The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition containing glycoproteins, particularly suitable for the skin treatment.

The glycoproteins are known as a class of compounds having in the organism highly different and heterogenous functions.

They are widely distributed in the cells of the vertebrates, of the invertebrates, of the plants and of the microorganisms.

In the case of the vertebrates, and particularly in the human beings, one of the most important roles fulfilled by glycoproteins which essentially form the mucus, is that of protecting the internal tissues (in the digesting and respiratory tracts) against mechanical, chemical and microbial damages.

In turn the skin, which under several aspect is like the mucose, is on the contrary efficaciously protected by an inert corneal layer against the irritating and lesive agents.

However such a natural protection of the skin is often insufficient mainly when these negative actions are intense and repeated in time. In that case the skin appears dry, asfixiated, starved and senescent, besides being tendentially wrinkled. The present studies on the activities of the natural glycoproteins were and are mainly aimed to investigate the behaviour of the mucosa protected by the mucus in the presence of irritating agents (such as for instance the cigarette smoke in the respiratory tract or irritating substances in the digesting tract) , and particularly the reaction of the epithelium to the irritating stimuli.

FR-A-2300572 discloses a method for the extraction of soluble glycoproteins and/or of mucopolysaccharides and of accompanying substances from the natural sources (animal organs, vegetal tissues and microorganisms) in which they are present.

The resulting raw mixtures, either alone or in admixture, can be used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic or food industry.

More particularly a mixture is disclosed comprising both the subject extracted substances and a mixture of complex lipids, having trophic and protective effect for the sk in.

FR-A-2036453 relates to a cosmetic product in which acidic mucopolysaccharides (also indicated as glycosaminoglucuronanes) are present in a percentage of 0.01 to 2% by weight, the cosmetic product being used as soap, shampoo, beauty cream and tooth paste.

GB-A- 1166939 relates to the extraction of glycopeptides for which the use as a drug for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and particularly of ulcers is indicated. It has been now surprisingly found and is the basic principle of the present invention, that the glycoproteins of natural origin, as obtained from the mucosa and from the internal epithelial tissues of mammalian beings, in combination with a hygroscopic agent, show with respect to the skin an activity which is not only protecting, but also and mainly a revitalizing and antiwrinkle activity.

More specifically it has been found that the glycoproteins of natural origin, as obtained by extraction from gastric and intestinal mucosa of mammalians, and the mucines obtained from the mucus as produced by the aforesaid mucosa, show a relevant hydrating, elasticizing and wrinkle activity, whereby are useful for the treatment of the senescen forms of the skin, particularly of the skin of the face and of the hands, which more frequently are subjected to physical and chemical attacks. More particularly in the case of the face wrinkls the application of the above indicated glycoproteins shows a favourable influence.

The skin already after the first treatment, is more hydrated, more turgid, more elastic, and more vital and the wrinkles are attenuated and extended.

The. benefical results of the treatment are even more evident in the case of dry, asfixiated, starved and senescent skin, namely in the case of the skin more readily subjected to wrinkles.

It is to be pointed out that, in order that the glycoproteins show their effect on the skin, it is necessary that the excipients are designeed in a manner such that the glycoproteins remain on the skin in solution as much long as possible.

A simple water solution of the glycoproteins has no anti-wrinkle evident action as in the case in which they are carried by means of hygrostatic excipients, by which they are maintained on the skin for a longer time in solution.

Consequently it is the object of the present invention a cosmetic composition for the skin treatment which is characterized in that it contains, as the active ingredient, at least a glycoprotein of natural origin or their mixtures, obtained by extraction from gastric or intestinal mucosa of mammalians or from the mucus secreted therefrom, preferably as a water solution, in combination with an hygrostatic excipient. Among the glycoproteins useful for the cosmetic compositions according to the present invention of particular efficacy is that obtained by extraction from the gastric or duodenal mucosa of swine according to the process disclosed in the UK Patent No. 1166939.

This glycoprotein, as obtained, is an amorphous, ivory coloured, hygroscopic, water soluble and insoluble in the organic solvents powder, and as regards the composition it may be defined as follows:

According to the above definition, the activity of the glycoproteins of the present invention is essentially shown only if in the composition a hygrostatic excipient is present which is capable of retaining for an extended time the active component, namely the glycoprotein, or better its water solution into contact with the skin. Among these hygrostatic sustances, there are to be particularly mentioned glycerine, propylene glycol, sorbitol, generally polyalcohols and the normal hydrating agents such as: NMF (Natural Moisturing Factor), urea, aminoacids, pyrrolidon carboxylic acid, etc.

The normal dosages of use of the glycoproteins of the invention are of between 0.5% and 5% by weight of the composition and the may be combined with vitaminic nutrient factors and aminoacids, placenta extracts, vegetal derivatives etc.

A remarkable feature of the present invention is that only the above defined glycoproteins show the aforesaid activity.

In fact, other glycoproteins of natural origin, such as those of the milk, do not show the above indicated effect.

It has been confirmed by the comparison tests, as hereinafter reported, which, moreover, are an objective confirmation of the properties of the glycoproteins according to the present invention.

The tests have been carried out on a total of 20 persons, divided in four groups each comprising five persons.

The group number one has been treated with placebo, consisting of a 2.5 water solution of glycerine, the group No. 2 has been treated with glycoprotein obtained according to aforesaid UK Patent and previously defined, the group No. 3 with glycoprotein obtained from milk and the group No. 4 with mucine,( the three glycoproteins having been dissolved in glycerine at the concentration of 1%).

The daily treatments were carried out for 15 days consecutively and at the end the results were observed.

The resuming results are reported in the following table:

As it is seen from the above table, in the case of the group 2 treated with the preferred glycoprotein according to the invention, an optimum activity is observed for all 3 parameters.

A good activity is also detected with the mucine whereas, the activity of the milk glycoprotein is practically absent.

In the following example some cosmetic compositions according to the invention are reported only for illustrating purposes, wherein by "glycoprotein" the substance as above defined and obtained with the process with UK Patent 1155938 is meant.

EXAMPLE 1

EXAMPLE 2

EXAMPLE 3

EXAMPLE 4