JP7790714B2 - cleaning agents - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a cleaning agent.

Traditionally, detergents have been used to efficiently remove dirt from items being cleaned. Specifically, detergents are proposed according to the item being cleaned, such as laundry detergent for muddy stains on clothes, dishwashing detergent for grease and protein stains on dishes, and facial soap for sebum and dead skin cells on the face, and each is used according to its purpose.

The detergent contains surfactants, which have a cleaning effect on grease and protein stains that are difficult to remove with water alone.

However, surfactants alone may not be able to provide sufficient cleaning power for protein stains, and detergents containing proteolytic enzymes have been proposed to more reliably remove protein stains (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-103951 A

It is true that the cleaning agents mentioned above can be expected to more effectively remove protein stains by fully utilizing the cleaning action contributed by proteolytic enzymes. However, such cleaning agents have the following issues:

For example, if a cleanser is used directly on the scalp, it may remove excess keratin and sebum along with dirt, which can cause rough skin. To prevent such rough skin, some cleansers contain sebum components, polyhydric alcohols, sugars, and other ingredients that have a skin-conditioning effect. However, the inclusion of skin-conditioning ingredients can make the cleansing action less effective, and as a result, it has not been possible to create a cleanser that provides both high levels of cleansing and skin-conditioning effects.

In addition, while enzymes are useful for removing proteinaceous stains, they can be inactivated by external factors (such as high temperatures or exposure to light), so there was a need for a cleanser that could maintain its cleaning and skin-conditioning effects even after a longer storage period.

The present invention was made in light of these circumstances, and aims to provide a cleanser that functions at a high level in both cleansing and skin-conditioning effects. It also aims to provide a cleanser that maintains its cleansing and skin-conditioning effects even after a long storage period.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the cleaning agent of the present invention is (1) a cleaning agent that passes through a 20 to 1000 mesh sieve , which is a blend of a protease agent consisting of crushed bacteria or yeast containing a protein-digesting enzyme, 0.01 to 20% by weight of bamboo carbonized powder that passes through a 50 to 180 mesh sieve, and 0.01 to 20.5% by weight of porcine-derived collagen powder that passes through a 20 to 200 mesh sieve , and is characterized in that the collagen powder has a total proline and hydroxyproline content of 15 to 25% by weight .

The cleaning agent according to the present invention is also characterized in the following respects.
(2) The protease preparation contains a proteolytic component having peptidase activity.
(3) The protease preparation contains one or more of fungal extract, papain, and pancreatin as a proteolytic component.

According to the present invention, by blending a protease agent, a carbonized plant powder, and a collagen powder, a cleanser can be provided that exhibits high levels of cleansing and skin-conditioning effects, and that maintains these effects even after a long storage period. Furthermore, by containing 0.01 to 20% by weight of the carbonized plant powder, a sufficient amount of the carbonized plant powder is evenly distributed throughout the bubbles, allowing the carbonized plant powder to fully adsorb dirt. As a result, a cleanser that provides a more reliable cleansing effect can be provided. Furthermore, the carbonized powder acts as a binder for the foam, enabling fine bubbles to be maintained.

Furthermore , since the protease agent contains a proteolytic component with peptidase activity, a cleanser that can more reliably remove protein stains can be provided. Furthermore, the proteolytic component acts on the collagen powder to generate amino acids, and the amino acids act on the bubbles, thereby enhancing foaming and foam persistence. This allows highly elastic bubbles composed of fine bubbles to remain for a long period of time. As a result, a cleanser that can more reliably enjoy both cleansing and skin-conditioning effects can be provided.

Furthermore, since the protease agent contains a fungal extract as a proteolytic component, a cleanser that can more reliably remove proteinaceous stains can be provided. Furthermore, these proteolytic components act on the collagen powder to generate amino acids, which then act on the bubbles, enhancing foaming and foam persistence. This allows highly elastic bubbles composed of fine bubbles to remain for a long period of time. As a result, a cleanser that can more reliably enjoy both cleansing and skin-conditioning effects can be provided.

