CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of US Patent application No.

1 2 / 537,843 filed on August 7, 2009, at the United States Patents and Trade Mark Office, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

[Para 001 ] Field of the invention

[Para 002] The invention in general relates to hair care compositions. More specifically, the protective compositions of the present invention include β-glucogallin, gallates and concentrate of liquid endosperm of Cocos nucifera.

[Para 003] Description of prior art

[Para 004] The maintenance of key cytological features and healthy survival of dermal papillary cells in considerable numbers is essential for the growth of hair and associated gland systems of the skin. Hair dermal papilla cells are specialized mesenchymal cells that exist in the dermal papilla located at the bottom of hair follicles. These cells play pivotal roles in hair formation, growth, and cycling. Dermal papilla cells accumulate below undifferentiated epidermis which is then stimulated to grow down into the dermis as a hair "peg". Interaction between the hair peg and the dermal papilla cells promotes differentiation into a mature hair follicle. Some important references on hair follicle development include:

1 . Paus R, Muller-Rover S, Van Der Veen C, Maurer M, Eichmuller S, Ling G, Hofmann U, Foitzik K, Mecklenburg L, Handjiski B. A comprehensive guide for the recognition and classification of distinct stages of hair follicle morphogenesis. J Invest Dermatol. 1 999 Oct; 1 1 3(4): 523-32 ; 2. McElwee KJ, Hoffmann R. Growth factors in early hair follicle morphogenesis. Eur J Dermatol. 2000 Jul-Aug; 1 0(5):341 -50.

3. Holbrook KA, Minami SI. Hair follicle embryogenesis in the human. Characterization of events in vivo and in vitro. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1 991 Dec 26; 642 : 1 67-96.

4. Pinkus H. Embryology of hair. In: The biology of hair growth.

Montagna W, Ellis RA (eds). Academic Press Inc, New York, 1 958, pp 1 -32.

5. Chase HB. Growth of the hair. Physiol Revs. 1 954; 34: 1 1 3-1 26.

6. Fraser DA. The development of the skin of the back of the albino rat until the eruption of the first hairs. Anat Rec. 1 928; 38:203- 223.

7. Koelliker A. Zur Entwicklungsgeschichte der ausseren haut. Zwiss Zool. 1 850; 2 :67-92.

[Para 005] It is the principle objective of the present invention to disclose the ability of protective compositions comprising β-glucogallin, gallates and concentrate of liquid endosperm of Cocos nucifera to protect the dermal papilla cells from stress signals, more specifically UV rays.

[Para 006] The present fulfills the aforesaid objectives and provides further related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[Para 007] The present invention discloses novel protective compositions for dermal papilla cells. In one embodiment the said protective compositions comprise 0.25% w/w or greater of compositions including at least 1 0% w/w or above of 1 -O-galloyl- β-D-glucose (β-glucogallin) represented by STR#I. In an embodiment, the said protective composition additionally comprises 50% to greater than 50% total gallates including mucic acid 1 , 4-lactone 5-O-gallate represented by STR#2, mucic acid 2- O-gallate represented by STR#3, mucic acid 6-Methyl ester 2-O-gallate represented by STR#4, mucic acid 1 -Methyl ester 2-O-gallate represented by STR#5 and ellagic acid represented by STR#6. In another embodiment the invention also encompasses synergistic protective compositions for dermal papilla comprising 0.25% w/w or above of compositions comprising

I. At least 1 0% w/w or greater of 1 -O-galloyl- β -D-glucose (β- glucogallin) represented by STR#I and 0.5% concentrate of liquid endosperm of Cocos nucifera, said concentrate including atleast 40% total dissolved solids;

II. At least 1 0% w/w or greater of 1 -O-galloyl- β -D-glucose (β- glucogallin) represented by STR#I along with 50% to greater than 50% total gallates including mucic acid 1 , 4-lactone 5-0- gallate represented by STR#2, mucic acid 2-O-gallate represented by STR#3, mucic acid 6-Methyl ester 2-O-gallate represented by STR#4, mucic acid 1 -Methyl ester 2-O-gallate represented by STR#5 and ellagic acid represented by STR#6; and 0.5% concentrate of liquid endosperm of Cocos nucifera, said concentrate including atleast 40% w/w total dissolved solids .

