Jojoba extract useful in improving skin barrier functions

1. A method for maintaining and/or promoting skin structure, strength, cohesion or any combination thereof comprising administering to the skin of a subject in need thereof a composition comprising as an active ingredient a polar solvent extract of raw Jojoba ( Simmondsia chinensis ) plant or part thereof,

wherein the extract is produced by a method comprising the steps of:

a. mixing a raw Jojoba plant or any part thereof with at least one polar solvent;

b. incubating the mixture for a time period sufficient to form a liquid extract wherein the incubation temperature is in the range of 20° C-120° C.;

c. removing the Jojoba plant or parts thereof and collecting the liquid extract;

d. filtering the liquid extract; and

e. collecting the filtrate;

wherein the extract is effective in promoting cell to cell adhesion in said skin;

thereby promoting cell to cell adhesion and maintaining and/or promoting the skin structure, strength, cohesion or any combination thereof and maintaining or promoting the skin barrier function.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein maintaining or promoting the skin barrier function comprises at least one of maintaining or reducing the skin dehydration rate; maintaining or promoting the skin hydration value; maintaining or promoting protection from environmental hazards and any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method is effective in at least one of maintaining or improving the skin health, skin integrity, skin firmness, skin extensibility, skin elasticity, overall skin appearance and any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein improving the skin health comprises at least one of relieving the symptoms of eczema, dermatoses, psoriasis vulgaris, lichen planus, ichthyosis, ichthyosis vulgaris and cholangitis; preventing blistering disorders; maintaining normal skin homeostasis; facilitating skin wound healing and any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein promoting the overall skin appearance comprises at least one of preventing the visible signs of aging and weathered skin including wrinkles and lines; evening of skin surface; reducing skin pore size or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises determining the maintenance and/or promotion of the skin structure, strength, cohesion or barrier function in comparison to a predetermined threshold value.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined threshold is a value measured before administering the composition to the skin.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined threshold is an average value obtained from individuals with healthy skin.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined threshold is an average value obtained from individuals with disturbed skin.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, methanol, glycerol, propanol, butanol, dipropylene glycol, pentylene glycol, hexylene glycol, dimethyl formamide, acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, formic acid, acetic acid, acetone and any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the polar solvent is water.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the polar solvent is water and at least one of ethanol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, methanol, glycerol and acetone.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition further comprising a cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier or excipient.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition is formulated for topical application.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one additional active ingredient.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filtrate of step (e) is further filtrated through a filter having a pore size of less than 1.5μ.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Jojoba plant part is selected from the group consisting of roots, stems, leaves, seeds, fruit or any combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Jojoba plant or part thereof is in a form selected from the group consisting of fresh, partially dried or completely dried.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maintaining and/or promoting the skin structure, strength, cohesion or any combination thereof comprises activating at least one gene encoding a polypeptide involved in cell to cell adhesion and/or in keratinocyte differentiation.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the polypeptide involved in cell to cell adhesion is selected from the group consisting of desmoplakin I, desmoplakin II, syndecan 1, involucrin and fibronectin.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the polypeptide involved in keratinocyte differentiation is selected from the group consisting of cytokeratin 5, cytokeratin 2E/A, cytokeratin 1 and cytokeratin 10.