COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR KILLING OR REPELLING INSECTS
Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to compositions and methods for treating insects, including lice, in human beings or animals.
Background of the Invention
The human head louse is a small insect which commonly infests the scalps of humans, particularly school children. It has been estimated that 10 to 12 million Americans a year suffer from head lice (Time
Magazine, June 12, 1998, page 73) . Although head lice do not normally carry disease, they cause itching and are unsightly.
Traditionally, infestations of head lice have been treated with pesticides such as malathion, lindane, pyrethrin, permethrin, carbaryl, pennethrin, and phenothrin. See, for example, Hayes, Jr. and Laws Jr., The Handbook of Pesticide Toxicology (Academic Press 1991), which is incorporated herein by reference. However, head lice are becoming resistant to these pesticides (Time Magazine, June 12, 1998, page 73). Thus, there is a need for a method for treating head lice that is not dependent on pesticides to which the head lice can become resistant.
In addition, application of pesticides to the scalps of school children can have detrimental side effects. For example, lindane can cause aplastic anemia and neurotoxicity . Pyrethrin can cause pneumonia, muscle paralysis, death due to respiratory failure, vomiting, and asthma. See, for example, R. Winter, A Consumer' s Guide of Cosmetic Ingredients (Random House 1994), which is incorporated herein by reference. Thus, there is a need for a method of treating head lice which does not involve application of such pesticides to the scalps of children. The present invention satisfies these as well as other needs .
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a composition and method for treating insects, preferably lice and, more preferably, head lice or body lice. The composition comprises an essential oil and preferably comprises two, three or four essential oils. The composition can also comprise an alcohol or a non-essential oil.
In addition, the present invention provides a method for treating or repelling insects, preferably lice and, more preferably, head lice or body lice. The method comprises contacting a subject with a composition comprising an essential oil.
Detailed Description
Several novel formulations have been found which are effective in knocking down and/or killing head lice. The formulations do not contain any pesticides to which the head lice can become resistant or which could
cause harm to school children when the formulation is applied to their hair.
Advantageously, the formulation comprises two, three, four or more essential oils. Preferably, the formulation also comprises a carrier fluid such as an alcohol or a non-essential oil. Even more preferably, the formulation comprises one or more essential oils in combination with one or more carrier fluids .
As used herein, the term "essential oil" means a volatile oil derived from the leaves, stem, flower or twigs of plants. The essential oil usually carries the odor or flavor of the plant. Chemically, the oil is often a terpene, but many other types also occur. Except for those containing esters, essential oils are unsaponifiable .
Essential oils can be pure single compounds, for example, wintergreen oil (methyl salicylate) . However, other essential oils are mixtures of compounds, for example turpentine oil (pinene and dipentene) ; bitter almond oil (benzaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid) ; lavender oil (including borneol, fenchol, linalol, α-terpineol, terpinen-4-ol, geranyl acetate, linanyl acetate, terpenyl acetate, camphor, 1,8-cineole, camphene, limonene, pinene, β-caryophyllene, farnascene and coumarin) ; and tea tree oil (including linalol, α-terpineol, terpinen-4- ol, 1,8-cineole, limonene, myrcene, phellandrene, pinene, α-terpene, β-caryophyllene and sabinene) . Other essential oils, their chemistry and plant families are known in the art. See, for example, S. Price, Aroma Therapy Workbook, (Thorsons, 1993); J. Rose, Aroma
Therapy Book (North Atlantic Books, 1992); and The Merck
Index (12th Ed. 1996), each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
When the essential oil is a mixture of compounds, the present invention encompasses one or more of such compounds. The present invention also encompasses variants or mimics of such compounds that share one or more of their characteristics or functions .
An essential oil can be derived by several methods, including steam distillation, pressing fruit rinds, solvent extraction, macerating the flowers and leaves in fat and treating the fat with solvent, enfleurage and synthetically. See, for example, Aromatherapy Workbook, supra .
