Pharmaceutical compositions comprising old man's beard (
Pharmaceutical compositions of Usnea barbata and the use thereof for the treatment of skin diseases are disclosed. A preferred composition is the combination with an extract of Hypericum perforatum . The extracts are obtained by supercritical high-pressure extraction with spring carbon-dioxide. A preferred form of preparation is the homogenization of 6% by weight of an extract of Usnea barbata , containing 96% of usnic acid, and 40% by weight of an extract of Hypericum perforatum , containing 39% of hyperforin, together. The pharmaceutical composition leads to a potentiation of the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of the extracts and to stabilization of the hyperforin. The combination is suitable for the external and internal treatment of various skin diseases, in particular skin inflammations and skin ageing, and for the treatment of skin infections with pityrosporon yeast fungi, acne and rosacea.
1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising 0.01-10% by weight of a CO 2 extract of Usnea barbata and 0.01-20% by weight of a CO 2 extract of Hypericum perforatum.
2. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 comprising 0.11-10% by weight of a CO 2 extract of Usnea barbata and 0.11-10% by weight of a CO 2 extract of Hypericum perforatum.
3. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 comprising 0.5-5% by weight of a CO 2 extract of Usnea barbata and 0.5-5% by weight of a CO 2 extract of Hypericum perforatum.
4. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the CO 2 extract of Usnea barbata contains 3-6% by weight of usnic acid.
5. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the CO 2 extract of Usnea barbata contains at least 85% by weight of usnic acid.
6. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the CO 2 extract of Hypericum perforatum contains 5-15% by weight of hyperforin.
7. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the CO 2 extract of Hypericum perforatum contains at least 40% by weight of hyperforin.
8. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition is an aqueous gel.
9. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition is a lotion.
10. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition is an ointment.
11. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition is a stiffened gel which can be used in the form of a pen.
12. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition is a powder.
13. A method for treating acne comprising topically administering to a subject in need thereof, the composition according to claim 1 .
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said acne is acne papulopustuolosa.
15. A method for treating rosacea comprising topically administering to a subject in need thereof, the composition according to claim 1 .