[Para 008] The aforesaid synergistic compositions are unique in that the extracts from the endosperm of Cocos nucifera as such are not protective to dermal papilla cells from stress signals such as UV, as it could not prevent the cell damage due to exposure to increasing UV dosages. However, when applied along with protective composition PC-I comprising at least 1 0% w/w of 1 -O-galloyl- β -D-glucose (β- glucogallin) represented by STR#I or along with protective composition PC-Ill comprising at least 1 0% w/w of 1 -O-galloyl- β -D-glucose (β- glucogallin) represented by STR#I and 50% to greater than 50% gallates including mucic acid 1 , 4-lactone 5-O-gallate represented by STR#2 , mucic acid 2-O-gallate represented by STR#3, mucic acid 6-Methyl ester 2-O-gallate represented by STR#4, mucic acid 1 -Methyl ester 2-O- gallate represented by STR#5 and ellagic acid represented by STR#6, it increases the tolerance of dermal papilla cells to stress stimuli such as increasing UV dosages, while maintaining sufficient cell numbers also. Precisely, the UV protection factor attained by PC-I and PC-Ill for dermal papilla cells was 20. However, PC-I and PC-I ll when applied i n combination with extracts from the endosperm of Cocos nucifera, the UV protection factor attained was 30. Thus the synergistic compositions are directed towards hel ping the dermal papilla cells to form sufficient num bers and to retain a healthy morphology conducive for hair g rowth.

[Para 009] Other featu res and advantages of the present i nvention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conju nction with the accompanying d rawings, which i llustrate, by way of example, the principle of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[Para 001 0] Fig. I shows photom icrog raphs of the ability of the protective composition PC-I to protect the dermal papi lla cells from the UV stress sig nal at different dosage levels.

[Para 001 1 ] Fig. II shows photom icrographs of the ability of the protective composition PC-Ill to protect the dermal papilla cel ls from the UV stress signal at different dosage levels.

[Para 001 2] Fig. Ill shows the photomicrog raphs of 0.5% concentrate of liquid endosperm of Cocos nucifera, said concentrate comprisi ng not less than 40% w/w of total d issolved solid s unable to protect dermal papilla cells singly.

[Para 001 3] Fig. IV shows photomicrographs of the abil ity of the protective composition PC-II to im prove the tolerance of dermal papilla cells to even hig her UV dosages.

[Para 001 4] Fig. V shows photomicrographs of the ability of the protective composition PC-IV to im prove the tolerance of dermal papil la cel ls to even higher UV dosages. [DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MOST PREFERRED EMBODIMENT (Figs. I to V)

[Para 001 5] In the most preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to protective composition I (PC-I) comprising 0.25% w/w or above of the composition comprising at least 1 0% w/w or above of 1 -O-galloyl- β-D-glucose (β-glucogallin) represented by STR#I. In another most preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to synergistic protective composition (PC— II) comprising PC-I along with 0.5% concentrate of liquid endosperm of Cocos nucifera, said concentrate comprising not less than 40% w/w of total dissolved solids. In yet another most preferred embodiment, the present invention also includes protective composition (PC-Ill) which comprises 0.25% w/w or above of the composition comprising at least 1 0% w/w or above of 1 -O-galloyl- β-D-glucose (β-glucogallin) represented by STR#I along with 50% or greater of other gallates including mucic acid 1 , 4-lactone 5-O-gallate represented by STR#2, mucic acid 2-O-gallate represented by STR#3 , mucic acid 6-Methyl ester 2-O-gallate represented by STR#4, mucic acid 1 -Methyl ester 2-O-gallate represented by STR#5 and ellagic acid represented by STR#6. In yet another most preferred embodiment, the invention includes synergistic protective composition (PC-IV) that includes PC-Ill along with 0.5%w/w concentrate of liquid endosperm of Cocos nucifera, said concentrate comprising not less than 40% w/w of total dissolved solids. The aforesaid protective compositions PC-I, PC— II, PC-Ill and PC-IV protect dermal papilla cells from stress signals, in specific Ultraviolet rays B (UVB). As alternative embodiments, the stress signals also include chemicals such as ferrous sulphate and inflammation mediators of immunological origin like TNF-cx.

