiness had disappeared. Application was then reduced to evenings only. After 6 months of observation, the flakiness has not reappeared.

Example 4 [058] Composition #4 was made up from the following ingredients (measured in weight %): a. Beeswax 65% b. Olive oil 20% c. Organic honey 10% d. Jelly Bush honey 5% 2016201378 02 Mar 2016 [059] These were agitated to emulsification at a temperature of 32°C. The resultant product was relatively firm compared with the other compositions described and did not flow or spread at temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius.

[060] It was applied to the lips of a group of 7 children aged from 9 to 12 at about 8:30 one morning at school. The children reported the product to have a pleasant taste. After school, at about 3:15pm, the children were interviewed about their experience with the product and reported that it had felt good on their lips and seemed to keep them moist.

[061] The children were interviewed the next morning before school and all reported that they had not experienced any adverse symptoms often associated with a day at school involving periods spent alternatively indoors and outdoors and in windy conditions.

Example 5 [062] A composition, #5, was prepared from the following ingredients (% w/w): a. Extra-virgin olive oil: 60% b. Coconut oil: 28% c. Organic honey 7% d. Jelly bush honey 5% [063] The mixture was heated and held at a temperature of 44°C and stirred with a paddle revolving at about 240RPM until it appeared fully emulsified. The composition appeared as a yellowish spreadable ointment. It was applied in the morning and evening by a female recipient aged 82 who had presented with significant pain in her left elbow and limited range of movement. After regular application for 24 hours, accompanied by gentle massage, the pain was reported to have dissipated and near to full movement range restored. Application continued and after 4 days of observation, the recipient reported the absence of pain and a normal range of movement. 2016201378 02 Mar 2016 [064] In an empirically reported instance, a composition according to the invention has been applied to a ripped portion of the skin of a kitten skin, which had been bitten by a dog. The skin was found to repair swiftly, with new fur appearing within 4 days.

[065] In further embodiments of the invention, the beeswax and olive oil content is able to be varied by up to 20% by weight. Preferably, if the olive oil content is increased, the beeswax component is commensurately decreased if the honey total is to remain the same. Conversely, if the beeswax content is increased, the olive oil content is correspondingly decreased.

[066] These embodiments merely illustrate particular examples of the composition, methods of use and manufacture of the invention providing skin care and relief from the symptoms associated with undesirable conditions. With the insight gained from this disclosure, the person skilled in the art is well placed to discern further embodiments by means of which to put the claimed invention into practice.

