Modulating body/cranial hair growth

Abstract

The growth of body and/or head/cranial hair on mammalian organisms, for example humans, is modulated by administering thereto, whether topically and/or systemically, therapeutically effective amounts of at least one lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase inhibitor, or at least one lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase stimulator, preferably in the presence of at least one lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase substrate or precursor thereof; when a hair-growth or hair loss-limiting response is sought to be elicited, a lipoxygenase inhibitor and/or cyclooxygenase stimulator is administered (conversely, to reduce or prevent hair growth, a lipoxygenase stimulator and/or cyclooxygenase inhibitor is administered).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for modulating the growth of body and/or head/cranial hair on a mammalian organism in need of such treatment, comprising topically and/or systemically administering to such organism a therapeutically effective amount of at least one lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase inhibitor, or at least one lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase stimulator.  
     
     
         2 . The process as defined by  claim 1  for promoting hair growth or limiting hair loss, comprising topically and/or systemically administering to said organism at least one lipoxygenase inhibitor and/or at least one cyclooxygenase stimulator.  
     
     
         3 . The process as defined by  claim 2 , comprising topically and/or systemically administering to said organism at least one lipoxygenase inhibitor and at least one cyclooxygenase stimulator.  
     
     
         4 . The process as defined by  claim 2 , comprising topically and/or systemically administering to said organism an active agent exhibiting activity both as a lipoxygenase inhibitor and as a cyclooxygenase stimulator.  
     
     
         5 . The process as defined by  claim 1  for retarding and/or preventing hair growth, comprising topically and/or systemically administering to said organism at least one lipoxygenase stimulator and at least one cyclooxygenase inhibitor.  
     
     
         6 . The process as defined by  claim 5 , comprising topically and/or systemically administering to said organism at least one lipoxygenase stimulator and at least one cyclooxygenase inhibitor.  
     
     
         7 . The process as defined by  claim 5 , comprising topically and/or systemically administering to said organism an active agent exhibiting activity both as a lipoxygenase stimulator and as a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.  
     
     
         8 . The process as defined by  claim 1 , comprising topically administering to said organism said at least one lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase inhibitor, or said at least one lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase stimulator.  
     
     
         9 . The process as defined by  claim 1 , further comprising topically and/or systemically administering to said organism at least one lipoxygenase substrate and/or at least one cyclooxygenase substrate and/or at least one precursor thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The process as defined by  claim 9 , comprising simultaneously, separately or in fractions over time, topically and/or systemically administering said at least one substrate.  
     
     
         11 . The process as defined by  claim 1 , comprising orally administering to said organism said at least one lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase inhibitor, or said at least one lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase stimulator.  
     
     
         12 . The process as defined by  claim 1 , comprising topically and/or systemically administering to said organism at least one lipoxygenase inhibitor, said at least one lipoxygenase inhibitor comprising a redox or non-redox inhibitor, a redox inhibitor precursor, an antioxidant, an iron-chelating agent, a phenothiazine, a benzopyran compound, an inhibitory eicosanoid, a calcium blocker, a diphenylbutylamine, verapamil, fuscoside, curcumin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), hydroyphenylretinamide, lanopalene, esculin, diethylcarbamazine, phenanthroline, baicalein, proxicromil, a thioether, diallyl sulfide or di-(1-propenyl)sulfide.  
     
     
         13 . The process as defined by  claim 12 , said at least one lipoxygenase inhibitor comprising a catecholbutane compound redox inhibitor.  
     
     
         14 . The process as defined by  claim 13 , said catecholbutane compound comprising nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) or masoprocol.  
     
     
         15 . The process as defined by  claim 12 , said at least one lipoxygenase inhibitor comprising a redox inhibitor selected from among phenidone, lanopalene, an indazolinone, naphazatrom, benzofuranol, alkylhydroxylamine or a compound having one of the following formulae:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         16 . The process as defined by  claim 12 , said at least one lipoxygenase inhibitor comprising a non-redox inhibitor selected from among a hydroxythiazole, a methoxyalkylthiazole, a benzopyran or derivative thereof, methoxytetrahydropyran, a boswellic acid or acetyl derivative thereof, or a quinoline methoxyphenylacetic acid substituted with at least one cycloalkyl radical.  
     
     
         17 . The process as defined by  claim 12 , said at least one lipoxygenase inhibitor comprising an antioxidant selected from among a phenol, propyl gallate, a flavonoid and/or a natural material containing such flavonoid, a hydroxylated flavone compound, flavonol, dihydroquercetin, luteolin, galangin, orobol, a chalcone compound, 4,2′,4′-trihydroxychalcone, an ortho-aminophenol, an N-hydroxyurea, a benzofuranol, ebselen or an active agent that enhances the activity of a reducing selenoenzyme.  
     
     
         18 . The process as defined by  claim 12 , said at least one lipoxygenase inhibitor comprising an iron-chelating compound selected from among a hydroxamic acid or derivative thereof, an N-hydroxyurea, 2-benzyl-1-naphthol, a catechol, a hydroxylamine, carnosol, naphthol, sulfasalazine, zileuton, 5-hydroxyanthranilic acid or a 4-(ω-arylalkyl)phenylalkanoic acid.  
     
