Compositions and Methods of Their Use for Improving the Condition and Appearance of Skin

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating, preventing and improving the condition and aesthetic appearance of skin, particularly, treating, preventing, ameliorating, reducing and/or eliminating fine lines and/or wrinkles of skin, where the compositions include natural plant constituents, or synthetic equivalents thereof, which inhibit or decrease expression of C-reactive protein expression, production or secretion, thereby reducing, inhibiting, or ameliorating dermatological signs of aging. The compositions of the invention may be topically applied to the skin, or are delivered by directed means to a site in need thereof, in an amount effective in improving the condition and aesthetic appearance of skin.

1 . A composition comprising:
 (a) a cosmetically, dermatologically, pharmaceutically, or physiologically effective amount of at least one active ingredient sufficient to inhibit or decrease C-reactive protein expression, production or secretion; and   (b) a cosmetically, dermatologically, pharmaceutically, or physiologically acceptable vehicle,   
     wherein said composition improves the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of a biological surface. 
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient is derived from  H. scandens, H. japonicus, H. lupulus, H. yunnanensis , any combinations thereof, or synthetic equivalents thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient is present in an amount effective to improve the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of skin. 
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is applied to skin for a period of time sufficient to improve the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of skin. 
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is applied to skin at least once daily for a period of time sufficient to improve the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of skin. 
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the active ingredient is present in an amount from about 0.0001 weight % to about 50 weight %, based upon the total weight of the composition. 
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient is present in an amount from about 0.001 weight % to about 20 weight %, based upon the total weight of the composition. 
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the improvement in aesthetic appearance comprises: reducing dermatological signs of chronological aging, photo-aging, hormonal aging, and/or actinic aging; preventing and/or reducing the appearance of lines and/or wrinkles; reducing the noticeability of facial lines and wrinkles, facial wrinkles on the cheeks, forehead, perpendicular wrinkles between the eyes, horizontal wrinkles above the eyes, and around the mouth, marionette lines, and particularly deep wrinkles or creases; preventing, reducing, and/or diminishing the appearance and/or depth of lines and/or wrinkles; improving the appearance of suborbital lines and/or periorbital lines; reducing the appearance of crow's feet; rejuvenating and/or revitalizing skin, particularly aging skin; reducing skin fragility; preventing and/or reversing of loss of glycosaminoglycans and/or collagen; ameliorating the effects of estrogen imbalance; preventing skin atrophy; preventing, reducing, and/or treating hyperpigmentation; minimizing skin discoloration; improving skin tone, radiance, clarity and/or tautness; preventing, reducing, and/or ameliorating skin sagging; improving skin firmness, plumpness, suppleness and/or softness; improving procollagen and/or collagen production; improving skin texture and/or promoting retexturization; improving skin barrier repair and/or function; improving the appearance of skin contours; restoring skin luster and/or brightness; minimizing dermatological signs of fatigue and/or stress; resisting environmental stress; replenishing ingredients in the skin decreased by aging and/or menopause; improving communication among skin cells; increasing cell proliferation and/or multiplication; increasing skin cell metabolism decreased by aging and/or menopause; retarding cellular aging; improving skin moisturization; enhancing skin thickness; increasing skin elasticity and/or resiliency; enhancing exfoliation; improving microcirculation; decreasing and/or preventing cellulite formation; or any combinations thereof. 
   
   
       9 . A composition comprising:
 (a) a cosmetically, dermatologically, pharmaceutically, or physiologically effective amount of a plant extract derived from  H. scandens, Humulus japonicus, Humulus lupulus , and  Humulus yunnanensis , any combination thereof, or synthetic equivalent thereof; and   (b) a cosmetically, dermatologically, pharmaceutically, or physiologically acceptable vehicle,   
     wherein said composition improves the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of a biological surface. 
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein said plant extract inhibits or decreases C-reactive protein expression, production, or secretion. 
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the plant extract is present in an amount effective to improve the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of skin. 
   
   
       12 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein said composition is applied to skin for a period of time sufficient to improve the aesthetic appearance of skin. 
   
   
       13 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the composition is applied to skin at least once daily for a period of time sufficient to improve the aesthetic appearance of skin. 
   
   
       14 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the plant extract is present in an amount from about 0.0001 weight % to about 50 weight %, based upon the total weight of the composition. 
   
   
       15 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the plant extract is present in an amount from about 0.001 weight % to about 20 weight %, based upon the total weight of the composition. 
   
