This invention relates to a herbal skin nourishing gel and
a bioprocess for the preparation of the same.
Conventionally, the skin nourishing herbal formulations use
one or more ingredients from field grown plant tissues.
Since such ingredients are collected from field conditions,
they are not sterile. Plant extracts have traditionally
been used in innume-rable cosmetic products throughout the
world in the general name of herbal skin care products. All
such products, however, have a minimum quantity of plant
extracts, mixed with other chemicals that serve as filler
and/or preservative. These products are therefore not fully
herbal, Since these are not produced under sterile
conditions, they have contamination and short shelf life
problems. In order to maintain the shelf life, certain
preservatives are added to some formulation, many of which
are sensitive for skin cells. The usefulness of such
materials is not observed by majority of people. Moreover,
the actual types of phytochemicals available from field
grown plants and the concentration vary from batch to
batch. All such formulations are therefore non-uniform in
their performance.
It is therefore an object of this invention to propose a
process for the preparation of herbal skin nourishing gel
which is sterile without risk of contamination and a
prolonged shelf life.
It is a further object of this invention to propose a
process for the preparation of herbal skin nourishing gel
which is prepared form ingredients of totally herbal
origin.
Another object of this invention is to propose a process
for the preparation of herbal skin nourishing gel having a
gel texture which is non-toxic, oil-free and has soothing
effect on the skin.
Yet another object of this invention is to propose a
process for the preparation of herbal skin-nourishing gel
which has anti-wrinkle, anti-ageing, anti-acne, anti-
inflammatory and scar-mark removing properties.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be
parent from the ensuing description.
Thus, according to this invention is provided a process for
the preparation of a herbal skin nourishing gel comprising
subjecting plant cell-tissue to the step of cultivation in
a nutrient medium containing a plant biopolymer gel, under
aseptic conditions to obtain a cell mass,
followed by homogenisation of the cell mass and gel under
aseptic conditions to obtain a homogenized mass,
filtering the homogenized mass,
adjusting pH of the filtered homogenised mass to obtain the
herbal skin nourishing gel.
According to this invention is further provided the herbal
skin nourishing gel.
In accordance with this invention, aseptic plant cell and
tissue is provided, which contain apart from normal
nutrients, four important vitamin rich (vitamin A, Vitamin
B's, vitamin C and vitamin E) compounds. The production is
achieved in a bioreactor under fully sterile condition,
with complete control of important process
parameters(temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, etc.). The
plants used are selected from potato, tobacco, sandalwood,
and pineapple, periwinkle, amaranth, kalmegh, aloe. During
incubation, a biological low cost biological polymer is
added into the medium which undergo desired bio-conversion
with the help of the growing cells and tissues. This is a
plant polymer which is converted to a desired texture by
plant cells. A typical example of the plant polymer which
provides the gel texture is soluble polysaccharides, such
as soluble potato starch, corn starch, protein gel etc. The
plant cells and tissues (of desired species) are cultivated
in sterile nutrient medium which favours accumulation of
vitamins A,Bl, B2,C, enzymes, E and other nutrients in the
tissues. Sterile nutrient medium which favours accumulation
of vitamin A,E & other nutrients in the tissues. The medium
also contains a plant polymer which is converted to a
desired texture by plant cells.
The plant cell growth medium an the physical parameters for
the production in bioreactor is so optimised as to product
the skin nourishing compounds with consistency in their
concentrations from batch to batch. An example of the
standard medium for the cell and tissue production is given
below:
The reaction is carried out at a temperature in the range
ox" 24-28°C, preferably at 26°C and at a pH in the range of
5.0-6.5,preferably at 5.8. The total sugar concentration of
the medium is maintained at 0.5-5% weight by volume and the
nitrogen concentration at 5-6% weight by volume.
Thereafter, the cell mass containing the skin nourishing
ingredients and the modified gel is homogenized aseptically
so that all nutrients are uniformly distributed in the gel
phase. In the next step, the homogenized material is
filtered to remove large particles. The filtered gel is
aseptically packed in sterile pouches or other container
after pH adjustment and sealed which is now ready for use.