[STR#1 ]

[STR#2]

[STR#4]

[STR#6]

[Para 001 6] To further elucidate the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, the following examples are included herewith.

[Para 001 7] EXAMPLE I (Figs. I and II) [Para 001 8] Protection of dermal papilla cells from increasing dosage levels of UVB.

[Para 001 9] The cell viability of human dermal papilla after UV exposure is analyzed by Neutral Red Uptake (NRU) assay. The absorbance due to the viable cells is read at 492 nm in a Micro plate reader. The cell viability is measured after treatment with PC-I and PC-Ill.

[Para 0020] Human dermal papilla cells were plated in a 96 well flat bottom clear micro plate at a seeding density of 5000 cells per well. The 24 hr monolayer of cells was exposed to increasing UV dosages in the range 0.0072 to 0.648 J cm-2 , with and without sample treatment. After exposure, the cells were incubated in a C02 incubator for 48 hrs and developed by the NRU staining techniques to analyze the cell viability.

[Para 0021 ] Both PC-I and PC-Ill were able to protect the human dermal papilla cells from higher UVB exposure of 0.43 J cm-2. Without sample treatment, the UVB was cytotoxic at dosage of 0. 021 6 J cm-2. Hence, the UV protection factor, the ratio of cytotoxic dosage for treated cells to that of the untreated cells is 20.

[Para 0022] EXAMPLE ll-UV Protection effect of 0.5% concentrate of the liquid endosperm of Cocos nucifera, said concentrate comprising not less than 40% w/w of total dissolved solids on human dermal papilla cells [Fig. Ill]

[Para 0023] Fig. Ill clearly shows that 0.5% concentrate of the liquid endosperm of Cocos nucifera, said concentrate comprising not less than 40% total dissolved solids, confers no protection to human dermal papilla cells.

[Para 0024] EXAMPLE Ill-Effect of UV on dermal papilla cells treated with PC-II and PC-IV at 0.648 J cm- ² (Figs. IV and V) . [Para 0025] Figs. IV and V clearly show that PC-II and PC-IV clearly are able to induce tolerance of dermal papilla cells to dosages of UV up to 0.648 J cm ² . Without sample treatment, the UVB was cytotoxic at dosage of 0. 021 6 J cm-2. Hence, the UV protection factor, the ratio of cytotoxic dosage for treated cells to that of the untreated cells is 30.

[Para 0026] While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention that the invention is capable of other and different embodiments without departing from the invention. Hence the drawings, embodiments and description are to be regarded as illustrative and not as restrictive. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.

(PARA 0027) EXAMPLE IV-FORMULATIONS

(PARA 0028) Hair care formulation comprising 1 -O-galloyl- β-D-glucose (β-glucogallin) and concentrate from the liquid endosperm of Cocos nucifera.

(PARA 0029) HAIR CARE FORMULATION I

S.No. Formula Content % w/w

1 0% w/w to 50% w/w of 1 -O-galloyl- β-

1 D-glucose 0.1 -1

Concentrate from the liquid endosperm of

2 Cocos nucifera 0.5

2 Tetra sodium EDTA 0.1 0

3 Arlacel 1 65 0.50

4 Cetostearyl alcohol 3.75

5 Natrosol 250HHR 0.50

6 Incroquat CTC 30 3.00

7 N-hance 321 5 0.50

8 Kathon CG 0.30

(PARA 0030) Hair care formulation comprising 1 -O-galloyI- β-D-glucose (β-glucogallin) along with gallates including mucic acid 1 , 4-lactone 5- O-gallate, mucic acid 2-O-gallate, mucic acid 6-Methyl ester 2-0- gallate, mucic acid 1 -Methyl ester 2-O-gallate, ellagic acid and concentrate from the liquid endosperm of Cocos nucifera.

(PARA 0031 ) HAIR CARE FORMULATION II