Claims

Claims

1. A skin care composition for topical application wherein the composition is comprised of a honey constituent comprising organically derived honey, an olive oil-based carrier and a thickener.
2. The composition of claim 1 comprising the olive oil-based carrier in the range from 35%-67% by weight.
3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the olive oil-based carrier component is present in an amount in the range 50% to 62% by weight.
4. The composition of any one of the preceding claims wherein the olive oil-based carrier comprises extra-virgin olive oil.
5. The composition of claim 4 wherein the acidity rating of the extra-virgin olive oil does not exceed 1.1% as measured according to protocols of the International Olive Oil Council.
6. The composition of claim 5 wherein the acidity of the olive oil used in the composition is less than 0.6%
7. The composition of any one of the preceding claims wherein the thickener is present in the range from 20%-60% by weight of the end product.
8. The composition of any one of the preceding claims wherein the thickener comprises a bee product.
9. The composition of claim 8 wherein the bee product comprises beeswax as its major constituent.
10. The composition of any one of the preceding claims wherein the honey constituent comprises from 10% to 30% by weight of the composition. 1
12. The composition of claim 11 comprising from 18% to 22% total honey constituent.
13. The composition of any one of the preceding claims wherein the honey constituent includes jelly bush honey.
14. The composition of claim 13 wherein the jelly bush honey is organically derived.
15. The composition of claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the honey constituent comprises 50%-85% organic honey and from 15% to 50% jelly bush honey by weight of the total honey component.
16. The composition of claim 1 comprising 45-55% of the oil-based carrier, 25-35% thickener and 17-25% total honey by weight.
17. The composition of claim 16 comprising 20% total honey, 30% beeswax and 50% extra-virgin olive oil, by weight.
18. A method of alleviating symptoms of undesirable skin conditions or for maintaining a healthy skin, the method including the step of topically applying, in a therapeutically effective amount, a composition comprising a honey constituent comprising organically derived honey, an olive oil-based carrier and a thickener.
19. The method of claim 18 including repeating the topical application periodically until the symptoms are alleviated.
20. The method of claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the honey constituent includes jelly bush honey.
21. The method of any one of claims 18 to 20 wherein the honey constituent makes up from 10% to 30% by weight of the composition.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the honey constituent comprises 50%-85% organic honey and from 15% to 50% jelly bush honey by weight.
23. The method of any one of claims 18 to 22 wherein the composition comprises the olive oil-based carrier in the range from 35%-67% by weight
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the olive oil-based carrier comprises extra-virgin olive oil.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the acidity rating of the extra-virgin olive oil does not exceed 1.1% as measured according to a protocol of the International Olive Oil Council.
26. The method of any one of claims 18 to 25 wherein the thickener is present in the range from 20%-60% by weight of the end product.
27. The method of any one of claims 18 to 26 wherein the thickener is derived from a bee product.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein the bee product is beeswax.
29. Use of a skin care composition in maintaining skin health, wherein the composition is comprised of a honey constituent comprising organically derived honey, an olive oil-based carrier and a thickener.
30. The use according to claim 29 wherein the honey constituent includes jelly bush honey.
31. The use according to claim 30 wherein the jelly bush honey is organically derived.
32. The use according to any one of claims 29 to 31 wherein the honey constituent makes up from 10% to 30% by weight of the composition.
33. The use according to claim 32 wherein the honey constituent comprises 50%-85% organic honey and from 15% to 50% jelly bush honey by weight.
34. The use according to any one of claims 29 to 31 wherein the thickener is present in the range from 20%-60% by weight of the end product.
35. The use according to any one of claims 29 to 34 wherein the thickener is a bee product.
36. The use according to claim 35 wherein the bee product is beeswax.
37. The use according to any one of claims 29 to 36 wherein the composition comprises the olive oil-based carrier in the range from 35%-67% by weight.
38. The use according to any one of claims 29 to 37 wherein the olive oil-based carrier comprises extra-virgin olive oil.
39. A process for preparing a composition for use in alleviating undesirable skin symptoms and for maintaining skin health includes the steps of a. Melting a thickener in a vessel, b. Introducing organic honey and combining it with the molten thickener, c. Introducing jelly bush honey and combining it with the molten thickener, d. Agitating the combination of honey and thickener while introducing an olive oil-based carrier component, e. Agitating the combination including the olive oil based component to achieve a creamy consistency, f. Allowing the combination to cool and harden to at least be non-flowing at a temperature of 30 degrees C.
40. The process of claim 39 wherein the olive oil-based carrier comprises extra-virgin olive oil.
41. The process of claim 40 wherein the acidity rating of the extra-virgin olive oil does not exceed 1.1% as measured according to a protocol of the International Olive Oil Council.
42. The process of claim 41 wherein the acidity of the olive oil used in the composition is less than 0.6%.
43. The process of any one of claims 39 to 42 wherein a total amount of honey in the range from 15 to 150 parts by weight is combined with 100 parts thickener by weight.
44. The process of claim 43 wherein from 20 to 75 parts honey are combined with 100 parts by weight thickener.
45. The process of any one of claims 39 to 44 wherein the honey constituent comprises 50%-85% organic honey and from 15% to 50% jelly bush honey by weight of the total honey component.
46. The process of any one of claims 39 to 45 wherein proportion of olive oil-based carrier per 100 parts thickener is preferably in the range from 58 to 330 parts by weight.
47. The process of any one of claims 39 to 46 wherein the thickener comprises a bee product.
48. The process of claim 47 wherein the bee product is beeswax.
49. The process of claim 48 wherein the beeswax is heated to a temperature not exceeding 48°C.
50. The process of claim 49 wherein the beeswax is heated to a temperature in the range from 30°C to 40°C.
51. A composition for alleviating undesirable skin conditions substantially as described with reference to Example 1.
52. A composition for alleviating undesirable skin conditions substantially as described with reference to Example 2.
53. A composition for alleviating undesirable skin conditions substantially as described with reference to Example 3.
54. A composition for alleviating undesirable skin conditions substantially as described with reference to Example 4.
55. A composition for alleviating symptoms of joint pain substantially as described with reference to Example 5
56. A process for preparing a composition for alleviating an undesirable skin condition substantially as described with reference to Example 1. IP Strategies International. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant 1 The composition of claim 10 comprising from 15% to 24% honey constituent by weight.