     
         19 . The process as defined by  claim 12 , said at least one lipoxygenase inhibitor comprising ketoconazole or itraconazole.  
     
     
         20 . The process as defined by  claim 12 , said at least one lipoxygenase inhibitor comprising an inhibitory eicosanoid.  
     
     
         21 . The process as defined by  claim 20 , said inhibitory eicosanoid comprising octadecatetraenoic acid, eicosatetraenoic acid, docosapentenoic acid, eicosahexaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid or ester thereof, PGE 1  (prostaglandin E 1 ), PGA 2  (prostaglandin A 2 ) viprostol, 15-monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 15-monohydroxyeicosatrienoic acid, 15-monohydroxy-eicosapentaenoic acid, or a leukotriene B5, C5 or D5.  
     
     
         22 . The process as defined by  claim 5 , comprising topically and/or systemically administering to said organism at least one cyclooxygenase inhibitor.  
     
     
         23 . The process as defined by  claim 22 , said at least one cyclooxygenase inhibitor comprising a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compound.  
     
     
         24 . The process as defined by  claim 23 , said non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compound comprising an arylcarboxylic acid, a pyrazole compound, an oxicam or a nicotinic acid compound.  
     
     
         25 . The process as defined by  claim 1 , comprising topically and/or systemically administering to said organism at least one cyclooxygenase stimulator or agonist.  
     
     
         26 . The process as defined by  claim 25 , said at least one cyclooxygenase stimulator or agonist comprising an arachidonic acid metabolite, nitric oxide or a nitric oxide-donating compound, stanozolol, a glutathione-donating compound, a neuropeptide, V.I.P., a calcium ionophore, an anthocyanoside, a bioflavonoid, FGA, or a platelet activating factor (PAF).  
     
     
         27 . The process as defined by  claim 1 , comprising topically and/or systemically administering to said organism at least one lipoxygenase stimulator.  
     
     
         28 . The process as defined by  claim 27 , said at least one lipoxygenase stimulator comprising a cytokine, FGFβ, TGFβ, or an epidermal growth factor.  
     
     
         29 . The process as defined by  claim 4 , said active agent comprising 6-chloro-2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (CNDQ).  
     
     
         30 . The process as defined by  claim 9 , said at least one lipoxygenase substrate and/or at least one cyclooxygenase substrate comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid.  
     
     
         31 . The process as defined by  claim 30 , said polyunsaturated fatty acid having 20 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         32 . The process as defined by  claim 31 , said polyunsaturated fatty acid comprising arachidonic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, or, eicosapentaenoic acid.  
     
     
         33 . The process as defined by  claim 9 , said at least one lipoxygenase substrate and/or at least one cyclooxygenase substrate comprising an essential fatty acid.  
     
     
         34 . The process as defined by  claim 33 , said essential fatty acid comprising linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, γ-linolenic acid, or mixture thereof.  
     
     
         35 . The process as defined by  claim 9 , said at least one lipoxygenase substrate and/or at least one cyclooxygenase substrate comprising a cell membrane phospholipid.  
     
     
         36 . The process as defined by  claim 35 , said cell membrane phospholipid comprising a phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, or mixture thereof.  
     
     
         37 . A composition of matter comprising at lease one lipoxygenase inhibitor and at least one cyclooxygenase stimulator.  
     
     
         38 . A composition of matter comprising at lease one lipoxygenase stimulator and at least one cyclooxygenase inhibitor.  
     
     
         39 . The composition of matter as defined by  claim 37 , further comprising at least one lipoxygenase substrate and/or at least one cyclooxygenase substrate, and/or at least one precursor thereof.  
     
     
         40 . The composition of matter as defined by  claim 38 , further comprising at least one lipoxygenase substrate and/or at least one cyclooxygenase substrate, and/or at least one precursor thereof.  
     
     
         41 . The composition of matter as defined by  claim 37 , further comprising a topically and/or systemically pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent therefor.  
     
     
         42 . The composition of matter as defined by  claim 38 , further comprising a topically and/or systemically pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent therefor.  
     
     
         43 . A kit comprising a compartmentalized and/or packaged amount of a lipoxygenase inhibitor and a compartmentalized and/or packaged amount of a cyclooxygenase stimulator.  
     
     
         44 . A kit comprising a compartmentalized and/or packaged amount of a lipoxygenase stimulator and a compartmentalized and/or packaged amount of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor.  
     
     
         45 . A kit as defined by  claim 43 , further comprising a compartmentalized and/or packaged amount of a lipoxygenase substrate and/or at least one cyclooxygenase substrate, and/or at least one precursor thereof.  
     
     
         46 . A kit as defined by  claim 44 , further comprising a compartmentalized and/or packaged amount of a lipoxygenase substrate and/or at least one cyclooxygenase substrate, and/or at least one precursor thereof.