Other examples of essential oils include, but are not limited to, eucalyptus oil, geranium oil, lemongrass oil, petigrain oil, rosemary oil and thyme oil. In one embodiment, a composition of the invention comprises one of several specific pairs of essential oils: lavender oil and tea tree oil; rosemary oil and tea tree oil; lemongrass oil and tea tree oil; petigrain oil and tea tree oil; geranium oil and tea tree oil; lavender oil and rosemary oil; lavender oil and lemongrass oil; lavender oil and eucalyptus oil; petigrain oil and rosemary oil; petigrain oil and lemongrass oil; geranium oil and eucalyptus oil; petigrain oil and eucalyptus oil; rosemary oil and eucalyptus oil; geranium oil and rosemary oil; or geranium oil and lemongrass oil. In each of these pairs, their ratios can be from about 1:4 to about 4:1. In another embodiment, the composition comprises four specific essential oils: lavender oil, tea tree oil, rosemary oil and petigrain oil.
In one aspect of the invention, the composition comprises at least 0.5% essential oils. More preferably, the composition comprises at least 1% essential oils and, even more preferably, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% or 50% essential oils.
Moreover, compositions of the invention can comprise a carrier fluid such as an alcohol or a non-essential oil. As used herein, a "non-essential oil" means an oil that is not an "essential oil" as defined above .
Some examples of alcohols which can be used include, but are not limited to, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, sec-butanol, tert-butanol, pentanol and its various isomers, hexanol and its various isomers, and mixtures thereof. Similarly, glycols can be used as carrier fluids. Some suitable glycols include, but are not limited to, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, glycerol, pinacol, and their mixtures .
Non-essential oils which can be suitable as carrier fluids can be synthetic, refined, or natural. Synthetic oils can include petroleum sources, chemicals, or hydrocarbon materials which have been processed. Refined oils are oils which have been processed, either by distillation or chemical processing, for example, by treatment with an acid. Mineral oil is an example of a refined oil. Natural oils are most often obtained from plants or animals, either directly or through processing. Some examples of natural oils include, but are not
limited to, safflower oil, almond oil, olive oil, and coconut oil.
Other classes of carrier fluids which are suitable for use in this invention include, but are not limited to, glycols, ethers, ketones, aqueous solutions, oils and organic solvents . Mixtures of these carrier fluids can also be useful in practicing the invention. The carrier fluid can preferably form a solution or an emulsion with the one or more essential oils.
Ethers are also suitable as carrier fluids in the invention. Some examples include, but are not limited to, diethyl ether, n-propyl ether, isopropyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethylether, propylene glycol mono- and dimethyl ethers, propylene glycol mono and diethyl ethers, butylene glycol mono and dimethyl ethers, butylene glycol mono and diethyl ethers, and their mixtures.
Ketones can also be suitable carrier fluids in preparing the formulations for use in this invention. Some suitable ketones include, but are not limited to, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl propyl ketone, ethyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone, benzyl methyl ketone, and their mixtures.
Aqueous solutions can also be suitable carrier fluids. Preferably, the aqueous solution contains a compound which helps to solubilize or emulsify the one or more essential oils into the aqueous solution. Some compounds which might be suitable to help to solubilize or emulsify the essential oils in the aqueous solution
include, but are not limited to, surfactants, alcohols, ethers, ketones, and the like.
Several exemplary carrier fluids for formulating the composition for treating lice comprise one or more non-essential oils. Advantageously, more than one non-essential oil can be included in the. Exemplary non-essential oil that are natural oils include olive oil and coconut oil. Preferably, both olive oil and coconut oil can be used.
One skilled in the art can determine an optimal formulation for the carrier fluid to be used with a particular essential oil or blend of essential oils.
One skilled in the art can also determine an effective amount of the composition of the invention for killing or repelling insects including lice. See Example 5, which describes the effectiveness of 4 ml of a composition of the invention. However, a composition of the invention can also be effective at 1 μl, 1 ml, 2 ml or greater.
In one preferred embodiment, the essential oil blend comprises lavender oil and tea tree oil in a ratio of about 5:1 to about 3:1. More preferably, the ratio is about 4:1. Other essential oils, including those specificed above, can also be comprised in these ratios.