In addition, since the plant carbonized powder is bamboo carbonized powder, the numerous pores formed on the surface can adsorb a large amount of dirt, resulting in the provision of a cleaner that can provide a more reliable cleaning effect.

Furthermore , the plant carbonized powder passes through a 50 to 180 mesh sieve, which has the effect of providing a cleaning agent that can more reliably enjoy cleaning action while minimizing the foreign body sensation when it comes into contact with air bubbles.

Furthermore , since the collagen powder is derived from pigs , the raw material can be procured relatively easily, which has the effect of providing a cleaning agent that is advantageous in terms of production costs.

Furthermore , because the collagen powder passes through the gaps of a 20-200 mesh sieve, it quickly reacts with protease to produce amino acids, enhancing foaming and foam persistence. It also minimizes the foreign body sensation felt when coming into contact with air bubbles. As a result, it is possible to provide a cleanser that can more reliably enjoy both cleansing and skin-conditioning effects.

Furthermore , the collagen powder is included in a ratio of 0.01 to 20.5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the cleanser, thereby enhancing foaming and foam retention. In particular, highly elastic foam consisting of fine bubbles can be retained for a long period of time. Furthermore, the collagen powder that did not react with the protease and some of the reaction products serve to coat and protect the skin. As a result, a cleanser that can more reliably enjoy both cleansing and skin-conditioning effects can be provided.

Furthermore , the total content of proline and hydroxyproline in the collagen powder is set to 15 to 25% by weight, which enhances foaming ability and foam persistence, resulting in the provision of a cleanser that can more reliably enjoy cleansing and skin-conditioning effects.

Furthermore , because the above-mentioned cleanser passes through a 20-1000 mesh sieve, it allows for a rapid reaction between the protease and collagen powder, and also enhances foaming and foam persistence, resulting in the provision of a cleanser that can more reliably provide both cleansing and skin-conditioning effects.

1 is a line graph showing the results of Test 1. 1 is a bar graph showing the results of Test 2. 1 is a bar graph and table showing the results of Test 3. 1 is a bar graph and table showing the results of Test 4.

The gist of the present invention is to provide a cleanser that combines a protease agent, a carbonized plant powder, and a collagen powder to provide high levels of both cleansing and skin-conditioning effects, and that maintains these effects even after a long storage period.

Here, the term "cleaning agent" refers to a detergent that contains a surfactant and is used for the purpose of removing dirt, regardless of whether it is for home or commercial use. Specific examples include laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents, cleaning detergents, facial cleansers, and hair washes (shampoos). In this embodiment, we will use a facial cleanser as an example.

The facial cleanser according to this embodiment is generally dry (water content approximately 14%) and in granular or powder form. Specifically, the form can be freely selected as long as it can pass through a sieve with a mesh size of 20 mesh (openings 864 μm) to 1000 mesh (openings 13 μm).

The facial cleanser according to this embodiment is used for cleansing by, for example, taking a predetermined amount of cleanser in the palm of your hand, adding water or hot water to create a lather. In particular, by making the shape of the cleanser fall within the above range, the contact area with water can be increased, allowing the surfactant to lather quickly and allowing the proteolytic enzyme agent and collagen powder agent described below to react quickly. In the following explanation, the water or hot water used to dissolve the facial cleanser and create a lather will be referred to as "dissolution water," and the state in which the cleanser is dissolved in the dissolution water will be referred to as "facial cleanser."

Facial cleanser shapes that contain many particles that do not pass through a 20-mesh sieve will slow down dissolution in the dissolution water, resulting in a poor usability. However, even if the shape does not pass through a sieve of the above mesh, there is no problem as long as it can be crushed by pinching or rubbing with your fingers. On the other hand, if the shape of the facial cleanser contains many particles that pass through a sieve with openings narrower than 1000 mesh, the usability will not be impaired, but this is not desirable as the manufacturing process may take too long or there may be many non-standard shapes.

The facial cleanser contains a surfactant, excipient, protease, plant carbonized powder, and collagen powder, each in a dry state. In particular, by combining these in a dry state, the hydrolysis reaction of the protease with the collagen powder can be suppressed. In other words, the facial cleanser maintains the collagen powder intact until it comes into contact with the dissolving water, but when it is made into a facial cleanser, it begins to react with the protease. Next, each component of the facial cleanser will be described in detail.

