Use of plant extracts in a cosmetic composition to protect keratinous fibers

• US 6,861,077 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2000
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Cannell, David W., Nguyen, Nghi Van, Mathur, Hitendra, Fadeeva, Natalya
• Primary Examiner(s): FLOOD, MICHELE C
• Application Number:
  US09/576,800
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 424/725, 424/70.1, 424/74, 424/70.2, 424/70.6, 424/70.9, 424/750, 424/757, 424/401, 424/70.13
• US Class Current: 424/725
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/60 Sugars; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/73 Polysaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9789 Magnoliopsida [dicotyledons]
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9794 Liliopsida [monocotyledons]
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/00 Drugs for dermatological disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/00 Preparations for care of the hair

Abstract

The invention provides a method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage, e.g., protein loss caused by exposure to heat, chemicals, etc., comprising the application of a composition comprising at least one plant extract. The invention also contemplates a method of improving combability and/or a method of improving curl formation of keratinous fibers. In another embodiment, the invention is drawn to a composition for the treatment or protection of keratinous fiber comprising willowherb extract.

Claims

1. A method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage comprising

applying to said keratinous fiber a composition comprising an effective amount of at least one plant extract chosen from willowherb extract.

2. A method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage according to claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises at least one sugar.

3. A method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage according to claim 2, wherein said sugar is chosen from monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides.

4. A method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage according to claim 3, wherein said monosaccharides are chosen from pentoses and hexoses.

5. A method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage according to claim 4, wherein said pentoses are chosen from ribose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, ribulose, and xylulose.

6. A method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage according to claim 4, wherein said hexoses are chosen from allose, altrose, glucose, mannose, gulose, idose, galactose, talose, sorbose, psicose, fructose, and tagatose.

7. A method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage according to claim 3, wherein said disaccharides are chosen from maltose, sucrose, cellobiose, trehalose and lactose.

8. A method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage according to claim 3, wherein said polysaccharides are chosen from starches, dextrins, celluloses and glycogens.

9. A method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage according to claim 2, wherein said sugar is sucrose and said plant extract is willowherb extract.

10. A method of protecting keratinous fiber form extrinsic damage according to claim 1, wherein said composition is in the form of a liquid, oil, paste, stick, dispersion, emulsion, lotion, gel, or cream.

11. A method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage according to claim 1, wherein said keratinous fiber is chosen from hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows.

12. A method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage according to claim 1, wherein said at least one plant extract is present in said composition at a concentration ranging from 0.01% to 5.0% relative to the total weight of the composition.

13. A method of protecting keratinous fiber from extrinsic damage according to claim 2, wherein said at least one sugar is present in said composition at a concentration ranging from 0.001% to 3.0% relative to the total weight of the composition.