Composition containing a peptide and a pigment and the use thereof in darkening the skin

1. A composition comprising (i) a peptide having the formula

R 1 >Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-R 3

R 2

each R 1 and R 2, independently, is H, C 1-12 alkyl, C 7-10 phenylalkyl, or C(═O)E 1 , where E 1 is C 1-20 alkyl, C 3-20 alkenyl, C 3-20 alkynyl, phenyl, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalkyl, naphthyl, or C 7-10 phenylalkyl; provided that when either R 1 or R 2 is C(═O)E 1 , the other must be H; and

R 3 is OH, NH 2 , C 1-12 alkoxy, C 7-10 phenylalkoxy, C 11-20 naphthylalkoxy, C 1-12 alkylamino, C 7-10 phenylalkylamino, or C 11-20 naphthylalkylamino; or a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof;

(ii) a pigment; and

(iii) a cosmetically-acceptable topical carrier.

2. A composition of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is H, R 2 is H or C(═O)E 1 where E 1 is C 1-20 alkyl, and R 3 is OH or NH 2 .

3. A composition of claim 1 , wherein said peptide is H 2 -Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-NH 2 (SEQ ID NO: 1), H 2 -Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-OH (SEQ ID NO: 2), Palmitoyl-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-NH 2 (SEQ ID NO: 5), Palmitoyl-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-OH (SEQ ID NO: 6), Stearatoyl-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-NH 2 (SEQ ID NO: 9), or Stearatoyl-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-OH (SEQ ID NO: 10), or a cosmetically-acceptable salt thereof.

4. A composition of claim 1 , wherein said pigment is melanin or a derivative of melanin, wherein said derivative of melanin is a polymer comprising monomeric units selected from the group consisting of dihydroxyindole-carboxylic acids, 3-aminotyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 3-amino,4-hydroxybenzoic acid, aloin, emodin, alizarin, tyrosine, dihydroxyphenylalanine, 4,5-dihydroxynaphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, 3-nitrotyrosine, 3-dimethylamino phenol and p-aminobenzoic acid.

5. A composition of claim 3 , wherein said pigment is melanin or a derivative of melanin, wherein said derivative of melanin is a polymer comprising monomeric units selected from the group consisting of dihydroxyindole-carboxylic acids, 3-aminotyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 3-amino,4-hydroxybenzoic acid, aloin, emodin, alizarin, tyrosine, dihydroxyphenylalanine, 4,5-dihydroxynaphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, 3-nitrotyrosine, 3-dimethylamino phenol and p-aminobenzoic acid.

6. A composition of claim 1 , wherein said pigment is CuCl 2 , Hedychium extract, or Bearberry extract.

7. A composition of claim 3 , wherein said pigment is CuCl 2 , Hedychium extract, or Bearberry extract.

8. A method of darkening the skin, said method comprising topically applying to the skin a composition of claim 1 .

9. A method of claim 8 , wherein R 1 is H, R 2 is H or C(═O)E 1 where E 1 is C 1-20 alkyl, and R 3 is OH or NH 2 .

10. A method of claim 8 , wherein said peptide is H 2 -Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-NH 2 (SEQ ID NO: 1), H 2 -Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-OH (SEQ ID NO: 2), Palmitoyl-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-NH 2 (SEQ ID NO: 5), Palmitoyl-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-OH (SEQ ID NO: 6), Stearatoyl-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-NH 2 (SEQ ID NO: 9), or Stearatoyl-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-OH (SEQ ID NO: 10), or a cosmetically-acceptable salt thereof.

11. A method of claim 8 , wherein said pigment is melanin or a derivative of melanin, wherein said derivative of melanin is a polymer comprising monomeric units selected from the group consisting of dihydroxyindole-carboxylic acids, 3-aminotyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 3-amino,4-hydroxybenzoic acid, aloin, emodin, alizarin, tyrosine, dihydroxyphenylalanine, 4,5-dihydroxynaphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, 3-nitrotyrosine, 3-dimethylamino phenol and p-aminobenzoic acid.

12. A method of claim 10 , wherein said pigment is melanin or a derivative of melanin, wherein said derivative of melanin is a polymer comprising monomeric units selected from the group consisting of dihydroxyindole-carboxylic acids, 3-aminotyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 3-amino,4-hydroxybenzoic acid, aloin, emodin, alizarin, tyrosine, dihydroxyphenylalanine, 4,5-dihydroxynaphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, 3-nitrotyrosine, 3-dimethylamino phenol and p-aminobenzoic acid.

13. A method of claim 8 , wherein said pigment is CuCl 2 , hedychium extract, or bearberry extract.

14. A method of claim 8 , wherein said pigment is CuCl 2 , hedychium extract, or bearberry extract.