Surfactants can be freely selected as long as they function as a cleaning ingredient. Specifically, they can be used from anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, nonionic surfactants, fatty acid soaps, etc.

Excipients are used to improve the formulation and usability of the detergent, and can be any of the common excipients used in existing detergents. Specific examples include cornstarch, lactose, crystalline cellulose, and starch.

The proteolytic enzyme agent may be any agent capable of breaking down proteins present on the skin surface, such as aged, unwanted keratin and dirt, and may contain, for example, a proteolytic component with peptidase activity. More preferably, one or more of fungal extract, papain, and pancreatin can be used.

The fungal extract may contain protein-digesting enzymes possessed by fungi. Specifically, fungal cells are collected, crushed, and dried before use. In addition to proteolytic components, the fungal extract will also contain components obtained by culturing fungi, such as amino acids and sugars produced by autolysis. In this way, proteolytic enzyme preparations may contain amino acids, sugars, and other components in addition to proteolytic components. Fungi include eubacteria and yeast.

Papain is known to be found in large amounts in the fruit and juice of unripe papaya plants. Therefore, papain is used in the form of dried papaya fruit, juice, or dried extract.

Pancreatin is a mixture of various physiologically active components obtained from the mammalian pancreas, including trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, amylase, and many other enzymes, and is known as a mixture of digestive enzymes that is effective on starch, fat, and protein. In this way, proteolytic enzyme preparations may also contain enzymes other than protein-degrading components.

The protease agent may be a combination of two or more of these proteolytic components. Furthermore, the optimal pH of the protease agent is not limited to acidic, neutral, or alkaline, but facial cleansers may be used that have an optimal pH ranging from weakly acidic to alkaline, or from neutral to alkaline, for example.

Furthermore, the total activity titer of the proteolytic components contained in the protease preparation is characterized by being between 0.1U and 300U/g in the detergent, as determined by a quantitative test method conforming to the pancreatin quantitative regulations of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia.

By using a protease agent in this manner, protein stains can be more reliably removed when the facial cleanser is lathered and used for face washing. Furthermore, when the protease agent acts on the collagen powder in the facial cleanser, the terminal amino acids of the polypeptide chains that make up the collagen are cleaved. This allows the collagen-derived peptide chains and amino acids to function as thickeners, turning the bubbles into a meringue-like consistency.

The plant char powder is a pulverized product of at least one char selected from bamboo, wood, and nut seeds. It is particularly suitable for use in plants that pass through a 50-mesh (279 μm mesh) to 180-mesh (84 μm mesh) sieve. This type of plant char powder has multiple finely branched pores formed on its surface (a porous structure). This porous structure allows plant char powder to effectively absorb protein and sebum stains. Depending on the size of the pores, they can be classified as micropores (diameter 20 angstroms or less), mesopores (diameter 20-500 angstroms), or macropores (diameter 500 angstroms or more). However, it is the micropores that play a major role in the actual absorption of protein and sebum stains. This absorption is primarily physical, due to van der Waals forces or capillary action.

Meanwhile, the mesopores and macropores have the effect of absorbing the meringue-like bubbles formed by the proteolytic enzymes and collagen powder. As a result, when using the facial cleanser (when lathering), the carbonized powder particles rub against each other, crushing the absorbed bubbles, making the bubbles even smaller. The mesopores and macropores also function as binders that connect the bubbles together. This makes it possible to minimize the surface area of the bubbles that come into contact with the air, thereby increasing the foam's durability.

In this way, by adding plant carbonized powder to a facial cleanser containing a protease agent and collagen powder, it is possible to not only adsorb protein and sebum stains, but also further improve foaming and foam retention.

If the shape of the plant carbonized powder contains a large amount of particles that do not pass through a 50-mesh sieve, the facial cleanser will have a poor feel when foamed, and the reduced surface area will prevent it from achieving a satisfactory adsorption effect. On the other hand, if the powder contains a large amount of particles that pass through a sieve with openings narrower than 180 mesh, the feel will not be affected, but the manufacturing process may take too long and there may be many particles that do not meet the specifications, making this undesirable.

