CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This Application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/780,565 filed March 13, 2013 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present disclosure relates to compositions, methods and equipment that are effective in removing or reducing the sulfur odor from glutathione and glutamine when in an aqueous mixture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Glutathione is a tripeptide consisting of glycine, cystine, and glutamic acid. Each is connected with a gamma peptide linkage between the amine group of cysteine and the carboxyl group of the glutamate side-chain. The polypeptide, C1 ₀ H17N ₃ O6S, of glycine, cystine, and glutamic acid makes glutathione which occurs widely in plant and animal tissues and is important in biological oxidation-reduction reactions. It is an antioxidant, preventing damage to important cellular components caused by reactive oxygen species such as free radicals and peroxides. [0004] The formation of peptides is nothing more than the application of the amide synthesis reaction. By convention, the amide bond in the peptides should be made in the order of the amino acids. The amine end is the N terminal of an amino acid and is always on the left, while the acid end, the C terminal is on the right. The peptide backbone consists of repeating units of "NH ₂ , CH, C=0". [0005] Thiol groups are reducing agents, glutathione reduces disulfide bonds formed within cytoplasmic proteins to cysteines by serving as an electron donor. In the process, glutathione is converted to its oxidized form glutathione disulfide (GSSG), also called L-(-)-glutathione. The amino acid cysteine undergoes oxidation and reduction reactions involving the -SH (sulfhydryl group). The oxidation of two sulfhydryl groups results in the formation of a disulfide bond by the removal of two hydrogens. [0006] Glutathione exists in reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) states. In the reduced state, the thiol group of cysteine is able to donate a reducing equivalent (H ⁺ + e ^" ) to other unstable molecules, such as reactive oxygen species. In donating an electron, glutathione itself becomes reactive, and readily reacts with another reactive glutathione to form glutathione disulfide (GSSG). Such a reaction is probable due to the relatively high concentration of glutathione in cells.

[0007] GSH can be regenerated from GSSG by the enzyme glutathione reductase (GSR): NADPH reduces FAD present in GSR to produce a transient FADH-anion. This anion then quickly breaks a disulfide bond (Cys58 - Cys63) and leads to Cys63's nucleophilically attacking the nearest sulfide unit in the GSSG molecule (promoted by His467), which creates a mixed disulfide bond (GS-Cys58) and a GS-anion. Next, Cys63 nucleophilically attacks the sulfide of Cys58, releasing a GS-anion, which, in turn, picks up a solvent proton and is released from the enzyme, thereby creating the second GSH. Therefore, for every GSSG and NADPH, two reduced GSH molecules are gained, which can again act as antioxidants scavenging reactive oxygen species in the cell.

[0008] GSH is known as a substrate in both conjugation reactions and reduction reactions, catalyzed by glutathione S-transferase enzymes in cytosol, microsomes, and mitochondria. However, it is also capable of participating in non-enzymatic conjugation with some chemicals. [0009] Amines are organic compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are derivatives of ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent such as an alkyl or aryl group.

[00010] The reactions of amines with carbonyl compounds, is similar to that of aldehydes and ketones, where the characteristic pattern of these reactions where the carbonyl group begins with the formation of a bond between the carbonyl carbon and an attacking nucleophile. The nucleophile provides the electrons to form the new bond and the pi bond of the carbonyl group is broken as it "gets out of the way." The electrons move from this pi bond onto what was the carbonyl oxygen.

[00011] Amides are commonly formed from the reaction of a carboxylic acid with an amine. This is the reaction that forms peptide bonds between amino acids. These amides can participate in hydrogen bonding as hydrogen bond acceptors and donors, but do not ionize in aqueous solution, whereas their parent acids and amines are almost completely ionized in solution at neutral pH.

[00012] Amides are the most stable of all the carbonyl functional groups. An amide is an amine where one of the nitrogen substituents is an acyl group; it is generally represented by the formula: Ri(CO)NR ₂ R3, where either or both R ₂ and R3 may be hydrogen.

Specifically, an amide can also be regarded as a derivative of a carboxylic acid in which the hydroxyl group has been replaced by an amine or ammonia. Compounds in which a hydrogen atom on nitrogen from ammonia or an amine is replaced by a metal cation are also known as amides. [00013] The second sense of the word amide is the amide anion, which is a deprotonated form of ammonia (NH ₃ ) or an amine. It is generally represented by the formula: [R]NR ₂ ] ^~ , and is an extremely strong base, due to the extreme weakness of ammonia as Br0nsted acids.

[00014] Owing to their resonance stabilization, amides are relatively unreactive under physiological conditions, even less than similar compounds such as esters. Nevertheless, amides can undergo chemical reactions, usually through an attack of an electronegative atom on the carbonyl carbon, breaking the carbonyl double bond and forming a tetrahedral intermediate. When the functional group attacking the amide is a thiol, hydroxyl or amine, the resulting molecule may be called a cyclol or, more specifically, a thiacyclol, an oxacyclol or an azacyclol, respectively.

