Antimicrobial compositions

Abstract

The present invention provides an antimicrobial composition comprising an antimicrobial effective amount (such as a preservative, bactericidal, and/or fungicidal effective amount) of a mixture comprising at least two of: (a) lemon grass oil; (b) cinnamaldehyde, cinnamon oil, cinnamomum cassia, cinnamon extract, cassia leaf oil, 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid or salt thereof, or a mixture thereof; (c) sorbic acid, or a salt thereof; (d) erythorbic acid, or a salt thereof; (e) benzoic acid, or a salt thereof; (f) arabinogalactan, galactoarabinan, or a mixture thereof; (g) a hexahydro-iso-alpha-acid, tetrahydro-iso-alpha-acid, or a mixture thereof; (h) Achillea fragrantissima oils, Santolina fragrantissima oils, Forssk oils, Lavender cotton oils; and (i) Glucono Delta Lactone. The present invention also provides a product (preferably a product other than a foodstuff, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic) comprising a preservative effective amount of cinnamaldehyde or a mixture of cinnamaldehyde and one or more alkanol-dialkyl hydantoins.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An antimicrobial composition comprising an antimicrobial effective amount of a mixture comprising at least two of: 
 (a) lemon grass oil;    (b) cinnamaldehyde, cinnamon oil, cinnamomum cassia, cinnamon extract, cassia leaf oil, 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid or salt thereof, or a mixture thereof;    (c) sorbic acid, or a salt thereof;    (d) erythorbic acid, or a salt thereof;    (e) benzoic acid, or a salt thereof;    (f) arabinogalactan, galactoarabinan, or a mixture thereof;    (g) a hexahydro-iso-alpha-acid, tetrahydro-iso-alpha-acid, or a mixture thereof;    (h) Achillea fragrantissima oils, Santolina fragrantissima oils, Forssk oils, Lavender cotton oils; and    (i) Glucono Delta Lactone.    
     
     
         2 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises (a) cinnamaldehyde; and (b) sorbic acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 2 , wherein component (b) the salt is potassium sorbate.  
     
     
         4 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises (a) erythorbic acid or a salt thereof, and (b) one or more of citric acid, glucono delta lactone, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, EDTA, or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises (a) benzoic acid or a salt thereof, and (b) one or more of citric acid, glucono delta lactone, sorbic acid, EDTA, or a slat thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 4 , wherein the mixture comprises potassium sodium erythorbate and potassium sorbate.  
     
     
         7 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 6 , further comprising benzoic acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 7 , wherein the salt of benzoic acid is sodium benzoate.  
     
     
         9 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 5 , wherein the mixture comprises (a) sodium benzoate and sodium erythorbate.  
     
     
         10 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a solvent.  
     
     
         11 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 10 , wherein the solvent is selected from water, glycols, alcohols, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 11 , wherein the solvent is a mixture of water and a glycol.  
     
     
         13 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 12 , wherein the glycol is glycerin.  
     
     
         14 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 10 , wherein the solvent is a mixture of water and an alcohol.  
     
     
         15 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 14 , wherein the alcohol is ethanol.  
     
     
         16 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises (a) cinnamaldehyde and (b) sorbic acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition mixture is present at a concentration of from about 0.01 to about 2% by weight, based on 100% weight of the total composition.  
     
     
         18 . A method of killing and/or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms on a substrate comprising applying an effective amount of the antimicrobial composition of  claim 1  to the substrate.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the microorganisms are selected from  S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger  and  Phytophthora ramrum.    
     
     
         20 . A product other than a foodstuff, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic comprising a preservative effective amount of cinnamaldehyde, wherein the product is substantially free of parabens.  
     
     
         21 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein the product is a household, industrial, or institutional product.  
     
     
         22 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein the product is a personal care product.  
     
     
         23 . The product of  claim 22 , wherein the personal care product is a shampoo, body lotion, conditioner, or soap.  
     
     
         24 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein the product comprises less than a smelling effective amount of cinnamaldehyde.  
     
     
         25 . The product of  claim 20 , wherein the product is free of cinnamon oil.  
     
     
         26 . A preservative formulation comprising an antimicrobial effective amount of a synergistic mixture comprising 
 (a) cinnamaldehyde; and    (b) at least one alkanol substituted dialkylhydantoin.    
     
     
         27 . The preservative formulation of  claim 26 , wherein the wherein the alkanol substituted dialkyl hydantoin has the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  and R 2  are each independently hydrogen or (CH 2 )OH, with the proviso that both R 1  and R 2  cannot be hydrogen, and R 3  and R 4  are each independently methyl, ethyl, propyl, or aryl.  
     
     
         28 . The preservative formulation of  claim 27 , wherein the alkanol substituted dialkylhydantoin is dimethylol dimethylhydantoin.  
     
     
         29 . A method of killing and/or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms on a product other than a foodstuff, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic, the method comprising applying an effective amount of cinnamaldehyde to the product, wherein the product is free of parabens.  
     
     
         30 . A method of inhibiting the growth of microorganisms comprising applying an effective amount of the preservative formulation of  claim 26 .  
     
     
         31 . A method of killing and/or inhibiting the growth of fungi on a substrate comprising applying an effective amount of cinnamaldehyde to the product, wherein the product is free of parabens.  
     
     
         32 . A method of inhibiting the growth of fungi on a substrate comprising applying an effective amount of the preservative formulation of  claim 26.