PATCH FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE CELLULITE AND LOCALIZED

ADIPOSITY

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The subject of the present invention is a patch, containing phosphatidylcholine, as well as its use for the treatment of cellulite and localized adiposity.

Phosphatidylcholine is a phospholipid that is able to dissolve fat by mere contact and can be either of natural (vegetable, animal, microbial) origin or, possibly, of synthetic origin.

Known in the field of beauty treatment, starting from the early nineties in Brazil, is the use of phosphatidylcholine for dissolving accumulation of fat

(CHEMICAL LIPOSUCTION), whilst in the past, and even today, said substance has been used in the treatment of forms of hypercholesterolaemia (alterations characterized by an excess of cholesterol in the blood) .

For its application in the field of beauty treatment, phosphatidylcholine must, however, be injected into the areas of accumulation of fat, where it is able to reduce the adipocytes (fatty-tissue cells) , in this way bringing about a substantial elimination of localized adiposity.

In particular, phosphatidylcholine, a natural emulsifier, is thought to be able to act on the local deposits of fat solubilizing the fat at the moment in which it penetrates within the adipocyte (LECITHIN

LYSIS) .

Phosphatidylcholine could moreover act, also in a minimal concentration, as activator of lipolytic

enzymes, in this way bringing about a reduction in the number of the adipocytes themselves.

Currently, it is in any case necessary to inject phosphatidylcholine using long and extremely fine microneedles since it is not effective in the derma as in traditional mesotherapy but only in the subcutaneous fatty tissue.

The scientific literature describes this process in detail, reporting the efficacy thereof (Dermatol. Surg. 2006 Apr. 32 (4): 465-80; J. Cosmet . Laser 2005

Mar. 7(1): 17-9; Dermatol. Surg. 2004 JuI. 30 (7) : 1001-

8; Aesthetic Plast. 2003 Jul-Aug. 27 (4) : 315-8; J.

Drugs Dermatol. 2003 Oct. 2(5): 511-8).

It is likewise known that the addition of an emulsifier, such as sodium desoxycholate, to the injectable solution, containing phosphatidylcholine can increase the efficacy of the treatment (Dermatol. Surg.

2006 Apr. 32(4): 465-80; Dermatol. Surg. 2004 JuI. 30

(7) : 1001-8) . The administration ^λλ in depth" (in the hypodermal fat, i.e., in the fat that lies "under" the derma) is extremely important in order to prevent the risk of serious depressions or even instances of cutaneous necrosis consequent upon wrong modes of administration. Said administration can be made only in a physician' s surgery and must be in any case devised and performed by a surgeon to prevent unpleasant drawbacks. Following upon said administration, there may, however, very frequently appear haematomas and/or redness in the sites where the microneedles are inserted, and health stockings or a suitable containing

sheath must always be used to reduce the appearance of cutaneous oedema that can last for approximately 24-48 hours from administration of phosphatidylcholine during said beauty treatment. An attempt has been made to overcome the drawbacks referred to above using the patch that forms the subject of the present invention, which surprisingly favours the absorption and lipolytic action of phosphatidylcholine, without, however, producing the drawbacks referred to above, caused principally by microtraumas due to the local injection.

Furthermore, the use of said patch forming the subject of the present invention is simpler and more immediate since it does not require either the user to resort to surgery structures or much less the presence of a medical doctor, since it can be applied directly on the parts to be treated according to the user's own aesthetic needs, without any risk on the latter' s part.

Forming then the subject of the present invention is a patch containing phosphatidylcholine for the treatment of cellulite and localized adiposity.

In the present invention, the term "patch" is used to indicate a flexible adhesive device, as described in Cosm. Technol. 2000, 3 (1) . According to the present invention, present in each individual patch is phosphatidylcholine in an appropriate amount chosen between approximately 5- 500 mg and preferably in an amount of approximately 250 mg. In the patch forming the subject of the present invention, there is possibly present, as emulsifier,

sodium desoxycholate in an appropriate amount chosen between approximately 3-300 mg and preferably in an amount of approximately 150 mg.

According to a further preferred embodiment, also comprised in the patch forming the subject of the present invention, as promoter of absorption, is ethoxy diglycol, which may be present in an appropriate amount chosen between approximately 0.1-10 mg and preferably in an amount of approximately 3 mg. According to a further, even more preferred, embodiment, the patch of the present invention moreover envisages the possible addition, in appropriate amounts, of other known substances for the treatment of cellulite and adiposity, which have different actions: - reducing substances, such as Fucus vescicolosus, caffeine, vegetal xanthine (theophylline and theobromine) , guarana, cola nuts, green tea, Theobroma cacao; and/or - draining substances, such as Ananas sativus; and/or

- substances that act on capillary microcirculation, such as Aesculus hippocastanum, Edera helix, and Equisetum arvense. Another aspect of the present invention regards the use of the patch forming the subject of the present invention, containing phosphatidylcholine for the treatment of cellulite and localized adiposity.

For said purpose, the patch of the present invention may possibly be applied every day or a number of times a week on the parts of the human body that

have localized adiposity and unsightly areas due to cellulite.

The patch forming the subject of the present invention can be obviously prepared according to methods known in the art by persons skilled in the branch, adding to the substances mentioned above other ingredients that can be commonly used in the formulation of a patch, such as, for example, adhesives like acrylic copolymers, which can be added in appropriate amounts.

The example provided below, purely for descriptive purposes, in no way limits the present invention.

EXAMPLE

Formulation of a patch containing:

250 mg of phosphatidylcholine/

150 mg of sodium desoxycholate;

3 mg of ethoxy glycol; acrylic copolymers as required.