[00015] Thus amides can participate in hydrogen bonding with water and other protic solvents; the oxygen and nitrogen atoms can accept hydrogen bonds from water and the N-H hydrogen atoms can donate H-bonds. As a result of interactions such as these, the water solubility of amides is greater than that of corresponding hydrocarbons. [00016] While hydrogen bonding may enhance the water solubility of amides relative to hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic compounds), amides typically are regarded as compounds with low water solubility. They are significantly less water soluble than comparable acids or alcohols due to:

1. Their non-ionic character, 2. the presence of nonpolar hydrocarbon functionality, and

3. the inability of tertiary amides to donate hydrogen bonds to water (they can only be H-bond acceptors).

[00017] Glutamine is one of the 20 amino acids encoded by the standard genetic code. It is not recognized as an essential amino acid, but may become conditionally essential in certain situations, including intensive athletic training or certain gastrointestinal disorders. Its side-chain is an amide formed by replacing the side-chain hydroxyl of glutamic acid with an amine functional group, making it the amide of glutamic acid.

[00018] Glutamine is synthesized by the enzyme glutamine synthetase from glutamate and ammonia. The most relevant glutamine-producing tissue is the muscle mass. The body uses this amino acid to improve mental function, control blood sugar levels and maintain muscle mass, among other applications.

[00019] The complex roles of glutathione and sulfur amino acids in human health plays a major antioxidant role since it is acting as a free radical scavenger that protects the cell from reactive oxygen species.

[00020] When either glutathione or glutamine is mixed in an aqueous solution the disulfide bonds are partially broken. This is evident by the strong odor of hydrogen sulfide. This unpleasant odor makes both the glutathione and glutamine unattractive for use in skincare applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[00021] The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods that are effective in removing or reducing the unpleasant hydrogen sulfide odor from any aqueous blends of glutathione and glutamine, whereby making it suitable for skincare applications to utilize its superior antioxidant properties. [00022] The disclosed compositions encompass the use of an alcohol to be used in a redox reaction whereby the amino acid is converted to an amine then amide. This allows the disulfide bonds that are broken to release the hydrogen sulfide. The added alcohol compound converts the hydrogen sulfide to a sulfate salt, thus removing any foul odors. [00023] Additional advantages will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the aspects described below. The advantages described below will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[00024] In this specification and in the claims that follow, reference will be made to a number of terms that shall be defined to have the following meanings:

[00025] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise," or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising," will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[00026] It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a carrier" includes mixtures of two or more such carriers, and the like.

[00027] "Optional" or "optionally" as used herein means that the subsequently described event or circumstance can or cannot occur, and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. [00028] Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value, and/or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.

[00029] A "weight percent" of a component, unless specifically stated to the contrary, is based on the total weight of the formulation or composition in which the component is included.

[00030] By "contacting" as used herein means an instance of applying a composition to the soil.

[00031] By "sufficient amount" and "sufficient time" as used herein means an amount and time needed to achieve the desired result or results. [00032] "Admixture" or "blend" as used herein means a physical combination of two or more different components.

[00033] "Controlled release" as used herein means the use of a material to regulate the release of another substance.

[00034] "Odor" as used herein refers to any pungent smell or stench. [00035] "Amine" as used herein refers to organic compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom.

[00036] "Amide" as used herein refers to an amine where one of the nitrogen substituents is an acyl group that is a derivative of a carboxylic acid.

[00037] "Alcohol" as used herein refers to an organic compound in which the hydroxyl functional group (-GH) is bound to a carbon atom.

[00038] "Amino acid" as used herein refers to the biologically important organic compounds made from amine (-NH ₂ ) and carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional groups,

[00039] "Carboxylic acids" as used herein refers to organic acids characterized by the presence of one or more carboxyl groups in their molecules that consists of a carbon atom attached to an oxygen atom with a double covalent bond and to a hydroxyl group by a single covalent bond. [00040] "Heterocyclic ring compound", as used herein refers to a six (6) carbon ring compound similar to a benzene ring product and that has atoms of at least two different elements as members of its ring.

[00041] "Organic acid" as used herein refers to weak acids that do not dissociate completely in water but are generally soluble in organic solvents and are mostly carboxylic acids.

[00042] The present disclosure addresses several unmet needs as defined below including providing compositions effective in removing the "sulfide" odor from an aqueous mixture of glutathione and/or glutamine. Treatment Compositions

[00043] A first disclosed compositions for removing the off-odor from an aqueous solution of glutathione by a redox reaction and the addition of 1,3,5-Triazine-1,3,5(2H, 4H,6H)-triethanol.

Alcohol [00044] The basic principle for suitable alcohol is that it must be compatible with anionics, cationics and nonionics and must be miscible with both soft and hard water with which the glutathione is solubilized into.