Therefore, it is expected that plant carbonized powder will enhance the cleansing effect of facial cleansers by adsorbing and removing sebum and proteinaceous dirt that has been broken down by proteolytic enzymes. In particular, if the plant carbonized powder is contained in an amount of 0.01 to 20% by weight, it will be possible to provide a facial cleanser that can reliably adsorb and remove sebum and proteinaceous dirt.

However, if the plant charcoal powder content is less than 0.01% by weight, a sufficient adsorption effect cannot be achieved. On the other hand, even if the content is more than 20% by weight, the adsorption effect does not increase in proportion to the content, so it is not suitable from a cost perspective.

The collagen powder is characterized by containing collagen derived from, for example, fish, birds, pigs, cattle, and horses. More specifically, the collagen is extracted from extracts such as atelocollagen (molecular weight: approximately 300,000) obtained by treating the biological tissues of the above non-human animals with enzymes or alkali; gelatin (molecular weight: approximately 100,000) obtained by subjecting atelocollagen to heat treatment and hydrolysis; and collagen peptides (molecular weight: approximately 1500) obtained by subjecting gelatin to acid, base, or enzyme treatment, and then spray-dried or vacuum freeze-dried. Preservatives such as excipients and vitamins can also be added as needed. The dried collagen is then crushed into a form that can pass through a 20-mesh (864 μm mesh) to 200-mesh (74 μm mesh) sieve to produce the collagen powder. This form facilitates reaction with proteolytic enzymes.

If the collagen powder contains a large amount of particles that do not pass through a 20-mesh sieve, the surface area will be reduced, preventing a smooth reaction with the protease. On the other hand, if the powder contains a large amount of particles that pass through a sieve with openings narrower than 200 mesh, although the powder will react sufficiently with the protease, this is not desirable as the manufacturing process may take too long or there may be a large number of particles that do not meet the specifications.

When collagen powder is formulated to contain 0.01-20.5% by weight of collagen, it can be reliably reacted with proteolytic enzymes, improving foaming and foam retention. Furthermore, the collagen peptide chains function as skin-conditioning ingredients.

If the collagen powder content is less than 0.01% by weight, foaming ability and foam retention cannot be sufficiently improved. On the other hand, even if the content is more than 20.5% by weight, the foaming ability and foam retention do not increase in proportion to the content, so this is not suitable from a cost perspective.

In addition, collagen powders are used that contain a total proline and hydroxyproline content of 15-25% by weight (proline and hydroxyproline in a ratio of 15-25 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight). Proline and hydroxyproline are known to be amino acids that are abundant in type I collagen and type II collagen. Furthermore, proline and hydroxyproline are known to have particularly high water-retaining properties among amino acids.

In other words, even if the facial cleanser contains less than 0.01% by weight or more than 20.5% by weight of collagen, proline and hydroxyproline may be contained in an amount equivalent to the amount of hydroxyproline contained when the facial cleanser contains 0.01 to 20.5 parts by weight of collagen, i.e., 0.0015 to 5.125% by weight.

When proline and hydroxyproline are contained within these ranges, the proline and hydroxyproline function as thickeners, turning the entire foam into a meringue-like state. This enhances foaming properties and foam persistence, and has the effect of providing a cleanser that can more reliably enjoy both cleansing and skin-conditioning effects.

The cleaning agent according to this embodiment will be further explained below, with reference to various test results.

[Test 1. Stability test of proteolytic components]
In this study, we investigated how the presence or absence of plant-derived charcoal powder and collagen powder affects the stability of protease preparations in facial cleansers. Specifically, we investigated the effects of surfactants and excipients,
Sample A: Contains a proteolytic enzyme agent.
Sample B: A combination of a protease agent and a collagen powder agent.
Sample C: A test was conducted to confirm the effect of a compound containing a proteolytic enzyme agent, a collagen powder agent, and a carbonized plant powder on the protein-degrading components in the three samples.

