WO2006012715A1

WO2006012715A1 - Composition for treating foot odour and manufacturing process thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2006012715A1
Application number: PCT/BR2004/000139
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charilaos Andreopoulos
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-03
Filing date: 2004-08-03
Publication date: 2006-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 2007-02-03

Abstract

The present invention discloses a chemical composition that acts as a long-term immunizer against the development of microorganism cultures that are the main cause of foot odor in humans. According to an exemplary application, said composition is part of a lotion that once applied to the user’s feet will dramatically curtail the development of microorganisms for 60 days or more, with no collateral effects for the skin and without interfering with the normal physiologic process of sweating.

Description

The present invention discloses a chemical composition that acts as a long-term immunizer against the development of microorganism cultures that are the main cause of foot odor in humans. According to an exemplary application,, said composition is part of a lotion that once applied to the user's feet will dramatically curtail the development, of microorganisms for 60 days or more, with no collateral effects for the skin and without interfering with the normal physiologic process of sweating.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Foot odor has been plaguing humans since ancient times. Besides the social embarrassment, there is a health issue involved, considering the main cause of the problem is the unchecked growth of microorganisms infesting the moist surface of the foot skin.

Skin normally carries a large mixed population of microorganisms with a range of enzymatic capabilities. Although reports in the literature relating to foot odor are relatively rare, several studies have implicated a few sub-populations as significantly contributing to the problem namely staphylococci, micrococci, coryneforms, yeasts and molds.

On average the pH of normal (non-smelling) feet is slightly lower than that of odoriferous feet, which allows the inference that a high pH is conductive to the growth of the microorganisms associated with foot odor. Other factors of known influence are the ambient temperature and levels of humidity, being higher average temperatures and higher levels of humidity also more conductive to microorganism growth.

The simple washing of the foot with water and soap affords very short term protection against bacterial growth, mostly because the washing removes the moisture layer and microorganism matrix that typically covers the foot, but then only temporarily. After some minutes the normal physiologic process of sweating will restitute the moisture layer in which odor-causing microbial flora will once again thrive.

Another approach is to try keeping the humidity level low by means of some powder element, in the hope of hampering the microbial growth. However, considering the continuity of the sweating process, the powder will eventually wear off, the humidity level will rise and the microbial growth will be resumed. It is worth observing that a minimal level of moisture is in fact desirable from the dermatological health point of view, and that prolonged, externally induced reduction of skin surface moisture level might be hazardous for the skin's integrity and therefore bring about an undesired collateral effect.

Some other approaches involve the use of products containing Zinc and/or Boron. Zinc is used due to its property of mechanically blocking the skin pores, therefore reducing regular perspiration and the consequent fostering of microbial growth. Boron is used because it allegedly hampers microbial growth. Nevertheless, both chemicals are inconvenient. The interference with the regular, physiologic process of sweating caused by Zinc is sure to bring about dermatological complications, whereas Boron is toxic to humans even at low concentrations, thus ruling out it's safe use for the purpose at hand.

Yet another approach is the use of shoe insoles laced with elements featuring microorganism abduction properties, such as activated carbon. Tough these work on the short run, the insoles eventually become saturated with microorganisms and thus loose their effectiveness.

It is also worth mentioning the use of assorted covering odors, aimed at merely mixing another odor to the one produced by the microorganisms. This is clearly not a complete solution to the problem, being more of a palliative action of arguable effectiveness.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a chemical composition that acts as a long-term immunizer against the development of microorganism cultures that are the main cause of foot odor in humans.

The application performance of said composition derives as much from the choice and balance of its ingredients as from specific features of its manufacturing process. Therefore we will now list the ingredients and their preferential quantities, followed by the disclosure of the relevant process features. A preferential example of the invention's composition is as follows:

Pongamia, as used herein, is an essential oil extracted by means of steam distillation from the Karanji Seed. The original plant comes from India, has the botanical Name Pongamia Pinnata, and the extract works as a pH reducer. Tagettes, as used herein, is an essential oil extracted from the Tagettes Minυta plant. It works as a bacteria growth inhibitor.

The manufacturing process starts with the preparation of a first partial mix containing Pongamia, Tagettes, basilicum oil and ionized water into a sterilized plastic tank. This first partial mix is stirred for 4 and a half hours at 35-45 RPM under a constant temperature of 45⁰C.

This first partial mix is collected into a sterilized plastic container, which is then sealed for 10 days and shaken periodically three times a day for 3 minutes at a time.

A second partial mix is the prepared with the remaining ingredients (clover oil, garlic oil, eucalyptus oil, citrus oil and oregano dialyma) mixed in a sterilized plastic tank. This second partial mix is stirred for 3 hours at 35-45 RPM under a constant temperature of 39°C.

