Processes for obtaining (-)-guaiol and the use thereof

Abstract

A process for obtaining oils of sesquiterpenes and sesquilactones and (−)-guaiol from the oil of Callitris intratropica , processes for encapsulation of the oil from Callitris intratropica , and the various uses of the oil and the encapsulated oil are described. The oils are suitable for various purposes in the personal care field, e.g. for the antimicrobial treatment of skin, mucosa and hair and of textile fibre materials, as an antimycotic against skin fungi and moulds, as an anti-inflammatory, as an acaricide against house dust mites and ticks, and for preserving cosmetic products.

1 . A process for obtaining (−)-guaiol from the oil of  Callitris intratropica , wherein the oil is held at about from 4 to −18° C. and the (−)-guaiol which then separates out in the form of fine needles is isolated from the rest of the oil by filtration and then washed with cold, nonpolar solvent.  
   
   
       2 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein a C 5 -C 10 alkane is used as solvent.  
   
   
       3 . A process according to  claim 2 , wherein n-hexane or iso-octane is used as solvent.  
   
   
       4 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein a mixture of n-hexane/petroleum ether, ethanol/water, dimethylformamide/water, methanol/water, ethylene glycol/water, ethylene glycol methyl and ethyl ester/water, dimethyl sulfoxide/water, tetrahydrofuran/water or dioxane/water is used as solvent.  
   
   
       5 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the (−)-guaiol is isolated from the rest of the oil by filtering under suction.  
   
   
       6 . A process according  claim 1 , wherein, for further purification, the crude (−)-guaiol is recrystallised from a solvent mixture selected from n-hexane/-petroleum ether, ethanol/water, dimethylformamide/water, methanol/water, ethylene glycol/water, ethylene glycol methyl and ethyl ester/water, dimethyl sulfoxide/water, tetrahydrofuran/water and dioxane/water.  
   
   
       7 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the crude (−)-guaiol is, after filtration, subjected to vacuum distillation for purification.  
   
   
       8 . A process for obtaining (−)-guaiol, wherein the crude material of  Callitris intratropica , which is contaminated with other ingredients, is subjected to steam distillation and, for further purification, is recrystallised from a solvent mixture selected from n-hexane/petroleum ether, ethanol/water, dimethylformamide/water, methanol/water, ethylene glycol/water, ethylene glycol methyl and ethyl ester/water, dimethyl sulfoxide/water, tetrahydrofuran/water and dioxane/water.  
   
   
       9 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A process for encapsulation of the oil from  Callitris intratropica , or of the (−)-guaiol-depleted oil in accordance with  claim 1  , wherein equimolar amounts of the oil from  Callitris intratropica  and an encapsulation material selected from α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins, liposomes, bacteria, fungi, organic and inorganic porous supports, the latter being selected from bentonites, modified bentonites and hectorites, are suspended in water and stirred for from 1 to 4 hours, until a complex of encapsulation material and oil forms.  
   
   
       17 . A process according to  claim 16 , wherein α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrin is used as the encapsulation material.  
   
   
       18 . A personal care preparation, containing from 0.01 to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of the oil of  Callitris intratropica  cosmetically tolerable adjuvants.  
   
   
       19 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . A method for preserving cosmetic products, which comprises incorporatinq into said cosmetic products an amount of oil of  Callitris intratropica  which is effective to preserve them.