FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved skin cream composition comprising herbal extract, useful for protection of skin from ageing and skin whitening. More particularly the present invention relates to an improved skin care composition comprising Cocos nucifera floret extract and the method to produce the said composition which provides superior skin benefits in terms of skin whitening (tyrosinase inhibition) and anti-ageing (anti-oxidant property).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A large number of skin care formulations are available for addressing the skin benefits like whitening, anti-wrinkle, anti-aging, skin tightening and UV protection. These formulations when topically applied on the skin may or may not interfere in the melanin synthesis, a key characteristic of skin lightening. The key actives added in these formulations may be of natural origin or synthetic compound,, therefore posing minor or significant side effects.
Cocos nucifera Linn. (Arecaceae) is a stately palm which thrives within the tropical zone, commonly known as coconut, it is known as Narikela in Sanskrit. Coconut is widely used in Asian countries for a variety of purposes. Its fresh kernel is consumed by people all over India and forms an ingredient of many Indian food preparations. The coconut palm is monoecious, i.e., with male and female flowers on the same inflorescence, called a spadix, that develops within a woody sheathe or spathe. At flowering, the spathe splits lengthwise to expose the spadix. Each spadix consists of a main axis 1-1.5 m (3.3-5 ft) in length with 40-60 branches or spikelets bearing the flowers. Each spikelet carries from zero to three female flowers ("buttons") at its base and several hundred male flowers above. Thus a spadix will have several thousand male flowers but only 40-60 buttons. The male flower has six perianth segments surrounding six stamens. The larger female flowers are globose and consist of six perianth segments in two whorls, a tricarpellate ovary and trifid stigma. Following pollination, only one carpel develops into the seed, the other two aborting. The perianth persists at the base of the mature fruit. Anthesis is usually completed before the female flowers are receptive, encouraging cross-pollination. However, pollination can occur between flowers of successive spadices on the same palm. Under favorable growing conditions, first flowering occurs about 4-5 years after planting.

The inflorescence of the coconut tree is being used traditionally in the auspicious occasions such as marriages in places like Kerala and also goes in as an ingredient of certain ayurvedic preparations. For example, an ayurvedic rasayana containing the coconut flowers is a very rejuvenating tonic given to women after childbirth in Kerala region..
US 2007/0048246 discloses skin care compositions comprising a highly hydrophobic substance, an alkaryl polyfluorocarbon, particularly a substituted phenyl-polyfluoroacylamino propanamide, an alkanol and refined oils and the oil triglyceride fractions in sufficient amount to provide substantial homogeneity. When employed for hirsutism, optionally antioxidants and moisturizer are added. For use against wrinkles, additionally vitamins, antioxidants and a mixture of extracts of naturally occurring substances are present. The composition comprises refined oil from grape seed and from Cocos nucifera.
US 20050158258 relates to novel methods and compositions comprising a combination of ingredients for treating aged, mature, nutritionally-compromised, or environmentally-damaged skin. These methods and compositions provide improvements in the skin's visual appearance, physiological functions, clinical properties, and biophysical properties. The compositions of the present invention can include, for example, a compound that stimulates microcirculation through the skin, a compound that stimulates the immune system, a compound that reduces ultraviolet light or sun exposure damage, a compound that evens out the pigmentation of the skin, and/or a compound that improves the barrier properties of the skin. Moisturizing Agents coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil has been disclosed.
US 6,495,126 discloses novel methods and compositions for treating aged and environmentally damaged skin are disclosed which provide improvemenss in the skin's visual appearance, function and clinical/biophysical properties by activating at least one proteolytic enzyme in the skin's stratum corneum. The disclosed treatment methods involve topical application of a novel cosmetic composition containing a combination of a cationic surfactant such as N,N,-dimethyldodecyl amine oxide (DMDAO), an anionic surfactant such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), or monoalkyl phosphate (MAP) and a chelating agent such as ethylene diamine tetraacetate (EDTA) to stimulate a chronic increase in the replacement rate of the skin's stratum corneum by means of corneum protease activation. This chronic, low level stimulation is

