Composition for treating skin pigmentation

Abstract

The invention relates to a topical composition containing a bilirubin-producing plant extract. In particular, the bilirubin-producing plant extract is obtained from the genus Strelitzia. When topically applied to skin, the composition is effective in accelerating the degradation of heme by-products such as bilirubin present in the skin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A topical composition comprising:
 (a) an extract from a bilirain-producing plant;   (b) a preservative; and   (c) a dermatologically-acceptable vehicle;   
       wherein (a) is present in an amount from about 0.05% to about 20%; (b) is present in an amount from about 0.001% to about 3.0%; and (c) is present in an amount from about 75% to about 99.05%. 
     
     
         2 . A composition concentrate comprising:
 (a) an extract derived from a bilirubin-producing plant; and   (b) a preservative present at an amount sufficient to provide sterilizing or biostatic efficacy with respect to component (a);   
       wherein (a) comprises non-volatile matter (NVM) present in an amount of about 0.001% to about 20% by weight of the composition concentrate and (b) comprises non-volatile matter (NVM) present in an amount from about 0.001% to about 3%. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the extract contains components which cause accelerated degradation of bilirubin. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the extract is derived from the whole bilirubin-producing plant, part of the plant, the seed of the plant, or a cell culture of the plant. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the bilirubin-producing plant is from the genus  Strelitzia  or  Phenakospermum.    
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the bilirubin-producing plant is from the genus  Strelitzia.    
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the bilirubin-producing plant extract is from the species  Strelitzia nicolai.    
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the bilirubin-producing plant extract is taken from the seeds of the bilirubin-producing plant species  Strelitzia nicolai.    
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the bilirubin-producing plant extract is taken from the arils of the seeds of the bilirubin-producing plant  Strelitzia nicolai.    
     
     
         10 . A method for testing the bilirubin degrading ability of a bilirubin-producing plant extract comprising:
 a) dispersing or dissolving bilirubin in water;   b) adding measured amounts of the extract of the bilirubin-producing plant extract; and   c) measuring bilirubin degradation verses time using an analytical method sensitive to detecting bilirubin and its degradation by-products.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  in which the amount of the bilirubin-producing plant extract is present from about 0.001% to about 20%. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the bilirubin degradation is measured using either UV, IR, or HPLC. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  in which the analytical technique is HPLC. 
     
     
         14 . A method for accelerating the degradation of bilirubin accumulated in the skin comprising contacting the skin with a topical composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A method for making a topical composition of  claim 1  comprising contacting (a) an extract from a bilirubin-producing plant; (b) a preservative; and (c) a dermatologically-acceptable vehicle.