(Test 1-1. Sample preparation)
In this example, coconut shell activated carbon (manufactured by UES) was used as the plant-based carbonized powder, protease (manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) was used as the proteolytic enzyme, and powdered research-grade collagen (manufactured by Nippi Co., Ltd.) was used as the collagen powder. The same materials were used in subsequent tests.

The coconut shell activated carbon (hereinafter simply referred to as "activated carbon") used was one that passed through a 50-mesh sieve. The powdered research-grade collagen (hereinafter simply referred to as "collagen") used was one that passed through a 20-mesh sieve. The same materials were used in subsequent tests.

Fatty acid soap was used as the surfactant, and cornstarch was used as the excipient. The fatty acid soap and cornstarch were mixed together and made into granules that could pass through a 20-mesh sieve. The same granules were used in subsequent tests.

The amounts of ingredients blended into each of Samples A, B, and C are shown in Table 1. The values in the table are in weight percent.

First, 3g of each sample was placed in a 90mm diameter, 20mm high petri dish (disposable dish, manufactured by AS ONE Corporation). The petri dishes were then placed in an incubator set at a temperature of 40°C and a humidity of 75%. The effects on each sample were then tested every month (from 0 to 6 months).

(Test 1-2. Test Method)
The proteolytic component stability test was performed according to the quantitative test method for pancreatin specified in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia. That is, the enzyme activity at month 0 was set at 100%, and the percentage change in enzyme activity over time was measured.

(Test 1-3. Results)
The results of this test are shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the enzyme activity of Sample A decreased over time, whereas that of Samples B and C did not. In particular, the enzyme activity of Sample C did not decrease over a longer period than that of Sample B.

These results show that by incorporating collagen into a facial cleanser containing a protease, the stability of the proteolytic components can be increased. Furthermore, by incorporating collagen and activated carbon in particular, the stability of the proteolytic components can be increased even further over a longer period of time. Therefore, it can be said that by combining a protease, plant carbonized powder, and collagen powder, a cleanser can be provided that fully exerts its cleansing and skin-conditioning effects.

[Test 2. Foaming and foam persistence test]
In this study, we investigated how the presence or absence of plant-derived carbonized powder, collagen powder, and proteolytic agent affects the foaming and foam retention of facial cleansers.
Sample A: Contains a proteolytic enzyme agent.
Sample B: A combination of a protease agent and a collagen powder agent.
Sample C: A mixture of a protease agent, a collagen powder agent, and a carbonized plant powder.
Sample D: Contains collagen powder.
Sample E: Contains plant carbonized powder.
Sample F: A blend of plant carbonized powder and collagen powder.
The six samples were subjected to confirmation tests for foaming ability and foam persistence.

(Test 2-1. Sample preparation)
The amounts of components blended in each of Samples A, B, C, D, E, and F are as shown in Table 2. The values in the table are in weight percent.

First, 0.1 g of each sample was placed in a 200 mL beaker with 100 mL of dissolution water at 40°C. Then, the mixture was stirred to completely dissolve the sample, taking care not to create bubbles.

(Test 2-2. Test Method)
50 mL of each sample was gently placed in a 100 mL measuring cylinder, capped, and shaken up and down 100 times. The foam height immediately after shaking was recorded as foaming, and the foam height after leaving the cylinder to stand for 10 minutes was recorded as foam persistence. The foam height was measured based on the boundary between the cleaning solution and the foam.

(Test 2-3. Results)
The test results are shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, compared to the foaming ability and foam persistence of Sample A, Samples B and C had increased foaming ability and foam persistence. Furthermore, the results of Sample B and Sample D show that Sample B exhibited higher foaming ability and foam persistence. Furthermore, the results of Sample C and Sample F show that Sample C exhibited higher foaming ability and foam persistence. Furthermore, the results of Sample E and Sample F show that Sample F exhibited higher foaming ability and foam persistence.

These results show that facial cleansers containing protease agents can improve foaming and foam retention by incorporating collagen powder. Furthermore, by incorporating plant carbonized powder and collagen powder, foam retention can be further improved.

It was also revealed that even if a facial cleanser contains collagen powder or plant carbonized powder, it will not be able to achieve high foaming and foam retention unless it also contains proteolytic enzymes.

