Pediculicidal composition

Abstract

The disclosure provides a pediculicidal composition comprising a metal chelating agent; a carrier vehicle comprising water and an activating solvent system comprising an alcohol and a hydrocarbon. The carrier vehicle may be in the form of a solution, a cream, an ointment, a foam, a spray, an emulsion or a gel. The disclosure also provides method for use of a pediculicidal composition to treat human head lice and their eggs and methods for controlling head lice infestation.

1 . A composition comprising:
 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl; and   a carrier vehicle comprising water and an activating solvent system comprising an alcohol and a hydrocarbon;   
       wherein 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl is present in the composition at a concentration from about 0.25% by weight or greater, and wherein said composition exhibits both ovicidal and lousicidal activity. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said alcohol is benzyl alcohol. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said hydrocarbon is mineral oil. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl is present in the composition at a concentration from about 0.25% to about 5% by weight. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl is present in the composition at a concentration from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl is present in the composition at a concentration from about 0.5% to about 1% by weight. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said carrier vehicle is a solution, a gel, a cream, an ointment, a foam, a spray or an emulsion. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said carrier vehicle comprises an activating solvent system, water and at least one agent selected from the group consisting of a thickening agent, one or more surfactant, a pH adjuster, and an antioxidant. 
     
     
         9 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A composition comprising:
 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl in an amount from about 0.25% to about 5% by weight;   benzyl alcohol in an amount from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight;   mineral oil in an amount from about 2% to about 35% by weight;   water in an amount from about 35% to about 95% by weight;   carbomer in an amount from about 0.1% to about 1% by weight;   trolamine in an amount from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight;   butylated hydroxy toluene from about 0.1% to about 1.5% by weight;   and polysorbate 20 in an amount from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight.   
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein:
 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl is present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 1% by weight;   benzyl alcohol is present in an amount from about 1% to about 3% by weight;   mineral oil is present in an amount from about 20% to about 30% by weight;   water is present in an amount from about 60% to about 90% by weight;   carbomer is present in an amount from about 0.1% to about 0.5% by weight;   trolamine is present in an amount from about 0.1% to about 1% by weight;   butylated hydroxy toluene is present in an amount from about 0.2% to about 1% by weight;   and polysorbate 20 is present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 2% by weight.   
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein said composition is a lotion, cream or gel composition comprising 0.74% by weight 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein said composition is a lotion or gel composition comprising 24% by weight mineral oil. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein said composition is a lotion or gel composition comprising 1% by weight polysorbate 20. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein said composition is a lotion or gel composition comprising 2% by weight benzyl alcohol. 
     
     
         21 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method of treating a pest infestation on a host comprising topically administering to the host a composition comprising:
 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl; and   a carrier vehicle comprising water and an activating solvent system comprising an alcohol and a hydrocarbon;   wherein the alcohol is benzyl alcohol in an amount from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight and the hydrocarbon is mineral oil in an amount from about 2% to about 35% by weight, and wherein the said alcohol and hydrocarbon act solely as an activating solvent system;   wherein 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl is present in the composition at a concentration from about 0.25% by weight or greater, and wherein said composition exhibits both ovicidal and lousicidal activity.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the composition further comprises:
 an alkyl acrylate crosspolymer in an amount from about 0.1% to about 1% by weight;   trolamine in an amount from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight;   butylated hydroxy toluene from about 0.1% to about 1.5% by weight;   polysorbate 20 in an amount from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight;   
       wherein the 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridyl is in an amount from about 0.25% to about 5% by weight; and 
       wherein the activating solvent system in the carrier vehicle comprises benzyl alcohol in an amount from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight; mineral oil in an amount from about 2% to about 35% by weight; and water in an amount from about 35% to about 95% by weight. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the pest infestation comprises a lice infestation. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the method is effective to kill lice and inhibit lice egg hatching.