effective to induce repair and replacement of the stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis of the skin and improvements in the appearance, function, and anti-aging properiies of the skin.
The present invention in which moisturizing properties are desired may include cocoa (theobroma cacao) butter, coco-caprylate/caprate, coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil etc.
US 20090258841 discloses compositions and methods for treating a skin condition that results from reactive oxygen species production in skin of a subject ,including applying a topical formulation that contains a lipophilic cation -mitochondrially targeted antioxidanss compound and that delivers a therapeutically effective amount of the antioxidanss compounds to skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes.
JP 08-231343 discloses the purpose to obtain a tyrosinase inhibitor containing an extract of tamarind husk as an active ingredient and preventing production of melanin dye. The tyrosinase inhibitor contains 0.005-10wt.%, preferably 0.01-lwt.% extract obtained by carrying out extraction treatment of hard seed part of a leguminous plant using water, a hydrophilic organic solvent (e.g. methanol) or their mixture as an active ingredient. Since the tyrosinase inhibitor uses a plant body utilized in production of food additives as a raw material, it has high safety and can provide a cosmetic having whitening action by blending with cosmetic and can be used for preventing sunburn of fishes and shellfishes by blending with feed for culturing fishes and shellfishes and can further be used for surface treatment for prevention of discoloration of foods which are liable to cause discoloraiion due to production of melanin dye.
"Antinociceptive and free radical scavenging activities of Cocos nucifera L. (Palmae) husk fiber aqueous extract": Alviano,-D-S; Rodrigues,-K-F; Leitao,-S-G; Rodrigues,-M-L; Matheus,-M-E; Fernandes,-P-D; Antoniolli,-A-R; Alviano,-C-S: J-Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jun; 92(2-3): 269-73 discloses in the current study, the analgesic and free radical scavenging properties of an aqueous extract from the husk fiber of Cocos nucifera L. (Palmae) were demonstrated by the use of in vivo and in vitro models. The orally administered Cocos nucifera aqueous extract (200 or 400 mg/kg) inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing response in mice. Tail flick and hot plate assays demonstrated that treatment of animals with this plant extract at 200 mg/kg induced attenuation in the response to a heat stimulus. A LD(50) of 2.30 g/kg was

obtained in acute toxicity tests. Topic treatment of rabbits with the Cocos nucifera extract indicated that it does not induce any significant dermic or ocular irritation. In vitro experiments using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) photometric assay demonstrated that this plant extract also possesses free radical scavenging properties.
"The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the methanolic extract from Cocos nucifera mesocarp": Moumita Chakraborty and Adinpunya Mitra a a Agricultural and Food Engineering, Department Natural Product Biotechnology Group, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India :Food chemistry: volume 107 : 3: 994-999, 2008 discloses the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the methanoiic extract from Cocos nucifera mesocarp by Cocos nucitera as antioxidanss .The antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract prepared from different stages of Cocos nucifera L. mesocarp was demonstrated, by DPPH, FRAP and deoxyribose assays, and suggests the potential of the mesocarp extract to be used for therapeutic purposes. Antimicrobial activity of the crude mesocarp extract was tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 441, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonss aeruginosa MTCC 7925. The extract exhibits a potent anti-staphylococcal activity. Probable compounds responsible for the bioactivity were identified by means of HPLC and UVIESI-MS spectroscopcc analyses. Their structures were deduced as 5-O-caffeoylquicic acid (chiorogenic acid), dicaffeoylquinic acid and three tentative isomers of caffeoylshikimic acid.
"Phytochemical Analyses of Cocos nucifera" L OBIDOA, Onyech;; JOSHUA, Parker Elijah and EZE, Nkechi J. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria: Arch Pharm Sci & Res Vol 1 No 187-96 July 2009 discloses the phytochemical screening of Cocos nucifera L was studied. The aim of the study was to determine the phytochemical constituenss of the endosperm of Cocos nucifera L. The nuts of Cocos nucitera were collected from a coconut tree in the Botany Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The nuts were broken to release the solidified endosperm (kernel). The endosperm was cut, washed, dried and milled using a laboratory mill. The phytochemical analyses carried out on the milled kernel showed the presence of terpenoids, alkaloids, resins, glycosides and steroids. Flavonoids and acidic compounds were not detected. The macronutrient analyses, on the order hand showed the presence of carbohydrate, proteins,

