Enzymatic system-containing cosmetic compositions

Abstract

Cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions are described herein for application to skin, hair and/or a nail of a subject, as well as methods utilizing same for administering hydrogen peroxide to skin, hair and/or a nail, and kits for applying same. The compositions comprise a hydrogen peroxide-producing enzyme, and a substrate of the hydrogen peroxide-producing enzyme. Further described herein are cosmetic compositions and kits for lightening skin and/or hair, which further comprise a lignin peroxidase, as well as cosmetic methods utilizing same.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit for lightening a skin and/or hair of a subject, the kit comprising:
 a glucose oxidase, which forms a part of a first composition;   D-glucose, which forms a part of a second composition; and   a lignin peroxidase,   said first composition and said second composition being packaged individually within the kit.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein a concentration of said glucose oxidase in said first composition is in a range of from 2.5 to 250 units/gram. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein a concentration of said D-glucose in said second composition is in a range of from 0.35 μmole/gram to 35 μmole/gram. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein a concentration of said lignin peroxidase in a composition comprising said lignin peroxidase is in a range of from 2.5 to 250 units/gram. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein a concentration of said lignin peroxidase in a composition comprising said lignin peroxidase is in a range of from 2.5 units/gram to 25 units/gram. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said first composition further comprises said lignin peroxidase. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 6 , wherein said first composition comprises said lignin peroxidase at a concentration in a range of from 2.5 to 250 units/gram and said glucose oxidase at a concentration in a range of from 2.5 to 250 units/gram, and said second composition comprises said D-glucose at a concentration in a range of from 0.35 μmole/gram to 35 μmole/gram. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said second composition further comprises said lignin peroxidase, or said lignin peroxidase forms a part of a third composition within the kit, said third composition being packaged individually within the kit. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising an oxidizing mediator. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein said oxidizing mediator is selected from the group consisting of veratryl alcohol, veratrole and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein said oxidizing mediator forms a part of a composition that comprises said lignin peroxidase. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein a concentration of said oxidizing mediator in a composition comprising said oxidizing mediator is in a range of from 0.06 μmole/gram to 600 μmole/gram. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said lignin peroxidase is isoenzyme H1 or a modified form of isoenzyme H2. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said lignin peroxidase is a lignin peroxidase of a white rot fungus. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein said lignin peroxidase is an extract of a  Phanerochaete chrysosporium  fungus. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 1 , being for lightening a skin of the subject. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said first composition and/or said second composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of a mask, a serum, a lotion, a cream, a shampoo, a gel and a toner. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said first composition and/or said second composition further comprises a cosmetically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein said cosmetically acceptable carrier comprises an emulsion. 
     
     
         20 . A cosmetic method of lightening a skin and/or hair of a subject, the method comprising:
 combining said first composition of the kit of  claim 1  and said second composition to form a composition comprising said lignin peroxidase, said glucose oxidase and D-glucose; and   contacting a skin and/or hair region of the subject with said composition comprising said lignin peroxidase, said glucose oxidase and D-glucose,   thereby lightening the skin and/or hair of the subject.