Boldo and Meadowsweet Extracts for Animal Skin Infections

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a composition that stimulates the innate immunity of the skin in animals, particularly dogs and cats, to increase the expression of antimicrobial peptides such as beta-defensins and cathelicidins, as alterations in the skin barrier, like those seen in atopic dermatitis, predispose animals to secondary infections and existing treatments may cause pro-inflammatory responses.

Innovation Solution

A topical composition comprising extracts of boldo (Peumus boldus) and meadowsweet (Spiraea ulmaria) is used, which synergistically stimulates the production of cathelicidin without inducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, effectively reducing microbial infections and skin imperfections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional treatments are used to treat microbial infections in animals with altered skin barrier, then microbial infections are reduced, but pro-inflammatory responses are induced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness against microbial infectionsVSAvoidpro-inflammatory responses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful pro-inflammatory response into a beneficial effect by using plant extracts (boldo and meadowsweet) that stimulate the skin's innate immune system to produce antimicrobial peptides (cathelicidins and beta-defensins). This approach enhances the skin's natural defense mechanisms without triggering harmful inflammation, effectively treating microbial infections while avoiding the side effects of conventional treatments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces plant extracts as intermediary substances that mediate between the altered skin barrier and microbial pathogens. These extracts act as natural modulators that enhance the skin's innate immune response through cathelicidin and beta-defensin production, providing a bridge that protects against infections without directly confronting pathogens in a way that triggers inflammation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the skin barrier is altered (e.g., atopic dermatitis), then the organism is more susceptible to microbial infections, but the innate immune response is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesusceptibility to microbial infectionsVSAvoidinnate immune response

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the skin to serve itself by stimulating its own innate immune system to produce antimicrobial peptides. The plant extracts (boldo and meadowsweet) activate the skin's natural defense mechanisms, particularly cathelicidin production in keratinocytes, allowing the compromised innate immune response to recover and function effectively without external intervention beyond the topical application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the biochemical parameters of the skin's innate immune response by introducing plant extracts that modulate gene expression and protein synthesis. Specifically, the extracts increase the production of cathelicidins and beta-defensins, altering the immune response profile to enhance protection against microbial infections while maintaining skin homeostasis in animals with altered skin barriers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If antimicrobial peptides are increased to fight infections, then microbial defense is enhanced, but inflammatory responses may be triggered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial defenseVSAvoidinflammatory responses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of inflammatory responses into a benefit by selectively stimulating cathelicidin and beta-defensin production through plant extracts. These peptides provide robust antimicrobial defense while the plant-based approach ensures that the immune response remains regulated and non-inflammatory, effectively enhancing protection without triggering harmful inflammatory cascades.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The combination of boldo and meadowsweet extracts effectively reduces the appearance and progression of microbial infections, prevents, treats, or assists in controlling microbial infections without causing inflammation, and synergistically stimulates cathelicidin production, providing a non-pro-inflammatory solution for skin health in animals.

Implementation Method 1

comprising extracts of plants stimulating the cellular synthesis of antimicrobial peptides, in particular for its use in preventing, treating or assisting with the control of microbial infections

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCellular synthesis stimulation:

Data Source

PatentUS10300012B2Topical composition comprising extracts of boldo and of meadowsweet, intended for an animal, and uses thereof

Publication Date: 2019.05.28 VIRBAC SA

AI summary

The invention relates to a topical veterinary composition for animals. It is characterized in that it comprises, in a physiologically acceptable medium, extracts of boldo Peumus boldus and extracts of meadowsweet Spiraea ulmaria. The invention applies in particular to preventing or treating or to assisting with the control of microbial infections.