reducing sugar, fats and oil. Of the above macronutrients, oil IS known to be the major constituent that is necessary for the medicinal uses of coconut, though the phytochemicals: alkaloids, steroids and terpenoids are known to have antioxidant properties. The nutritional and health implication of coconut consumpiion are also discussed.
The disadvantage of the above-meniiondd prior art is that the prior art comprises of the mixture of vegetable oils for anti-wrinkling property. The fractions of Cocos nucifera oil (extracted from the endoderm of the fruit) is one among the vegetable oil ingredients used for anti-wrinkling property of the cream. There is no mention of the antioxidant and anti-aging property of the Cocos nucifera floret extract as one of the components.
Further the use of Cocos nucifera oil as moisturising agent is what known in the above mentioned prior art and not the Cocos nucifera floret extracts.
Further the above mentioned prior art teaches the antioxidant property of the methanolic extract
of mesoderm part of the Cocos nucifera fruit.
The above quoted prior art teaches the use of liquid endosperm of Cocos nucifera in a formulation as nutritive supplement for the skin cells and not as a tyrosinase inhibitor. More particularly teaches about the tyrosinase inhibiting property of the tamarind husk and not about the Cocos nucifera floret extract.
Hence , the use of coconut flower in any cosmetic formulation is hitherto unknown. This
knowledge gap has motivated to screen various parts of coconut especially the flowers for skin
cosmetic applications.
Thus there is a need to provide a composition and the method to prepare the said composition
for skin cream with Cocos nucifera florets which would provide improved skin whitening and
improved protection against anti-ageing .
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved skin composition comprising extract of Cocos nucifera florets in amount of 0.5 - 10% for the skin whitening activity.

Another object of the invention is provide an improved skin composition comprising extract of Cocos nucitera florets in amount of 0.5- 10.0% for the anti-oxidant activity, which signifies the anti-aging property.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved method for the preparation of skin cream with Cocos nucifera florets which would provide improved skin whitening and improved protection against anti-ageing .
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an improved skin whitening and improved anti-ageing herbal composition comprising extracts of Cocos nucifera florets in solvent selected from water, alcohol and petroleum ether.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a process for preparation of an improved herbal composition comprising extract of Cocos nuclfera florets involves the steps of hot mixing, emulsification followed by cooling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
Fig 1 A: Percent inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme by few herbal extracts.
Fig 1 B : Percent inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme by various parts (Inner core, outer cover &
whole floret) of Cocos nucifera florets.
Fig 1 C: Percent inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme by various solvent extracts (Aqueous, Ethanol
& Petroleum ether)of Cocos nucitera florets
Fig 1 D: Percentage of melanin produced in the melanocyte cell lines at varying concentrations
of Cocos nucifera florets through melanin content assay.
Fig 2 A: Percent inhibition of LPO by few herbal extracts.
Fig 2 B: Percent inhibition of LPO by various solvent extracts (Aqueous, Ethanol & Petroleum
ether) of Cocos nucifera florets.
Fig 2 C: Percent inhibition of scavenging DPPH radical by Cocos nucitera florets at varying
concentration .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The properties of Cocos nucjfera as a remedy for various ailments are known in the traditional medical literature and its practice by humans put this herb in the list of potential safe ingredients. Moreover, the kernel of Cocos nucifera is regularly consumed by people in the Asian countries. With this range of usage by human beings, it can be readily used in product formulations for topical application on human skin.
All the prior arts that are mentioned above either involve coconut oil, alcohol extract of the endosperm ( kernel) or the coconut water or the coconut fibre husk. The prior art does not mention the use of Cocos nucifera florets for the formulation of skin cream composition. Moreover it is found that the use of Cocos nucjfera florets in skin cream composition showed enhanced and improved skin whitening (tyrosinase inhibition) and anti-ageing(anti-oxidant property) which was not seen in the prior art.
The prior art uses the Cocos nucifera endosperm (Kernel) extract and not the Cocos nucifera floret extract for skin cream compositions. In the prior arts there is no assay carried out to determine the antioxidant potential of the extract. The qualitative identificaiion of the primary and secondary metabolites was carried out and concluded that the medicinal property of the Cocos nucifera kernel is due to its oil content even in the presence of terpenoids and phytosterols.
Further the prior art discloses respective properties in Cocos nucifera L. (Palmae) husk fiber and not in Cocos nucifera florets.
The use of the Cocos nucifera in the prior art was limited for the use as moisturizer in skin care compositions. Further the use of Cocos nucifera florets has not been used for skin care compositions in the prior art.
It has been established that Cocos nucifera florets to provide superior skin benefits in terms of skin whitening (tyrosinase inhibition) and anti-aging (anti-oxidant property). The extract has no or low side effects when compared with other chemical ingredients, as they are known in traditional medical practices.