A standard medium for the cell and tissue production
employs a number of minerals, vitamins, amino acid, sugar,
etc. these are supplemented with other nutrients according
to Murashige and Skoog (1962).
In accordance with this invention is further provided a
herbal skin nourishing gel comprising skin nourishing
compound selected from minerals, vitamins, biolipids,
enzymes, proteins, amino aid, etc. in a gel medium.
The minerals are selected from calcium, copper, iron,
magnesium, zinc, manganese, cobalt etc. and vitamins may be
anyone selected from vitamin A, vitamin B's, vitamin c,
vitamin E. etc. the skin nourishing gel contains
antioxidative agents of the herbal original.
The invention will now be explained in greater details with
the help of the following non-limiting examples.
EXAMPLE 1
The plant tissue is subjected to cultivation in a
bioreactor in a nutrient medium containing a biopolymer.
The biomass thus obtained is filtered and the pH is
adjusted to obtain the herbal skin nourishing el. The pH is
maintained at 5.8 and the temperature at 26°C. The total
sugar and nitrogen content of the medium is maintained at
3% and 5 % weight by volume respectively, to obtain the
herbal skin nourishing gel.
EXAMPLE 2:
The method of Example 1 is employed using supplemental
nutrients from Murashige and Skoogs medium to obtain the
herbal skin nourishing gel, the analytical data of major
ingredients of which are as follows:
Gel strength : 1
Total dry matter : 1.5
Minerals (Calcium, Iron, Copper etc.): 0.3
Vitamin A : Trace
vitamin E : 0.0001
Vitamin Bi and B2 : 0.0001 each
Vitamin c : 0.002
Biolipid (biomembrane origin) : 0,02
Protein amino acids : 0.05
The herbal skin nourishing gel thus obtained is non-toxic,
oil-free and non-oxidative. However, although no artificial
preservatives are used, the nourishing gel has a
surprisingly long shelf life. The gel has anti-wrinkle,
anti-aging, anti-acne, scar-mark removal and anti-
inflammatory properties as well, as found by in vitro and
in vivo tests.

WE CLAIM;
1. A process for the preparation of a herbal skin
nourishing gel comprising subjecting plant
cell/tissue to the step of cultivation in a nutrient
medium containing a plant polymer to obtain a cell
mass with a gel.
followed by homogenization of the cell mass and gel
to obtain a homogenised mass,
filtering the homogenised mass,
adjusting pH of the filtered homogenised mass to
obtain the herbal skin nourishing gel.
2. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
process is carried out in a bioreactor.
3. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plant
is selected from potato, tobacco, sandalwood,
pineapple, periwinkle, amaranth, kalmegh and aloe.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
reaction is carried out at a temperature in the
range of 24 to 28°C, preferably at about 26°C.
5. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pH of
the reaction is maintained in the range of 5.0 to
6.5, preferably 5.8.
6. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the total
concentration of sugars in the reaction medium is
0.5 to 5.0% weight by volume, preferably 3% weight
by volume.
7. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the total
concentration of nitrogen in the reaction medium is
5.0 to 6.0)% weight by volume, preferably 5% weight
by volume.
8. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plant
polymer is a soluble polysaccharide such as soluble
starch selected from potato starch, corn starch or
protein gel.
9. The herbal skin nourishing gel preparing by the
process as claimed in claim 1, comprising vitamins
such as vitamins A,B1,B2,C and E, enzymes such as
amylase, protease and lipase, proteins and amino
acids.

A process for the preparation of a herbal skin nourishing
gel comprising subjecting plant cell/tissue to the step
of cultivation in a nutrient medium containing a plant
polymer to obtain a cell mass with a gel.
followed by homogenization of the cell mass and gel to
obtain a homogenised mass,
filtering the homogenised mass,
adjusting pH of the filtered homogenised mass to
obtain the herbal skin nourishing gel.