Vaginal care composition

Abstract

A vaginal care composition which is introduced directly into the vagina in the form of an ovule, a cream or an ointment or with a tampon or which is brought into a position outside the vagina on a panty liner. The composition comprises viable Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium microorganisms, non-viable Saccharomyces cultures, saccharide(s); vitamin A/retinol, and zinc.

1 . Vaginal care composition, comprising viable  Lactobacillus  or  Bifidobacterium  microorganisms, non-viable  Saccharomyces  cultures, saccharide(s); vitamin A/retinol, and zinc.  
     
     
         2 . The vaginal care composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the  Lactobacillus  microorganism comprises  Lactobacillus bifidus.    
     
     
         3 . The vaginal care composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-viable  Saccharomyces  culture comprises  Saccharomyces cerevisiae    
     
     
         4 . Vaginal care composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising comprises selenium,  
     
     
         5 . Vaginal care composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the selenium comprises selenium-containing yeast, in an amount of from 0.001 to 0.06 wt. % selenium.  
     
     
         6 . Vaginal care composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising  Melaleuca aetheroleum  or camomile flower extract.  
     
     
         7 . Vaginal care composition according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising D-alpha-tocopherol or pantothenate.  
     
     
         8 . Vaginal care composition according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising fragrances.  
     
     
         9 . Vaginal care composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the fragrance comprises lavender oil in an amount of from 0.5 to 10 wt. %.  
     
     
         10 . Vaginal care composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising cocoa butter or a hard-fat carrier as base.  
     
     
         11 . Vaginal care composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises the constituents in the following amounts: 
   Lactobacillus/Bifidobacterium : from 10 7  to 10 10  microorganisms/g of composition, 5%      Saccharomyces : from 0.1 to 40 wt. %    saccharide(s): from 1 to 40 wt. %    vitamin A: from 0.01 to 0.5 wt. %    zinc: from 0.2 to 10 wt. %.    
     
     
         12 . Vaginal care composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the saccharide is selected from: oligofructose, inulin or lactose.  
     
     
         13 . Vaginal care composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the zinc is in the form of zinc sulfate or zinc gluconate.  
     
     
         14 . Vaginal care composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the vitamin A is in the form of retinyl acetate or retinyl gluconate.  
     
     
         15 . Method of caring for the vaginal mucosa and for preventing infections thereof by bacteria, fungi and/or viruses, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising viable  Lactobacillus  or  Bifidobacterium  microorganisms, non-viable  Saccharomyces  cultures, saccharide(s); vitamin A/retinol, and zinc.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the composition is applied directly to the vaginal mucosa.  
     
     
         17 . An ovule, comprising a composition comprising viable  Lactobacillus  or  Bifidobacterium  microorganisms, non-viable  Saccharomyces  cultures, saccharide(s); vitamin A/retinol, and zinc.  
     
     
         18 . Ovule according to  claim 17 , having a weight of 3 g per ovule, comprising per gram: 
 from 10 7  to 10 9   , Lactobacillus bifidus  microorganisms/g, 5%,    from 1 to 10 wt. %  Saccharomyces cerevisiae,      from 0.05 to 0.3 wt. % vitamin A,    from 1 to 3 wt. % D-alpha-tocopherol,    from 0.4 to 1.5 wt. % pantothenate,    from 0.5 to 5 wt. % zinc,    from 0.002 to 0.02 wt. % selenium,    from 1 to 5 wt. %  Melaleuca aetheroleum,      from 1 to 5 wt. % lavender oil,    from 0.2 to 3 wt. % camomile flower oil extract and/or    from 2 to 20 wt. % oligofructose.    
     
     
         19 . Ovule according to  claim 17 , wherein the ovule is composed of coconut oil, glycerol-gelatin or polyethylene glycol.  
     
     
         20 . Ovule according to  claim 17 , wherein the ovule further comprises cocoa butter or hard fats.  
     