[00045] The triethanol compound has a formula of C9H21N ₃ O ₃ . It has a six-membered heterocyclic ring compound with three nitrogens replacing carbon-hydrogen units in the six carbon ring structure similar to a benzene ring. The three isomers indicate which of the carbon-hydrogen units on the ring position of the molecule have been replaced by nitrogens, in the 1,3,5 of the heterocyclic ring. Triazines are weak base. Triazines are also useful as chromophore groups in colorants and Chlorine attached in Triazine compounds undergo nucleophilic substitution reactions well with hydroxyl groups in cellulose fibers. Some triazine family compounds are used in the pharmaceutical industry as a coupling agent for the synthesis of peptide in the solid phase as well as a solution and as side chain of antibiotics. The structure is as follows:

[00046] Other specialty suitable alcohols are:

[00047] l-[3,5-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-l,3,5-triazinan-l-yl]-2-propanol, 1,3,5-Triazine- l,3,5(2H,4H,6H)-triethanol, α-methyl-, l,3,5-triazine-l,3,5(2H,4H, 6H)- triethanol, l,3,5trihydroxyethylhexahydrotraiazine, l,3,5-Tris(2-hydroxyethyl)hexahydro- 1,3,5-triazine, l,3,5-Tris(2-hydroxyethyl)hexahydro-s-triazine, 2,2',2"-(Hexahydro- 1,3,5- triazine-l,3,5-triyl)triethanol, 2-[4,6-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-l,3,5-triazinan-2-yl]ethanol, s- Triazine-l,3,5(2H,4H,6H)-triethanol, Triazinetriethanol.

[00048] Similar to the 1,3,5-Triazine-1,3,5(2H, 4H,6H)-triethanol, the triethanol can be replaced with trimethanol, tributanol, tridiethanol, tridimethanol, tripropanol, tripantanol and tridecanol.

Surfactant

[00049] A surfactant component includes ingredients that modify the water in the system making it suitable for use with several types of water such as hard water, soft water, sulfite contaminated water, rain water, pond water, well water or calcium rich water. Quaternary ammonium compounds, which are more compatible with anionic surfactants generally, have an inadequate conditioning effect.

[00050] In order to improve the performance of an aqueous mixture dialkyl diallyl ammonium chloride/acrylic acid-type polymers are added. This method for improving the stickiness properties of the composition encompasses adding an effective amount of a polymer comprising:

1. about 60% to about 99%, based on total polymer weight, of a quaternary diallyl dialkyl ammonium monomer, wherein alkyl groups are independently selected from alkyl groups of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably C i -4 alkyl, and wherein said quaternary diallyl dialkyl ammonium monomer's counterion is selected from the group consisting of conjugate bases of acids having an ionization constant greater than 10 ¹³ , more preferably selected from the group consisting of fluoride, chloride, bromide, hydroxide, nitrate, acetate, hydrogen sulfate, and primary phosphates; and 2. about 1% to about 40%, based on total polymer weight, of an anionic monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid; wherein the average molecular weight of said polymer ranges from about 50,000 to about 10,000,000, as determined by gel permeation chromatography.

[00051] The polymer base can also be a combination of one or more bases, for example, glycerol in combination with ethoxylated partial glyceride fatty acid esters. These include branched chain esters, ethoxylated partial glyceride fatty acid esters, protein derivatives, lanolin and lanolin derivatives, and fatty alcohol ethoxylates, emollient oils, fatty acids, fatty alcohols and their esters. Other examples of suitable bases include glycerine, sortibal aloe, poylglycols, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene and polyethylene oxide, Carriers

[00052] The balance of the disclosed compositions comprises a carrier. The carrier can be any suitable material that can dissolve the active ingredients and co-ingredients. Water is a convenient carrier for liquid embodiments of the disclosed composition.

Formulations [00053] The following are non-limiting examples of the disclosed compositions:

Table 1

Sulfide Removal System

L-Glutathione 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0

1,3,5-Triazine-1,3,5(2H,4H,6H)- 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

triethanol

Surfactant 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

carrier balance balance balance balance balance Methods of Use

[00054] The disclosed compositions can be used for various applications with the application methods and dosage regimens dictated by the anticipated use for a skin care product.

1. A lotion application usually consists of a composition that is adequate to cover an adequate area of skin tissue to be analyzed. The hydrogen sulfide removal system must make contact with all the surfaces.

2. A water based serum application product that is easily and evenly applied directly to the skin tissue.

Test Results

[00055] A Draegar Pump and ammonia detection Draegar tubes were used to determine the presence of any hydrogen sulfide levels. The Draegar pump is a standard bellow style gas sampling pump. It drags the gas a calibrated 100 ml sample through a short- term Draegar tubes. In Table A it shows the results of ammonia expressed as parts per million (ppm). Any hydrogen sulfide present is represented as before and after a spray application was done. The study times were; less than 1 hour and 30 days after the initial application was done. The table below shows those results:

Table 2

[00056] While particular embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is, therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this disclosure.