Pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic composition containing an active principle activator of cytochrome C

1. A composition, comprising:

an active principle comprising a peptide capable of activating cytochrome C,

said peptide consisting of 3 to 5 amino acid residues and a sequence according to the following formula:

R 1 -X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -X 5 -R 2

wherein,

X 1 is tyrosine,

X 2 is leucine,

X 3 is lysine,

X 4 is threonine, serine, lysine, arginine, or no amino acid,

X 5 is valine, alanine, tyrosine, methionine, or no amino acid,

R 1 represents a primary amine function of an N-terminal amino acid, free or substituted with a protector group selected form the group consisting of: an acetyl group, a benzoyl group, a tosyl group, and a benzyloxycarbonyl group, and

R 2 represents a hydroxyl function of a carboxylic acid of a C-terminal amino acid, free or substituted with a protector group selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl chain of C 1 to C 20 , an NH 2 group, NHY group, and NYY group, with Y representing an alkyl chain of C 1 to C 4 ; and

a physiologically acceptable medium.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said peptide consists of a sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(SEQ ID No. 1)

Tyr-Leu-Lys-Lys-Ala;

(SEQ ID No. 2)

Tyr-Leu-Lys-Lys-Ala-NH 2 ;

(SEQ ID No. 3)

Tyr-Leu-Lys-Lys-NH 2 ;

and

(SEQ ID No. 4)

Tyr-Leu-Lys.

3. The composition according to claim 2 , wherein said peptide consists of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1.

4. The composition according to claim 2 , wherein said peptide consists of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2.

5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said peptide possesses at least one functional group protected by a protector group, said protector group is at least one of (i) an acylation or an acetylation of the amino-terminal end and (ii) an amidation or an esterification of the carboxy-terminal end.

6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said active principle is present at a concentration between 0.0005 ppm and 500 ppm by total weight of said composition.

7. The composition according to claim 6 , wherein said active principle is present at a concentration between 0.01 ppm and 5 ppm by total weight of the composition.

8. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said active principle is solubilized in advance in a solvent selected from the group consisting of: water, glycerol, ethanol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, ethoxylated or propoxylated diglycols, cyclic polyols, vaseline, a vegetable oil, and mixtures thereof.

9. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition is in a form adapted for topical application.

10. The composition according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one active agent which promotes the action of said active principle.

11. The composition according to claim 10 , wherein said active agent is selected from the group consisting of: active agents having an antioxidant action, active agents stimulating synthesis of dermal macromolecules, and active agents stimulating energy metabolism.

12. A method of preparing a cosmetic composition or a pharmaceutical composition, comprising adding an effective amount of an active principle to a cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable medium,

said active principle comprising a peptide capable of activating cytochrome C,

said peptide consisting of 3 to 5 amino acid residues and a sequence according to the following formula:

R 1 -X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -X 5 -R 2

wherein,

X 1 is tyrosine,

X 2 is leucine,

X 3 is lysine,

X 4 is threonine, serine, lysine, arginine, or no amino acid,

X 5 is valine, alanine, tyrosine, methionine, or no amino acid,

R 1 represents a primary amine function of an N-terminal amino acid, free or substituted with a protector group selected form the group consisting of: an acetyl group, a benzoyl group, a tosyl group, and a benzyloxycarbonyl group, and

R 2 represents a hydroxyl function of a carboxylic acid of a C-terminal amino acid, free or substituted with a protector group selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl chain of C 1 to C 20 , an NH 2 group, NHY group, or NYY group, with Y representing an alkyl chain of C 1 to C 4 .

13. A method of reducing the effects of external aggression on skin and appendages, comprising administering, before and/or after exposure to the aggression, to a subject in need thereof the composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises an effective amount of the active principle and a cosmetically acceptable medium.

14. A method of reducing the effects of or treating skin damage and appendage damage caused by UV radiation, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof the composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises an effective quantity of the active principle and a cosmetically acceptable medium.

15. A method of stimulating mitochondria, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof the composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises an effective quantity of the active principle and a cosmetically acceptable medium.

16. A method of increasing synthesis of intracellular ATP in skin cells, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof the composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises an effective quantity of the active principle and a cosmetically acceptable medium.

17. A method of reducing the effects of or treating cutaneous signs of aging and/or photo-aging, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof the composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises an effective quantity of the active principle and a cosmetically acceptable medium.

18. A method of stimulating defenses of skin and appendages from external aggressions, comprising topically applying onto the skin or appendages of a subject in need thereof the composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises an effective quantity of the active principle and a cosmetically acceptable medium.