A group of enzymes namely, tyrosinase and tyrosinase related proteins are responsible for skin darkening as they are involved in melanogenesis. Inhibition of these enzymes prevents the melanin accumulaiion, responsible for the skin darkness.
The present invention is directed towards formulation comprising extracts of Cocos nucifera florets to inhibit the tyrosinase enzyme, to protect the skin from aging through the anti-oxidant property. The composition comprises extract of Cocos nucifera florets in aqueous or alcohol or petroleum ether.
The chemical componenss present in the alcohol extract are responsible for the tyrosinase inhibition properties and the antioxidant activity.
Skin care products like creams and lotions have been formulated incorporating the extracts of Cocos nucifera florets. As an example, but not limiting to, the formulation of a skin cream is described below:
The composition of the skin cream, as an example, in the present invention comprises alcohol extracts of Cocos nucifera florets in amount of 0.5 to 10.0 %, preferably 0.5 to 5%, most preferably 1 to 3%. The details of the concentraiions of other ingredients are given in the Table 1. below:



Other components that may be included in the composition include sunscreen Octyl methyl cinnamate.
Further conventional additives include polyoxyethylene (2) strearyl ether, polyethylene (21) stearyl ether and isopropyl palmitatesstaeric acid, cetostearyl alcohol, mineral oil and propylene glycol.
The process of preparing the composition comprises the steps of hot mixing and emulsification followed by cooling.
The said process for preparation of a herbal composition comprising steps of extraction of Cocos nucifera florets,hot mixing, emulsification followed by cooling. The extraction involve heating the powdered solid of the herb with the solvent, followed by filtration, cooling and centrifugation. The solvent is selected from water, alcohol and petroleum ether.
The invention is now defined by way of non limiting illustrative examples:
Example 1.
A composition comprising Cocos nucifera florets as in the present invention was prepared by extracting dry powder of the florets in water/alcohol/Petroleum ether (1:10 ratio) and continuously extracting for Ihr at 50° C. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, filtered and centrifuged the filtrate to obtain yellowish liquid and compared with known compositions. The skin beneficial properties exhibited by Cocos nucifera floret extracts, like skin lightening and anti-aging were evaluated by several standard in-vitro biochemical assays.(e.g. Tyrosinase inhibition assay for skin whitening, Lipid peroxidation inhibition assay and DPPH radical scavenging assay for the anti-oxidant activity.)

A number of herbal extracts in the current studies showed significant activities beneficial to the skin. Extracts derived from Cocos nucifera florets showed skin lightening properties superior to the well-known Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) extract and others used in the study. Skin darkening/toning is due to the production of a group of pigments called Melanin. The biochemical pathway involved in the production of melanin is a multi-step process, catalyzed by various enzymes. Tyrosinase is the key regulatory enzyme involved in initiating the pigment production. If an inhibitor either from natural or synthetic source blocks the activity of this enzyme, it will result in the skin lightening benefits. In order to screen the herbals for its skin lightening property, tyrosinase enzyme isolated from the mushroom was used as a model system in the cosmetic industry over decades. From the in-vitro experiments, it is ascertained that the extract of Cocos nucifera floret contains compounds capable of blocking/suppressing one or more steps in the biochemical pathways of melanin synthesis.
During the current work, the present inventors evaluated the efficacy of the plant extract in inhibiting the activity of enzyme and it was expressed in terms of percentage inhibition (in comparison with the corresponding control). The percentage inhibition of tyrosinase by Cocos nucifera was much higher than that exhibited by licorice extracts of similar concentrations; the latter extract is commonly used in commercial formulations of skin lightening creams. These superior multi-beneficial properties of Cocos nucitera open up potential opportunities for its usage in skin creams as skin whitening and anti-aging actives.
Mushroom tyrosinase inhibition assay was carried out by incubating the enzyme with buffered substrate with and without inhibitors for 30 minutes. The absorbance was read at 492 nm and the percentage inhibition of the extracts on the enzyme was calculated (Kang Tae Lee, Kwang Sik Lee, Ji Hean Jeong, Byoung Kee Jo, Moon Young Heo, and Hyun Pyo Kim, 2003. Inhibitory effects of Iamulus mori extracts on melanogenesis. J. Cosmet. sci., 54, 133-142). The results were compared with various herbal extracts and also the Glycyrrhiza glabra extract, which is normally used in commercial skin whitening creams, acting through its tyrosinase inhibition property. The percent inhibition of Cocos nucifera was found to be superior to Glycyrrhiza extract.

