Use of glucosylglycerol

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of glucosylglycerol or glucosylglycerol esters with a view to increasing the expression of cell protective enzymes for the protection and stabilization of human skin and/or mucous membranes. It has been demonstrated that glucosylglycerol plays an effective role in the stimulation and activation of cell protective enzymes such as superoxide dismutase. It is thus possible in this manner to protect human skin cells effectively against damaging external influences.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of increasing expression of cell protective enzymes of a human having damaged skin and/or mucous membranes, for protection and stabilization of the human skin and/or mucous membranes, comprising treating the human skin and/or mucous membranes with glucosylglycerol and/or a glucosylglycerol ester so as to increase expression of a cell protective enzyme,
 wherein the skin and membranes are damaged by reactive oxygen compounds, free radicals, chemicals, toxins, allergens, denaturing substances, substances attaching to DNA, substances damaging or deactivating proteins, or airborne particulate matter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is for the protection of human skin and/or mucous membrane against oxidative stress. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method is for the protection of human skin and/or mucous membranes against reactive oxygen compounds or free radicals. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is for the protection of human skin and/or mucous membranes against chemicals, toxins, allergens, denaturing substances, substances attaching to DNA, substances damaging or deactivating proteins, or airborne particulate matter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the glucosylglycerol is 2-O-α-D-glucosylglycerol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell protective enzyme is an enzyme decomposing reactive oxygen compounds. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the enzyme is a superoxide dismutase, a catalase or a glutathione peroxidase. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the superoxide dismutase is SOD-1 or SOD-2. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell protective enzyme is a DNA repairing enzyme. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the cell protective enzyme is a ligase. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell protective enzyme is a chaperone. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the glucosylglycerol is provided in an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of glucosylglycerol ranges between 0.001% w/w and 10% w/w. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the concentration of glucosylglycerol ranges between 0.01% w/w and 6% w/w.