   
       16 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the improvement in aesthetic appearance comprises: reducing dermatological signs of chronological aging, photo-aging, hormonal aging, and/or actinic aging; preventing and/or reducing the appearance of lines and/or wrinkles; reducing the noticeability of facial lines and wrinkles, facial wrinkles on the cheeks, forehead, perpendicular wrinkles between the eyes, horizontal wrinkles above the eyes, and around the mouth, marionette lines, and particularly deep wrinkles or creases; preventing, reducing, and/or diminishing the appearance and/or depth of lines and/or wrinkles; improving the appearance of suborbital lines and/or periorbital lines; reducing the appearance of crow's feet; rejuvenating and/or revitalizing skin, particularly aging skin; reducing skin fragility; preventing and/or reversing of loss of glycosaminoglycans and/or collagen; ameliorating the effects of estrogen imbalance; preventing skin atrophy; preventing, reducing, and/or treating hyperpigmentation; minimizing skin discoloration; improving skin tone, radiance, clarity and/or tautness; preventing, reducing, and/or ameliorating skin sagging; improving skin firmness, plumpness, suppleness and/or softness; improving procollagen and/or collagen production; improving skin texture and/or promoting retexturization; improving skin barrier repair and/or function; improving the appearance of skin contours; restoring skin luster and/or brightness; minimizing dermatological signs of fatigue and/or stress; resisting environmental stress; replenishing ingredients in the skin decreased by aging and/or menopause; improving communication among skin cells; increasing cell proliferation and/or multiplication; increasing skin cell metabolism decreased by aging and/or menopause; retarding cellular aging; improving skin moisturization; enhancing skin thickness; increasing skin elasticity and/or resiliency; enhancing exfoliation; improving microcirculation; decreasing and/or preventing cellulite formation; or any combinations thereof. 
   
   
       17 . A method of improving the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of skin comprising topically applying to skin a composition of  claim 1 , in an amount effective to improve the condition and/or aesthetic appearance of skin. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the active ingredient is derived from  Humulus scandens, Humulus japonicus, Humulus lupulus, Humulus yunnanensis , combinations thereof, or synthetic equivalents thereof. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said applying of the composition occurs for a period of time sufficient to improve the aesthetic appearance of skin. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said applying of the composition occurs at least once daily for a period of time sufficient to improve the aesthetic appearance of skin. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the active ingredient is present in an amount from about 0.0001 weight % to about 50 weight %, based upon the total weight of the composition. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the active ingredient is present in an amount from about 0.001 weight % to about 20 weight %, based upon the total weight of the composition. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the improvement in aesthetic appearance comprises: reducing dermatological signs of chronological aging, photo-aging, hormonal aging, and/or actinic aging; preventing and/or reducing the appearance of lines and/or wrinkles; reducing the noticeability of facial lines and wrinkles, facial wrinkles on the cheeks, forehead, perpendicular wrinkles between the eyes, horizontal wrinkles above the eyes, and around the mouth, marionette lines, and particularly deep wrinkles or creases; preventing, reducing, and/or diminishing the appearance and/or depth of lines and/or wrinkles; improving the appearance of suborbital lines and/or periorbital lines; reducing the appearance of crow's feet; rejuvenating and/or revitalizing skin, particularly aging skin; reducing skin fragility; preventing and/or reversing of loss of glycosaminoglycans and/or collagen; ameliorating the effects of estrogen imbalance; preventing skin atrophy; preventing, reducing, and/or treating hyperpigmentation; minimizing skin discoloration; improving skin tone, radiance, clarity and/or tautness; preventing, reducing, and/or ameliorating skin sagging; improving skin firmness, plumpness, suppleness and/or softness; improving procollagen and/or collagen production; improving skin texture and/or promoting retexturization; improving skin barrier repair and/or function; improving the appearance of skin contours; restoring skin luster and/or brightness; minimizing dermatological signs of fatigue and/or stress; resisting environmental stress; replenishing ingredients in the skin decreased by aging and/or menopause; improving communication among skin cells; increasing cell proliferation and/or multiplication; increasing skin cell metabolism decreased by aging and/or menopause; retarding cellular aging; improving skin moisturization; enhancing skin thickness; increasing skin elasticity and/or resiliency; enhancing exfoliation; improving microcirculation; decreasing and/or preventing cellulite formation; or any combinations thereof.