The percent inhibition of tyrosinase activity by various herbal extracts is given in Table 2. It is quite evident from these data that Cocos nucifera floret alcohol extract is superior in its tyrosinase inhibition activity and better than a commercially used skin whitening licorice extract.

Note: AQ -Aqueous extract, PE- Petroleum Ether extract, ET-Ethanol extract
Example 2
The Cocos nucifera florets extract is subjected to the in-vitro cell line based cytotoxicity analysis. Human melanocytes were cultured and seeded into 96 well plates. The cells were further incubated with/without extracts of Cocos nucifera at 5 different concentrations for 72 hours. After the incubation, cell viability was assayed using the MTT dye. This is a colorimetric assay that measures the reduction of yellow 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) by mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase. The MTT enters the cells and passes into the mitochondria where it is reduced to an insoluble, coloured (dark purple) formazan product. The cells are then solubilised with an organic solvent (eg. isopropanol) and the released,

solubilised formazan reagent is measured spectrophotometrically. Since reduction of MTT can only occur in metabolically active cells the level of activity is a measure of the viability of the cells. The results of the cytotoxicity studies are depicted in the Table 3.

Example 3
The results of MTT assay encouraged to conduct the Melanin content assay. The primary human melanocyte cells were cultured and seeded in the culture plates. The cells were further incubated with / without the Cocos nucitera floret extracts at three different concentration for 72 hours. After incubation the cells were pelleted by centrifugaiion, the cells were lysed and the melanin content in the cells was quantified spectrophotometrically at 415 nm. The results of the Melanin content assay was depicted in the Table 4.


From the above results it is clearly seen that the Cocos nucifera floret extracts clearly inhibit the melanin production.
Example 4
In the process of aging, there is an imbalance between the reactive oxygen/ nitrogen species and its counteracting antioxidant systems in the cell. Such imbalance results in the free radical mediated damage of the cellular macromolecules. Membrane lipids are the major sites of attack for the free radicals because cell membrane comprises of the unsaturated fatty acids like linoleic acid, linolenic acid and Arachidonic acid. Since unsaturated fatty acids easily prone to free radical mediated damage and results in the formation of lipid peroxides. Thus free radical mediated damage to lipids results in the altered fluidity of cell, which reflects in the texture of skin.
One-way of protecting the skin texture due to aging is to prevent the lipid peroxidation. Such prevention can happen in the aging skin though the supplement of antioxidanss to the skin cell through topical applications. Since medicinal plants are the very good source of antioxidants, they are evaluated for their antioxidant potential by using linoleic acid micelles as a model of membrane.
In the standard protocol used, a predetermined amount of linoleic acid was oxidized by air at 40 °C by overnight incubation (Kikuzaki H, Nakatani N. 1993. Antioxidant effects of some ginger constituents. J Food Sci 58: 1407-1410). The extent of inhibiting the oxidation of lipids by the herbal compounds was determined as percent inhibition. The percent inhibition of lipid peroxidation activity by various herbals is given in Table 5. It is quite evident that the ethanolic extract of Cocos nuclfem is superior in LPO inhibition than any other herbal extract studied in this project.


Note: AQ -Aqueous extract, PE- Petroleum Ether extract, ET- Ethanol extract, ME-
Methanol extract
Example 5
The free radical mediated damage to the cellular macromolecules will results in aging. The way of addressing the free radical mediated aging is to protect the cellular macromolecules either by providing them with the assistance of defense system which repairs and/or counteracts the reactive free radicals. One such mode of screening the potent antioxidanss for their counteracting ability is by the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The DPPH radical is a synthetic free radical, which is easily available from the commercial source and is quiet stable when compared to the hydroxy or nitroxy radicals. Hence it has been opted (widely accepted) as a model system for screening the antioxidant activity of any molecule.
In the standard protoco,, the 0.1mM DPPH was prepared in methanol. The plant extracts were added to DPPH, the mixture was incubated at 25°C for 5 mins. The absorbance was read at 520 nm (Gyamfi MA, Yonamine M, Aniya Y.1999, Free radical scavenging action of medicinal herbs from Ghana Thonningia sanguinea on experimentally induced liver injuries. Gen Pharmacol 32: 661-667). Lower the absorbance, higher the antioxidant potentia.. The percentage