Therefore, it can be said that a facial cleanser containing all three of the following ingredients has higher foaming properties and foam retention than a cleanser containing only one or two of the following ingredients: proteolytic enzymes, plant carbonized powder, and collagen powder.

[Test 3. Dirt removal function test]
In this test, we investigated how the presence or absence of a plant-derived carbonized powder, a collagen powder, and a proteolytic agent affected the ability of a facial cleanser to remove artificial dirt (hereinafter also referred to as "dirt removal function"). The test samples used were the same as those used in Test 2.

(Test 3-1. Sample preparation)
In this test, the foam was prepared in the same way as in Test 2, and the foam immediately after shaking was used for the test. The simulated soil was a mixture of 30 g of egg white, 15 mL of salad oil, and red food coloring.

(Test 3-2. Test Method)
Six 2cm square test areas were set up on the inside of the forearms of five subjects. 1g of simulated soil was applied to each test area and allowed to dry naturally for 20 minutes. After air drying, each sample was applied to cover the simulated soil and left for 1 minute. After leaving it, 40°C water was poured over the outside of the forearm, and the extent to which the simulated soil was removed was evaluated on a 5-point scale. The criteria for judging the soil removal function are shown in Table 3.

(Test 3-3. Results)
The results of this test are shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3, Samples B, C, and F have superior stain removal capabilities compared to Sample A. Sample C is particularly superior to the other samples.

These results show that the dirt-removing function of a detergent containing a protease can be enhanced by adding collagen powder. In particular, the dirt-removing function can be further enhanced by adding plant carbonized powder and collagen powder.

It was also revealed that even if a product contains plant carbonized powder or collagen powder, it will not be able to achieve high levels of dirt removal unless it also contains proteolytic enzymes.

[Test 4. Moisture retention function test]
In this test, we investigated how the presence or absence of plant-derived carbonized powder, collagen powder, and proteolytic agent affects the moisturizing function of the skin after cleansing. The test samples used were the same as those used in Test 2.

(Test 4-1. Sample preparation)
In this test, the foam and simulated soil were prepared in the same manner as in Test 3.

(Test 4-2. Test Method)
Six 2cm square test areas were set up on the inner forearms of five subjects. 1g of simulated soil was placed on each test area and allowed to dry naturally for 20 minutes. After natural drying, each sample was placed on the simulated soil to cover it and left for 1 minute. After leaving it, the forearms were towel-dried under 40°C water, and the skin condition of the test area was evaluated on a 5-point scale. The criteria for moisturizing function are shown in Table 4.

(Test 4-3. Results)
The results of this test are shown in Figure 4. As can be seen from Figure 4, Samples B and C have superior moisturizing functions compared to Sample A. Sample C is particularly superior to the other samples. Furthermore, Samples D and F have higher moisturizing functions than Samples A and E, but lower moisturizing functions than Samples B and C.

These results suggest that cleansers containing protease agents can enhance their moisturizing function by incorporating collagen powder.

It is particularly interesting to note from the results of Samples D and F that even when collagen powder is added, it does not exert sufficient moisturizing properties unless it is coexistent with a protease. The inventors believe that this is due to the hydroxyproline produced when the collagen in the collagen powder is hydrolyzed to break down its proteolytic components.

The results of Tests 1 to 4 therefore demonstrate that the cleanser of the present invention, by combining a protease agent, a carbonized plant powder, and a collagen powder, can provide a cleanser that performs at a high level of both cleansing and skin-conditioning effects. It can also provide a cleanser that maintains its cleansing and skin-conditioning effects sufficiently even after a long storage period.

Claims (1)

A cleaning agent that passes through a 20 to 1000 mesh sieve and is a blend of a proteolytic enzyme agent made of crushed bacteria or yeast containing a protein digestive enzyme , 0.01 to 20% by weight of bamboo carbonized powder that passes through a 50 to 180 mesh sieve, and 0.01 to 20.5% by weight of porcine-derived collagen powder that passes through a 20 to 200 mesh sieve ,
The collagen powder is a cleansing agent characterized in that the total content of proline and hydroxyproline is 15 to 25% by weight .