The present invention relates to hair care compositions in particular compositions that maximize hair growth.

Hair growth is of commercial interest to many groups of consumer. Male baldness or hair thinning is a problem for one market segment, a second market segment is people who are not bald but require their hair to appear thick and voluminous. For male baldness the predominant products are pharmaceuticals, although not all the products that are marketed in this segment are drug products.

The prior art includes many patents disclosing hair grooming compositions which illustrate the state of the art in herbal based compositions for promoting hair health and growth.

U.S. Pat. No. 604,111 discloses a hair tonic of mountain sage, glycerin, tincture of lobelia, prickly pear juice, tincture of capsicum, sweet oil, and alcohol, which cleans the scalp, relaxes and stimulates the scalp, cools the scalp and gives the hair gloss.

US 2007/0036742 discloses a composition for preventing or decreasing hair loss comprising a mixture of plant extracts such as green tea.

US 6 232 302 discloses compositions comprising depolymehses fucane sulphates for increasing hair growth.

Compositions comprising cysteine, lysine, and a glycoprotein are disclosed in EP 1 089 704 for trichological use. Despite the prior art there remains the need for improved compositions for reducing hair loss.

The present invention relates to a hair treatment composition comprising a trichogenic material and from 0.0002 to 0.0049 of an additional anti-dandruff agent.

The composition of the invention comprises a trichogenic material. Preferably the trichogenic material comprises a synergistic trichogenic mixture of the following: a protein biosynthesis stimulant preferably selected from a sulfopeptide of soy, amino acids, glutamine, glutamic acid, hydrolysed protein extracts, particularly preferred are sulfopeptides of soy and amino acids, especially tyrosine, arginine, ornithine and citrulline.

The synergistic trichogenic mixture may comprise a glycosamino production agent is selected from the group consisting of glucosamine, L-fucose; fucose rich polysaccharide, xylose,vitamin C, Eriobotrya japonica extract, N-acetyl glucosamine, glucosamine sulphate, lysophospholipids, protamine and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred is glucosamine.

The synergistic trichogenic mixture may comprise a cell nutrition regulator especially vitamins of the B group, carnitine, co-enzyme Q10, creatine, taurine, acetyl-carnitine and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred are vitamins of the B group, especially PP, B5 and biotin.

The synergistic trichogenic mixture may comprise a microcirculation promoter, preferred promoters are Panax Ginseng Extract, Arctium Majus Extract, nitric oxide, niacin, caffeine, gingko biloba extract, bicyclic monoterpene diols, α-lipoic acid, ximenynic acid, proanthocyanidins, arginine and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred are Panax Ginseng Extract, Arctium Majus Extract.

Preferably, the trichogenic material comprises a synergistic mixture of a healthy scalp protein biosynthesis stimulant, a glycosamino production agent, a cell nutrition regulator, a microcirculation promotor and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the protein biosynthesis stimulant is selected from a sulfopeptide of soy, amino acids, glutamine, glutamic acid, hydrolysed protein extracts.

Preferably, the glycosamino production agent is selected from glucosamine, L- fucose; fucose rich polysaccharide xylose,vitamin C, Eriobotrya Japonica extract, N-acetyl glucosamine, glucosamine sulphate, lysophospholipids, protamine and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the cell nutrition regulator is selected from vitamins of the B group, carnitine, co-enzyme Q10, creatine, taurine, acetyl-carnitine and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the microcirculation promoter is selected from Panax Ginseng Extract, Arctium Majus Extract, nitric oxide, niacin, caffeine, gingko biloba extract, bicyclic monoterpene diols, a-lipoic acid, ximenynic acid, proanthocyanidins, arginine and mixtures thereof.

A particularly preferred synergistic trichogenic mixture is known as Thchogen® ex Cognis, in particular Trichogen® Veg LS 8960.

The level of the synergistic trichogenic mixture is preferably from 0.001 to 20 wt% of the total composition, more preferably from 0.1 to 15 wt% of the total composition, most preferably from 0.2 1 10 wt% of the total composition. - A -

The antidandruff agent is selected from the group consisting of zinc pyrithione, octopirox, climbazole, ketoconazole and mixtures thereof. Azole based antidandruff agents are the most preferred, in particular climbazole.

The anti-dandruff agent is therefore preferably soluble in the composition of the invention at 25°C.

The level of anti-dandruff agent is preferably from 0.0002 to 0.0049 wt%, more preferably from 0.0007 to 0.003 wt% of the total composition.

It is preferable if the composition of the invention further comprises an ant- inflammatory agent. Preferably the anti-inflammatory agent is selected from the group consisting of hyssop extract, turmeric extract, arnica extract, willow bark extract, sesquiterpene extract, salicylic acid and mixtures thereof. An especially preferred anti-inflammatory agent is salicylic acid.

The final product form of hair treatment compositions according to the invention may suitably be, for example, shampoos, conditioners, sprays, mousses, gels, oils, creams, waxes or lotions. Particularly preferred product forms are leave-on products (those products that are not immediately rinsed off after application and are preferably left on for at least one hour, more preferably for at least 5 hours). Post-wash conditioners are preferred (especially leave-in) as are hair treatment products such as hair essences.

Accordingly, the composition according to the invention is preferably a conditioning composition and will comprise a conditioning active. Preferred conditioning actives include fatty alcohols, cationic surfactants and silicones.

The amount of product applied will vary according to the form of the product, but will normally be in accordance with the industry accepted methodology for the use of a product of the same type. A representative application procedure will involve application of the formulation to the area in need of treatment once or twice a day, and leaving the formulation in place for a period of several hours.

The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples:

Examples

The following experiment uses trypsin as a model for the serine proteases involved in the process of hair fall. Successful inhibition the activity of the serine proteases such as trypsin is thought to delay the onset of hair fall.

The EnzChek Protease Assay (E6639, Molecular Probes) was used to measure trypsin activity.

Example 1

1.5% Trichogen plus 0.00391 % climbazole

Data generated from an enzyme assay. Calculated efficacy is the mean activity of (Climbazole + Trichogen)/2

Experimental activity is the measure activity with the two ingredients present.

EXAMPLE 2

The following are formulations comprising climbazole and trichogen. Shampoo

Conditioner

Lexamine S13 (ex Inolex Chemical Company is Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine.

Ganamin BTLF (ex Clariant) is Behenthmonium Chloride Laurex CS (ex Albright and Wilson) is Cetearyl Alcohol. Leave-on serum

Carbopol Ultrez 20 (ex Noveon) is a hydrophobically modified cross-linked acrylate copolymer (Acrylates/C 10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer).

Rhodasurf L790 (ex Rhodia) is polyoxyethylene 7 lauryl alcohol (Laureth-7).

Eumulgin L (ex Cognis) is PPG-1 -PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether.