Patent Picks—Exopolysaccharide, Placental Alkaline Phosphatase, Berry and More for Aging Skin

By: Katie Anderson (Schaefer), Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine

Posted: June 28, 2011

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This invention relates to an aromatase activator for increasing the activity of aromatase, which is an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of estrogen from androgen. Estrogen is produced in humans mainly by the ovaries and known types include 17β-estradiol, estrone and estriol. Estrogen is involved in various physiological functions including propagation of endometrium, regulation of sexual functions, regulation of bone metabolism, and regulation of lipid metabolism; therefore, estrogen depletion caused by aging or weakening of ovarian function results in symptoms such as climacteric disturbance, hypogonadism, autonomic imbalance, lipidosis, vasomotor disturbance and osteoporosis.

This invention provides an aromatase activator containing at least one member of the following multitude of plants or extracts thereof: Labiatae spp., which includes isodon, scutellaria (huangcen), schizonepeta (jingjie), sage, lavender, Lamium album and thyme; Umbelliferae spp., which includes fennel (huixiang), cnidium (chuangong), glehnia, angelica (danggui), bupleurum (chaihu), saposhnikovia (fang feng) and angelica (baizhi); Rutaceae spp., which includes bitter orange (zhishi), evodia (wuzhuyu), zanthoxylum, tangerine (chenpi), bitter orange (toupi), lemon, and grapefruit; Compositae spp., which includes lettuce, Roman chamomile, arnica, atractylodes (bai zhu), safflower and yarrow; and Leguminosae spp., which includes liquorice (gancao), sophora (kushen), restharrow, tragacanth and cassia (juemingzi).

In addition, other plants or extracts may include: Rosaceae spp., such as hawthorn (shanzhazi), apple, burnet and whitethorn; Zingiberaceae spp., which includes turmeric (yujin), zedoary (woshu), cardamom and ginger (shengjiang); Moraceae spp., which includes mulberry (sangbaipi) and hop; Liliaceae spp., which includes butcher's broom and lily; Gentianaceae spp., which includes gentian (longdan) and gentian; Gramineae spp., which includes sasa and imperata; Iridaceae sp., which includes iris (iris root); Lauraceae sp., which includes cinnamon; Juglandaceae sp., which includes engelhardtia; Asclepiadaceae sp., which includes condurango; Aristolochiaceae sp., which includes asiasarum (xixin); Dioscoreaceae sp., which includes dioscorea (shanyao); Acoraceae sp., which includes sweet flag; and Betulaceae sp. which includes birch.

Finally, plants or extracts may also include: Caprifoliaceae sp., which includes honeysuckle (rendong); Myrtaceae sp., which includes cloves; Hamamelidaceae sp., which includes hamamelis; Menispermaceae sp., which includes sinomenium (fangyi); Ephedraceae sp., which includes ephedra herb (mahuang); Ganodermataceae sp., which includes ling zhi; Hydrangeaceae sp., which includes sweet hydrangeae; Papaveraceae sp., which includes corydalis (yanhusuo); Bignoniaceae sp., which includes catalpa; Magnoliaceae sp., which includes magnolia (houpu); Malvaceae sp., which includes mallow; Solanaceae sp., which includes tomato; Cucurbitaceae sp., which includes luffa; Pinaceae sp., which includes rosin; and Typhaceae sp., which is reed mace.

The invention also provides uses of the plant or extract thereof; and yeast extract, silk protein extract, milk protein, trehalose, natto extract, royal jelly, oryza oil, hydrolyzed wheat extract, shea butter or rice fermentation extract for producing an aromatase activator. A method for activating aromatase by administering the formulation as described above to a human individual is also described. This invention relates to provision of a drug or a cosmetic that is highly safe and is effective in preventing, improving or treating various conditions as described above, as caused by estrogen depletion through promotion of estrogen production in the body.