In another preferred embodiment, the essential oil blend comprises eucalyptus oil and geranium oil in a ratio of about 5:1 to about 3:1. More preferably, the ratio is about 4:1.
In an additional preferred embodiment, the essential oil blend comprises petigrain oil, rosemary oil, tea tree oil and lavender oil in a ratio where each of the four oils is present at least at half the concentration of each of the other three an no more that twice the concentration of each the other three. More preferably, the ratio is about 1:1:1:1. Other essential oils, including those specificed above, can also be comprised in these ratios.
In one preferred embodiment, the non-essential oil blend which is used as the carrier fluid comprises a mixture of safflower oil, olive oil, and coconut oil. The percentage of safflower oil in the base oil is preferably in the range of 1-100%, more preferably in the range of about 20-98%, and most preferably in the range of about 40-95%. The percentage of olive oil in the base oil blend is preferably in the range of 1-40%, more preferably in the range of about 2-20%, and most preferably in the range of about 5-15%. The percentage of coconut oil in the base oil blend is in the range of about 0.25-15%, more preferably in the range of about 0.5-8%, and most preferably in the range of about 1-5%.
In another preferred embodiment, the non- essential oil blend used as the carrier fluid comprises a mixture of almond oil, olive oil, and coconut oil. The percentage of almond oil is preferably in the range of 1-100%, more preferably in the range of about 20-98%, and most preferably in the range of about 40-95%. The percentage of olive oil in the base oil blend is preferably in the range of 1-40%, more preferably in the range of about 2-20%, and most preferably in the range of about 5-15%. The percentage of coconut oil in the base oil blend is in the range of about 0.25-15%, more
preferably in the range of about 0.5-8%, and most preferably in the range of about 1-5% .
In another preferred embodiment, the base oil blend used as the carrier fluid comprises a mixture of sunflower oil, olive oil, and coconut oil. The percentage of sunflower oil is preferably in the range of 1-100%, more preferably in the range of about 20-98%, and most preferably in the range of about 40-95%. The percentage of olive oil in the base oil blend is preferably in the range of 1-40%, more preferably in the range of about 2-20%, and most preferably in the range of about 5-15%. The percentage of coconut oil in the base oil blend is in the range of about 0.25-15%, more preferably in the range of about 0.5-8%, and most preferably in the range of about 1-5%.
In another preferred embodiment, the base oil blend used as the carrier fluid comprises a mixture of coconut oil and olive oil, preferably in the range of about 3:1 to about 5:1 and, more preferably, in the range of about 4:1.
A preferred embodiment of the composition of the invention comprises a combination of an essential oil blend and a non-essential oil blend as the carrier fluid. Preferably, the essential oil blend is added to the base oil blend in a ratio of about 1:99 to about 50:50. More preferably, the ratio of essential oil blend to base oil blend is between about 2:98 and about 45:55. More preferably, the ratio is about 3:97 to about 40:60. More preferably, the ratio is about 4:96 to about 35:65. More preferably, the ratio is about 5:95 to about 30:70.
Another form of the composition of the invention comprises one or more alcohols as the carrier fluid. One preferred alcohol is isopropyl alcohol, either alone or in combination with other alcohols or other solvents. The carrier fluid comprising one or more alcohols is preferably blended with one or more essential oils. The ratio of carrier fluid comprising one or more alcohols to essential oil is preferably in the range between about 50:50 and about 95:5. More preferably the ratio of carrier fluid comprising alcohols to essential oil is in the range between about 70:30 to about 90:10. Most preferably, the ratio is about 80:20, carrier fluid to essential oil or essential oil blend.
Another form of the composition of the invention comprises one or more alcohols and one or more non-essential oils as the carrier fluid. A preferred example is coconut oil and olive oil as the non-essential oil blend. The carrier fluid and essential oils can be in the range of about 5:1 to about 1:1 and, more preferably, about 3:1. The non-essential oils and alcohol can be in the range of about 3:1 to about 1:1 and, more preferably, about 2:1.
