Patent Background
Cellulite removal methods using herbs and their principle ingredients are often patented. One of the most recent patents is #7,476,392, "Pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic compositions for the treatment of localised adiposities and cellulite." The inventor is Francesco Di Pierro of Milan, Italy. The patent was awarded on January 13, 2009, to a company by the name of Indena S.p.A. of Milan, Italy.
Indena is a privately owned Italian company that has around 700 employees, including 10% dedicated to full-time research. The company manages cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution operations in more than 40 countries throughout the world. According to their website, Indena's key to success is its research, covering: the screening of medicinal plants for their pharmacological benefits; the identification of new active principles; and the development of extraction and purification systems at the cutting-edge of industrial application.
The reason that I point out the origin of this patent is to emphasize how important natural cellulite removal methods are around the world. Indena holds numerous patents in Europe, and U.S. Patent 7,476,392 shows how serious this company is about doing business in the U.S.
Herbs and Their Principle Ingredients
The herbs and their principle ingredients are summarized in the patent abstract as follows:
"The present invention relates to pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic compositions containing a combination of the following active principles: a) complex of escin/beta-sitosterol with phospholipids, b) complex of Gingko biloba dimeric flavonoids with phospholipids, c) complex of Centella asiatica triterpenes with phospholipids, and optionally one or both of: d) ethyl ximeninate, e) Coleus forskolii standardized extract."
(Sidenote: You are correct if you noticed that Ginkgo is misspelled. This is a common mistake. I don't know why the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office missed it.)
Patent Claims for Each Component
The purpose of this article is to highlight what each of the components of the patent is and what it is supposed to do, as claimed in the patent.
Escin is a saponin contained in horse-chestnut seeds. It is works to strengthen capillary walls, which is useful in the treatment of swelling due to localized adiposities (i.e., fat) that lead to cellulite. The combination of escin with beta-sitosterol and phospholipids enhances bioavailability of escin and shows a more prolonged release of its activity.
Ginkgo biloba flavonoids are well-known for their ability to help improve vascular flow. They also influence certain enzymes that help the metabolism of stored fat. The complex of these ingredients with phospholipids prolongs their action and increases their bioavailability.
Centella asiatica triterpenes have a beneficial action on the production of normal collagen. The effect of this action is to reduce the formation of abnormal collagen that leads to cellulite. Phospholipids again act to prolong and enhance the action of Centella triterpenes.
Ethyl ximeninate is the main active ingredient of the herb, Olax dissitiflora. This substance is known to have a 'vasokinetic' activity, which just means that it helps the vascular system.
Coleus forskolii extract contains a nutrient called forskolin. This substance has a specific ability to stimulate enzyme activity that causes the breakdown of fat and encourages blood flow through capillaries. (By the way, this is why forskolin is so often included in weight loss mixtures as well.)
What Does This Mean for You?
This patent shows the benefits of a particular herbal composition for helping your body reduce cellulite. It also underscores the importance of herbs as one of the best components of a total program of cellulite removal methods.
Since the patent holder, Indena, is not a retail company, you will not find products on the shelf with their brand. You will instead find products that contain the mixture that is described in this patent, under brand names of the companies who have either purchased Indena's pre-mixed extracts or licensed the patent to make their own. Either way, it will take some detective work on your part to read labels on a number of products until you find a 'proprietary blend' or a 'patented formula' that resembles the mixture in this patent.
What Else Can You Do?
My bias as a retired university professor is the value of continuing education on cellulite patents and research. You can either look up and analyze patents as I do, or you can find a trusted scientist to do this for you. Likewise, you can do the same regarding the scientific research literature. Once you find the best science on cellulite, then your challenge is to find the retail products that are based on that science.
Plenty of excellent information is available on the real science behind natural cellulite remedies. This information is, unfortunately, too often swamped by a vast amount of myth and misinformation that undermines your chance of finding something that works against cellulite. You have almost no chance of finding something, based on real science, that truly helps you reduce cellulite on your own.
If you are not a scientist yourself, you really must find one whom you can trust to provide good information for you.
Dr. Dennis Clark, PhD, is a research scientist and plant biochemist who spent many years conducting studies in his university laboratory on the benefits herbs in human health. You can get his views and recommendations on science-based cellulite removal methods at http://naturalcelluliteremedies.com