inhibition of the radical scavenging activity was calculated from the absorbance of corresponding control and test values. The results are depicted in Fig 2 C.
Example 6
Plants reserve their excess energy in the form secondary metabolites to protect themselves from the adverse biotic and abiotic stresses. Phenols are one such class of secondary metabolites in turn classified as many groups like flavonoids, isoflavones, anthraquinones, coumarins and catechins. In literature it has been stated that these molecules are the potent antioxidants (Ivanova 0, Gerova D, Chervenkov T et al, 2005. Polyphenoss and antioxidant capacity of Bulgarian medicinal plants. J. Ethnopharmacol 95: 145-150). In such aspect, the quantificaiion of total phenols in the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Cocos nucifera will support the lipid peroxidation inhibition assay and DPPH radical scaveging assay results.
The total phenol content was carried out by following the folins method on the ethanolic extracts of the Cocos nucifera florets. The results are as follow:

The above results show that the total phenol content in the ethanolic extract is 8-10 mg/g of the dried floret powder. This finding suggests that the skin whitening and antioxidant activity of the Cocos nucitera florets are contributed by molecules containing phenolic functional groups. Further studies are required to find out the detailed structure of the molecules responsible for the biological activity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANING FIGURES
FIGURE 1A. The percent inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity by various herbal extracts is given in Figure 1A. It is evident from these data that extract of Cocos nucifera floret is superior than any other herbal species employed in the current study in its tyrosinase inhibition property.

It is noteworthy to mention that Cocos nucifera floret indeed is better than a commercially used skin whitening licorice extract in this respect.
FIGURE 1B. The percent inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity by the different parts of the florets like inner core, outer cover and whole floret of Cocos nucifera are given in Figure 1B. It is evident from these data that only the whole floret of Cocos nucifera extract is superior than either inner core or outer cover extract.
FIGURE 1C. The percent inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity by different solvent extracts the Cocos nucjfem florets namely aqueous, ethanol and petroleum ether are given on Figure 1C. It is evident from these data that the ethanolic extract of Cocos nucifera florets are superior when compared to other extracts , extracted in different solvents.
FIGURE 1D. The percentage of melanin produced in the human melanocyte cell lines when incubated with the three different concentraiion of Cocos nucifera floret extracts are given the Figure 1D. It is evident from these data that the Cocos nucifera floret exracts contain certain compounds that inhibits not only the mushroom tyrosinase but also the human tyrosinase.
FIGURE 2A. The percent inhibition of lipid peroxidaiion activity by various herbal extracts is given in Figure 2A. It is quite evident that the Cocos nucifera floret extract is again superior in LPO inhibition than any other herbal extract studied in this project.
FIGURE 2B. The percent inhibition of lipid peroxidation activity by different solvent extracts the Cocos nucifera florets namely aqueous, ethanol and petroleum ether are given on Figure 2 B. It is evident from these data that the ethanolic extract of Cocos nucifera florets are superior when compared to other extracts extracted in different solvents.
FIGURE 2C. The percent inhibition of DPPH radical scavenging activity by the Cocos nucifera floret extract is indeed concentraiion dependent. It is shown in the Figure 2C. From these data, the concentration of plant material required to exert maximum inhibition can be inferred.

We Claim:
1. An improved herbal composition having skin whitening and anti-ageing properties comprising
Cocos nucifera floret extract in solvents selected from water, alcohol and petroleum ether in amount of 0.1 to 10.0%; and conventional additives.
2. The composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein said extract is present in amount of 0.5 to 5.0%, more preferably 1 to 3%.
3. The composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conventional additive is selected from polyoxyethylene (2) strearyl ether, polyethylene (21) stearyl ether and isopropyl palmitate, staeric acid, cetostearyl alcohol, mineral oil and propylene glycol.
4. The composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising ethanol extract of Cocos nucifera florets adapted to provide tyrosinase inhibition.
5. The composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising ethanol extract of Cocos nucifera adapted to provide anti-oxidant effects.
6. A process for preparation of a herbal composition comprising steps of extraction of Cocos nucifera florets, hot mixing, emulsification followed by cooling wherein said steps for extraction involve heating the powdered solid of the herb in a solvent, followed by filtration, cooling and centrifugation.
7. A process for preparation of a herbal composition as claimed in claim 6 wherein the
solvent is selected from water, alcohol and petroleum ether.