Claims:We claim

1. A prickly heat powder composition comprising of Maize starch, Talc, Zinc oxide, Boric acid, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Vetiverol, Khusimol, Zingiberene, Cinnamaldehyde, Linoleic acid, and a Preservative.

2. The composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein Maize starch is 12 to 12.5%, Talc is 80 to 2% in the composition, Zinc oxide 2 to 2.2 %, Boric acid 1.5 to 1.8 %, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate 0.3 to 0.6 %, Vetiverol 0.5 to 0.8%, Khusimol 0.4 to 0.6 %, Zingiberene 0.2 to 0.4%, Cinnamaldehyde 0.3 to 0.5 %, Linoleic acid 0.1 to 0.3%, and Preservative 1.3 to 1.6 % of the composition.

3. The composition as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the preservative may be methylparaben.

4. The composition as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, further comprises an Odoriferous substance

5. A process of making a prickly heat powder composition comprises the steps of:
a. blending Maize starch, Talc, Zinc oxide, Boric acid in a blender;
b. adding Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Vetiverol, Khusimol, Zingiberene, Cinnamaldehyde, Linoleic acid, and preservative in pre-determined quantities one by one to the above and mixing thoroughly; and
c. sieving and packing the mixed material is in airtight containers

6. The process as claimed in claim 5, wherein at any of the steps a to c, a Odoriferous substance may be added.

7. The process as claimed claims 4, 5, or 6 wherein the mixture is further kept for 3 – 7 days in air-tight container.
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a talcum powder composition, particularly to a novel composition to act against prickly heat caused by sweat on human bodies.

BACKGROUND ART
Skin rashes are also termed as sweat rash, heat rash or prickly heat, a common disorder of the sweat glands. Sweat retention rashes are likely to occur in hot and humid weather. The blockage of sweat ducts leads to Prickly heat. Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the responsible organism for this disease. This bacterium is harmless on the skin and make a sticky substance. This substance combined with excess sweat & dead skin cells cause blockage resulting in Prickly heat. Staphylococcus epidermidis strains which produce PAS Positive extracellular polysaccharide substance induce Miliaria rubra. It affects the infants and children due to their immature sweat glands.

There are four forms, namely Miliaria crystalline, Miliaria rubra, Miliaria profunda, Miliaria pustulosa. The organism leads to penetration of sweat into deeper layers of the epidermidis resulting in intense itching with a lack of sweating to affected area. Miliaria rubra is a non-follicular, erythromotous, papular eruption caused by extravasation of sweat into the skin, as a result of obstruction of the sweat ducts.The keratinous & parakerotic plugs as well as the respective sweat retention vesicles may be seen in all forms of Miliaria. Sulzberger & Zimmerman hypothesized that excess sweating causes macreation of skin surface, faculty keratinization, occlusion of the sweat by horney plugs & irritation of the tissues by sweat. These all contribute to the production of Miliaria.

The role of resident organisms has long been suspected as the leading predisposing factor in miliaria. High humidity & temperature associated with Miliaria, an expansion of resident bacteria is expected. This expansion occurs particularly in areas of partial occlusion because of apposition of skin to skin in body folds. Acton concluded that the initial major change is due to a Staphylococcal infection.

Topical antibiotics may shorten the duration of symptoms of Miliaria rubra. Anti-pruitic, anti-inflammatory & cooling agents are used for Miliaria treatment.

Prickly heat talcum powder gives good protection against Miliaria. It gives skin smoothness and softness. It remains longer time over the skin, kill the bacteria and provide dry surface leads to better healing of Miliaria.

Prickly heat talcum powders are known in the art. Most of the powder known in the art, use chemical compositions such as Cetylpyridinum chloride, Zinc oxide, or one or more combinations from natural substances selected from, Jasat Bhasma, Amla, Yashada bhasma, Ushira, Nimba, Menthol, Cinnamomum camphora, Vetiveria Santalum etc.

But the antimicrobial activity of known talcum powders is not satisfactory. Therefore , there is a need in the art to develop a talcum powder that is effective, and has better antimicrobial activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To meet the objects of the invention, and overcome the problems of the prior art, it is disclosed here, A prickly heat powder composition comprising of Maize starch, Talc, Zinc oxide, Boric acid, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Vetiverol, Khusimol, Zingiberene, Cinnamaldehyde, Linoleic acid, and a Preservative.