     
         21 . Care cream comprising composition comprising viable  Lactobacillus  or  Bifidobacterium  microorganisms, non-viable  Saccharomyces  cultures, saccharide(s); vitamin A/retinol, and zinc  
     
     
         22 . Care cream according to  claim 21 , comprising 
 from 10 7  to 10 9    Lactobacillus bifidus  microorganisms/g, 5%,    from 1 to 10 wt. %,  Saccharomyces cerevisiae,      from 0.05 to 0.3 wt. % vitamin A,    from 1 to 3 wt. % D-alpha-tocopherol,    from 0.4 to 1.5 wt. % pantothenate,    from 1 to 6 wt. % zinc,    from 1 to 5 wt. %  Melaleuca aetheroleum,      from 0.05 to 3 wt. % camomile flower extract,    from 2 to 20 wt. % oligofructose or from 1 to 5 wt. %, lavender oil.    
     
     
         23 . Care cream according to  claim 22 , wherein the cream further comprises constituents selected from the following group: sunflower oil, Tegomuls 90 S, cetyl alcohol, Cetaceum artificiale, Polysorbat 80, methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, sesame oil, wool wax, yellow wax, wool wax alcohols, glycerol, glycerol esters, palmitic acid ester, white Vaseline, liquid wax, olive oil and distilled water.  
     
     
         24 . Vaginal tampon comprising the vaginal care composition comprising viable  Lactobacillus  or  Bifidobacterium  microorganisms, non-viable  Saccharomyces  cultures, saccharide(s); vitamin A/retinol, and zinc.  
     
     
         25 . Vaginal tampon according to  claim 20 , comprising from 2 to 4 g, of the vaginal care composition per tampon, comprising per gram of the composition: 
 from 10 7  to 10 9    Lactobacillus bifidus  microorganisms/g, 5%,    from 1 to 10 wt. %,  Saccharomyces cerevisiae,      from 0.05 to 0.3 wt. % retinol acetate,    from 1 to 3 wt. %, D-alpha-tocopherol,    from 1 to 6 wt. % zinc,    from 1 to 5 wt. %  Melaleuca aetheroleum  or    from 2 to 20 wt. % oligofructose.    
     
     
         26 . Vaginal tampon according to  claim 24 , comprising a liquid-repellent outer layer and an inner, storage layer.  
     
     
         27 . Vaginal tampon according to  claim 24 , wherein the vaginal care composition is applied to a superficial layer of the tampon by spraying or immersing processes or the composition penetrates the entire tampon.  
     
     
         28 . Vaginal tampon according to  claim 24 , wherein the vaginal care composition is contained solely in a layer directly beneath an outer cover layer of the tampon.  
     
     
         29 . Vaginal tampon according to  claim 24 , wherein the vaginal care composition is activated by moisture.  
     
     
         30 . A panty liner, comprising a vaginal care composition comprising viable  Lactobacillus  or  Bifidobacterium  microorganisms, non-viable  Saccharomyces  cultures, saccharide(s); vitamin A/retinol, and zinc.  
     
     
         31 . Panty liner according to  claim 30 , comprising from 2 to 5 g of the vaginal care composition per panty liner, 1 g of the composition comprising: 
 from 10 7  to 10 9    Lactobacillus bifidus  microorganisms/g, 5%,    from 1 to 10 wt. %  Saccharomyces cerevisiae,      from 0.05 to 0.3 wt. % retinol acetate,    from 1 to 3 wt. % D-alpha-tocopherol,    from 1 to 6 wt. % zinc and/or    from 2 to 20 wt. % oligofructose.    
     
     
         32 . Panty liner according to  claim 30 , further comprising a cover layer, a liquid-repelling layer, a storage layer and a backing layer.  
     
     
         33 . Panty liner according to  claim 30 , wherein the vaginal care composition is applied to an upper layer by a spraying process or one or more further layers are provided therewith.  
     
     
         34 . Panty liner according to  claim 30 , wherein the vaginal care composition is contained solely in a layer directly beneath the cover layer of the panty liner.  
     
     
         35 . Panty liner according to  claim 1 , wherein the vaginal care composition is activated by moisture.