A composition of the invention can be used to repel or kill insects, more preferably head lice or body lice. Other insects include, but are not limited to, wall lice, pubic lice, horse lice, chinch bugs, redcoats, mahogany flats, bedbugs, chiggers, fleas (including sand fleas, snow fleas and human fleas) , drain flies, fruit flies, mites, weevils, aphids, white flies, mosquitos, ticks, scabies, ants, gnats and black flies.
A composition of the invention can be applied to the affected area in a variety of manners, including
spraying, dipping, rubbing and pouring. Preferably, the composition can be applied to the affected area as a neat solution without added water.
To treat head lice, the composition can be applied to the hair and scalp and allowed to remain for a period of about 5 minutes to about 2 days . The formulation can be allowed to remain on the hair for a period of about 1 hour to 24 hours. The formulation can also be allowed to remain on the hair for a period of about 2-10 hours.
Preferably, the hair in the affected area is combed a section at a time after the soaking period to remove lice and nits. Even more preferably, the hair is shampooed after combing.
Preferably, the application of the composition can be repeated, for example once a day or every 2-3 days for a period of time. Preferably, the application of the head lice formulation is repeated every 1-3 days over a period of 2 days to about 3 weeks. Most preferably, the application is repeated every 2-3 days for about 7-10 days .
A composition of the invention can be applied to prevent head lice from being transmitted to the scalp from other people. Head lice can be passed from person to person when a hat is exchanged, for example. Application of the head lice formulation before exposure to head lice from, for example, hat exchange can minimize the chances of head lice being transmitted from person to person.
The following examples are given to illustrate various aspects of the invention but are not meant to limit it.
Example 1
Preparation of a Composition
An essential oil blend was prepared by mixing lavender oil and tea tree oil in a ratio of 4 : 1. A non- essential oil blend for the carrier fluid was prepared by mixing safflower oil, olive oil, and coconut oil in a ratio of 22:3:1. The essential oil blend and the non- essential oil blend were mixed in a ratio of 5:95 to make a head lice formulation containing 5% essential oil.
Example 2
Demonstration of the Effectiveness of
Composition in Treating Lice
The composition prepared according to Example 1 was tested for its effectiveness in treating lice. Five replicates of 25 adult human body lice were tested using test method ASTM E 938 - 83 (published June, 1983),
Standard Test Method for Determining the Effectiveness of Liquid, Gel, Cream, or Shampoo Insecticides Against Adult Human Lice, which is incorporated herein by reference. The test method involves immersing lice in the test product for a set period of time, followed by washing and rinsing in water for one minute each. For this test, an immersion time of 3 hours was used.
The effectiveness of the composition was compared with immersing the lice in water for 3 hours and
with an untreated control. The comparison with simple immersion was to show that the mortality of the lice was not simply due to the immersion.
Observations of knockdown (i.e., immobilized lice) were taken after 1 hour and for mortality at 24 hours for all three sets of tests. The results are shown in Table 1.
Table 1
As shown in Table 1, the composition was 100% effective in knocking down the lice after 1 hour, and 96.5% effective in killing the lice within 24 hours. By comparison, immersion in water knocked down only 4.3% of the lice after 1 hour and killed only 10.6% of the lice after 24 hours.
The composition described in Example 1 was therefore highly effective in knocking down and killing lice. It is important to note that the 100% knockdown should result in the removal of all lice from the treated individual. Once removed from the host, lice are
unlikely to survive unless they are able to return to the host or to find another one. Thus, the 3.5% of lice surviving at 24 hours would probably die within a few days (in the case of body lice) or a day (in the case of head lice) . The head lice formulation of Example 1 was therefore shown to be highly effective in killing lice.
The ASTM method uses body lice rather than head lice, because head lice have not been successfully reared in the laboratory.
Example 3
Preparation of a Second Composition
An essential oil blend was prepared by mixing eucalyptus oil and geranium oil in a ratio of 4 : 1. A non-essential oil blend was prepared by mixing sunflower oil, olive oil, and coconut oil in a ratio of 22:3:1.