It is disclosed here, a process of making a prickly heat powder composition comprises the steps of:
a. blending Maize starch, Talc, Zinc oxide, Boric acid in a blender;
b. adding Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Vetiverol, Khusimol, Zingiberene, Cinnamaldehyde, Linoleic acid, and preservative in pre-determined quantities one by one to the above and mixing thoroughly; and
c. sieving and packing the mixed material is in airtight containers

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the minimum inhibitory concentration of the samples tested.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is disclosed and described here a prickly heat talcum powder composition and a process for making that composition. The composition comprises of Maize starch, Talc, Zinc oxide, Boric acid, Odoriferous substance, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Vetiverol, Khusimol, Zingiberene, Cinnamaldehyde, Linoleic acid, and a Preservative.

Preferably, the composition comprises of Maize starch 12 to 12.5 %, Talc 80 to 2 % , Zinc oxide 2 to 2.2 %, Boric acid 1.5 to 1.8 %, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate 0.3 to 0.6 %, Vetiverol 0.5 to 0.8%, Khusimol 0.4 to 0.6 %, Zingiberene 0.2 to 0.4%, Cinnamaldehyde 0.3 to 0.5 %, Linoleic acid 0.1 to 0.3%, and Preservative 1.3 to 1.6 %.

The process of making a prickly heat powder composition is also disclosed herein. First, Maize starch, Talc, Zinc oxide, Boric acid, are weighed as per required quantity and mixed in a blender for 20 minutes. Then, Odoriferous substance, is weighed and added to the above and mixed for 15 minutes. In the step 3, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Vetiverol, Khusimol, Zingiberene, Cinnamaldehyde, Linoleic acid, presservatives are weighed and added one by one to the above and mixed thoroughly for 15 minutes. The mixed material is sieved and packed in airtight containers

Example
Staphylococcus epidermidis MTCC 435 were procured from IMTECH, Chandigarh and was subcultured and stored in refrigerator. The cultures were confirmed further using Baird Parker agar with egg yolk supplement. Further they were also subjected for biochemical tests where are positive for Catalase, Hydrogen sulphide, Voges Proskauer test and Gram staining and Negative for Citrate, Coagulase and Methyl red.

Inoculating Nutrient broth media were procured from Himedia, Mumbai, India, are used. Inoculum was adjusted to 0.5 MacFarland standard measuring 108cfu/ml. MIC was determined at various increasing concentrations from 0.5 mg/ml upto 10 mg/ml, in a serial aliquots) with 10 ml of Muller Hinton agar.100 µl of the inoculum was inoculated on each plates. The plates were incubated for 24-48 hr at 35-37° C. Studies were carried out in triplicate and mean values were calculated.

Result:
As can be seen form Table 1 and FIG. 1, all the samples had desired effects against Miliaria rubra causing Staphylococcus epidermidis, but the composition disclosed here had the best result. The inhibition is observed at 10 mg/ml. The results are demonstrated in Table 1. Among the tested samples III and IV demonstrated MIC at 40mg where as samples I, V and VI demonstrated at 20mg and the instant invention demonstrated at 10mg.

Table:1

Minimum Inhibitory concentration for Prickly Heat Talcum powder samples

S.NO Sample Details Active ingredients MIC (mg/ml)
1. Prior art 1 Starch, Cetylpyridinum chloride, Zinc oxide, Talc Purified Q.S.TO 20 mg/ml
2. Instant Invention Maize starch, Talc, Zinc oxide, Boric acid, Odoriferous substance, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Vetiverol, Khusimol, Zingiberene, Cinnamaldehyde, Linoleic acid, Preservative. 10 mg/ml
3. Prior art 2 Jasat Bhasma, Tankan Amla, Yavanala, Vetasa, Cooling talc base. 40mg/ml
4. Prior art 3 Yashada bhasma,Ushira,Nimba, Karanja 40mg/ml
5. Prior art 4 Zia maize, Jasad bhasma, Tankan amla, Shudh shankha, Mentha sp, Cinnamomum camphora, Octimum sanctum, Vetiveria zizanioides, Tagetes erecta, Azadirachta indica, Santalum album, Dugdha pashana 20mg/ml
6. Prior art 5 Jasad Bhasm, Starch, Dudhpasan, Salicilic acid 20mg/ml

Mode of action are as follows:
Maize starch absorbs water. Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, act as a natural cooling agent and relives pain. Vetiverol, Khusimol, are useful for cures burning sensation, acts as antimicrobial agent. Zingiberene, Cinnamaldehyde, Linoleic acid provides instant relief.