This second partial mix is collected into a sterilized plastic container, which is then sealed for 10 days and shaken periodically three times a day for 3 minutes at a time, exactly like the first partial mix.

At the end of the 10-day long period both containers are opened and their contents are added together to form the final mix, to which are added Vitamins Bl, B2, B3, B4, C, Fe, Mn (0.02 to 0.04 % of the total mass for each one), mixing this final mix constantly at 35-45 RPM for 5 hours while slowly- adding the peppermint oil (0.01 to 0.08 % of the total mass) and PEG-40 stabilizer (0.35 to 0.50 % of the total mass).

PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

The mixture described has the property of hampering the development of the microorganisms associated with foot odor. In view of the subjectivity inherent to an analysis such as that of foot odor before and after the application of a suitable product containing the composition of the present invention, a thorough study has been carried out by a reputed institute (Inveresk Research of Scotland) in order to assess it's degree of efficacy over a four month period. The study contemplated both quantitative aspects (viable counts of microorganisms) and qualitative aspects (questionnaires answered by the studied individuals) .

Test Materials

The following test materials were received at Inveresk on 7 and 21 January 2003 and were stored in the dark under ambient conditions.

An expiry date of August 2005 was supplied by the Sponsor.

Skin pH Determination

The pH of the foot sole was recorded using a surface pH electrode after application of 0.1 ml water.

Foot Odour Assessments

Foot odour was assessed according to the following scale.

A Study to Assess the Efficacy of Saturated Wipes

Table 1 Odour Score Recorded

Table 1 (continued) Odour Score Recorded

A Study to Assess the Efficacy of Saturated Wipes

Table 2 pH Score Recorded

Table 2 (continued) pH Score Recorded

A Study to Assess the Efficacy of Saturated Wipes

Table 3 Viable Count of Staphylococci

A Study to Assess the Efficacy of Saturated Wipes

Table 4 Yeasts/Fungi Viable Counts

A Study to Assess the Efficacy of Saturated Wipes

Table 5 Micrococci Viable Counts (cfu/ml)

The results on the 53 individuals that took part in the study clearly indicates a remarkable difference before and after the application of the invention' s composition on their feet. After two months, not only the subjective analysis indicated that the odor has been dramatically reduced, but also the quantitative analysis yielded a reduction of viable counts of the microorganisms that cause foot odor. The timeline extension of the study demonstrates that the product's efficiency is not fleeting, with still remarkable reductions of microorganism counting at the end of the two month long study. There were no collateral effects for the skin and no interference with the normal physiologic process of sweating.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The composition of the present invention is easily reproducible through the corresponding, specific manufacturing process and can be applied by means of gel, creams, lotions, patches, inner parts of shoes in genneral and insoles (inner soles) .

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, being the true scope of the invention indicated by the following claims.

Claims

■What is claimed is:

1. A Composition for treating foot odor characterized by containing the following ingredients:

2. Manufacturing process for a composition for treating foot odor characterized by the fact that it comprises the following steps:

- preparation of a first partial mix containing Pongamia, Tagettes, basilicum oil and ionized water;

- preparation of a second partial mix containing clover oil, garlic oil, eucalyptus oil, citrus oil and oregano dialyma; and

- combination of said first partial mix and said second partial mix with the adding of Vitamins and PEG-40 stabilizer forming the final composition.

3. Manufacturing process for a composition for treating foot odor according to claim 2, characterized by the stirring of a first partial mix containing Pongamia, Tagettes, basilicum oil and ionized water into a sterilized plastic tank. This first partial mix is stirred for 4 and a half hours at 35-45 RPM under a constant temperature of 45°C.

4. Manufacturing process for a composition for treating foot odor according to claim 2, characterized by the stirring of a second partial mix containing clover oil, garlic oil, eucalyptus oil, citrus oil and oregano dialyma in a sterilized plastic tank for 3 hours at 35-45 RPM under a constant temperature of 39⁰C.

5. Manufacturing process for a composition for treating foot odor, according to claim 2, characterized by the retention of the first partial mix and the second partial mix in separated sterilized plastic containers, which remain sealed for 10 days and are shaken periodically three times a day for 3 minutes at a time.

6. Manufacturing process for a composition for treating foot odor, according to claim 2, characterized by the mixing of the contents of the first and second partial mixtures and the adding of Vitamins Bl, B2, B3, B4, C, Fe, Mn (0.02 to 0.04 % of the total mass for each one), mixing this final mix constantly at 35-45 RPM for 5 hours while slowly adding the peppermint oil (0.01 to 0.08 % of the total mass) and PEG-40 stabilizer (0.35 to 0.50 % of the total mass).