The essential oil blend and the non-essential oil blend were mixed in a ratio of 5:95.
Example 4
Preparation of a Third Composition
An essential oil blend was prepared by mixing lavender oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil and geranium oil in a ratio of 1:1:1:1. A non-essential oil blend was prepared by mixing coconut oil and olive oil in a ratio of 4:1 and mixing the blend with alcohol in a ratio of
2:1. The essential oil blend, non-essential oil blend and alcohol were therefore mixed in a ratio of 25:55:25.
Example 5
Demonstration of the Effectiveness of Composition in Treating Lice
The composition prepared according to Example 4 was tested for its effectiveness in treating lice. Five replicates of 25 adult human body lice were tested using test method ASTM E 938 - 83
In Vi tro
Eighteen live lice were dipped for two hours in the composition in two separate test runs. After removing from the composition, the lice were rinsed with tap water through a strainer and placed on a cotton disk in a Petri dish for observation. All lice appeared dead after rinse off and did not revive in the four hours of observation .
Fifteen live lice were then dipped for one hour in the composition in three separate test runs. The same rinsing procedure was followed as in the two-hour dip. At rinse off, all lice appeared dead and did not revive in the four hours of observation.
To ascertain the killing time of the composition, thirteen live lice were tested using the
"disk method" in three separate test runs. This method simulates the experience of lice walking on hair that has saturated with a pediculicidal product. The live lice were placed on a cotton disk impregnated with 0.4 ml of the composition and observed at regular intervals for
4 hours. The lice were immediately affected by the test solution and their movement became impaired minutes after being exposed to the impregnated disk. After 1 hour of exposure they were unable to walk and were clearly dying. Five lice died in 1 hour and 15 minutes, five died after 1 hour and 40 minutes. Three lice were unable to move after 2 hours and died before three hours.
The same procedures were followed for control lice obtained from the same individuals and were exposed only to water. At the end of the four-hour observation period, all control lice were healthy and walking.
In vi vo
Two patients with severe infestations were treated with the composition by application on dry hair until all hairs and scalp were saturated. Each patient's head was then covered with a surgical cap with an elastic band around the hairline to allow free flow of air, while protecting the eyes, face and clothes from dripping.
After one hour of exposure, the hair was washed with the composition and rinsed with tap water. The procedure was repeated. The lice that came off the hair at rinse-off were collected and evaluated.
Approximately 275 lice were evaluated using this method. Of these, about 89.8% were dead at rinse off. 32 ( about 10.5%) were still alive.
The live lice were placed in a Petri dish for observation. The behavior of the lice clearly indicated that they were affected. They were moving slowly, unable to walk, but were not twitching or convulsing, as seen with other currently available pediculicides, such as lindane, pyrethrins and permethrin. After four hours of observation, the lice were barely moving and definitely not capable of walking, copulating, feeding or infesting others, i.e they were unable to survive.
Lice were collected from the two volunteers pre-treatment as controls, and placed on cottoned disks dampened with water and observed. At the end of the four hour observation period, all control lice were healthy and walking.
In vi tro results show that the composition has a killing time of under two hours, and possibly less, when lice are exposed to an ample amount. In-vivo results also show the effectiveness of the composition.
Example 5
Treatment of Children Suffering From Head Lice Infestation
The composition of Example 1, Example 3 or Example 4 is supplied to school children who suffered from head lice. The composition is applied in the following manner:
1. To dry hair and scalp.
2. Left for 2-3 hours or overnight.
3. The hair is combed a section at a time to remove lice and nits.
The treatment is effective in eliminating head lice from the hair and scalps of the school children.
Example 6
Effectiveness of Composition in Preventing Infestation With Head Lice
A preventative program for head lice is carried out as follows:
1. The composition of Examples 1, 3 or 4 is applied once a week for a period of 4-6 weeks while checking for head lice and nits.
2. After 4-6 weeks, the head lice formulation is applied once a month.
3. The hair is checked weekly with a comb for head lice or nits.
The preventative program is effective in preventing infestation with head lice.
It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein.