Personal care composition containing leghemoglobin

Abstract

A personal care composition comprising leghemoglobin and at least one preservative selected from the group consisting of alcohols, glycols, parabens, hydantoins, quaternary nitrogen-containing compounds, isothiazolinones, aldehyde-releasing agents, and halogenated compounds. Preferably, the leghemoglobin is a nitrogen fixation root nodule extract providing a leghemoglobin concentration in the composition of between 0.0001% and about 10% based upon the total weight of the composition. Also disclosed is a method for preparing the personal care composition.

1 . A method of preparing a personal care composition containing leghemoglobin, comprising the steps of:
 extracting the leghemoglobin from root nodules infected with bacteria selected from the group consisting of Cyanobacteria, Anaerobic bacteria, Purple sulfur bacteria, Purple non-sulfur bacteria, Green sulfur bacteria, legumes bacteria, and combinations thereof, in order to provide a leghemoglobin extract, and   combining the leghemoglobin extract with a preservative to provide the personal care composition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the leghemoglobin is obtained from the roots of plants infected with bacteria from the Genus  Rhizobium  or  Brachyorhizobium.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  in which the leghemoglobin is taken from a plant root selected from those found in perennial legumes, annual legumes, legumeous woody plants, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  in which the leghemoglobin is taken from the roots of annual legumes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the preservative is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, glycols, parabens, quaternary nitrogen-containing compounds, isothiazolinones, aldehyde-releasing agents, antioxidants, halogenated compounds and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said combining step further comprises combining a surfactant with the extract and the preservative. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the extract provided in said extracting step has a leghemoglobin concentration in the composition of between 0.0001% and about 10% based upon the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the extract provided in said extracting step comprises a growth media for other microorganisms or confluent skin cultures. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  in which the microorganisms are yeast. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of encapsulating the leghemoglobin within another component in order to provide a time-release characteristic to said leghemoglobin. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the leghemoglobin is encapsulated within a liposome or a maltodextrin encapsulating oligosaccharide. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing at least one additional root nodule extract component in the composition, the additional root nodule extract component selected from the group consisting of plant growth regulators, amino acids, vitamins, proteins, enzymes, minerals carbohydrates, exopolysaccharides, and combinations thereof 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  where the additional root nodule extract component comprises an enzyme selected from the group consisting of nitrogenases, superoxide dismutases, catalases, nitric oxide synthases, sucrose synthases, peroxidases, glutathiones and combinations thereof 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the additional root nodule extract component comprises a plant growth regulator selected from the group consisting of kinetin, zeatin, other furfuryl-type molecules, complimentary plant growth regulators such as auxins, and combinations thereof 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the additional root nodule extract component comprises exopolysaccharides, alone or in combination with lipopolysaccharides or capsular polysaccharides, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A method for binding free radicals on the skin that comprises contacting the skin with leghemoglobin, thereby causing said leghemoglobin to act as a scavenger for the free radicals. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the leghemoglobin acts as a scavenger for free radicals selected from the group consisting of reactive oxygen, nitric oxide, and combinations thereof 
     
     
         18 . A method for removing free radicals from the skin that comprises contacting the skin with leghemoglobin in order to cause free radicals on the skin to bind with the leghemoglobin, thereby removing said free radicals from the skin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said leghemoglobin is provided by means of personal care composition comprising the leghemoglobin and at least one preservative selected from the group consisting of alcohols, glycols, parabens, hydantoins, quaternary nitrogen-containing compounds, isothiazolinones, aldehyde-releasing agents, and halogenated compounds. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said leghemoglobin is in the form of a nitrogen fixation root nodule extract providing a leghemoglobin concentration in the composition of between 0.0001% and about 10% based upon the total weight of the composition.