Slenderizing and Anti-Cellulitis Cosmetic Composition Based on an Extract of a Plant Containing Saponins, an Extract of Arnica Montana L and a Kola Nut Extract, and to a Process for Using the Same

1. A cosmetic composition for application to the skin, said composition having slenderizing and anti-cellulitis activity and containing: (i) an effective amount of a plant extract containing saponins, said extract being selected from the group consisting of (a) an extract of the leaves of Hedera haelix L obtained (1) from a lixiviation extraction with water, or (2) from an extraction operation consisting in extracting undesirable products with a solvent selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic ketone, an ether, an aromatic hydrocarbon and a chlorinated lower alkane, followed by an extraction with an alcohol, or (3) from an alcohol extraction follows by concentration of the resulting extract and dispersion of the resulitng concentrated extract in a mixture of water and a water immiscible organic solvent and concentration of the water phase; (b) an extract of rhizomes of Ruscus aculeatus L obtained from a hydroalcoholic extraction wherein the alchol has 3-6 carbon atoms, followed by evaporation of the extract, taking up the residue in methanol, precipitating the saponins with a mixture of ehter and acetone, taking up the precipitate with water an extracting the water solution with ether; (c) an extract of Aesculus hipocastanus L, said extract being a glycolic extract, a dry hydroalcoholic extract, or a fluid or soft extract according to U.S. Pharmacopeia; and (d) a mixture containing two or more of (a), (b) and (c), said extracts (a), (b) and (c) containing from 30 to 100 percent sponins, (ii) an effective amount of an extract of the flowers of Arnica Montana L, said extract being obtained as a tincture according to U.S. Pharmacopeia or as a glycol extract; and (iii) an effective amount of an extract of kola nut obtained (1) as a hydroalcoholic extract or (2) as a fluid extract, a tincture or a wine of kola according to U.S. Pharmacopeia, said extract of kola nut containing caffeine in an amount ranging from 1.25 to 10 weight percent.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said extract of a plant containing saponins is present in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 8 percent by weight, expressed on a dry basis, relative to the total weight of said composition.

3. The composition of claim 1 which also contains from 0.02 to 0.20 weight percent, expressed as active material, of a monomethyl trisilanol derivative selected from the group consisting of monomethyl trisilanol mannuronate and monomethyl trisilanol tactate.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said extract of Arnica Montana L is present in an amount ranging from 0.01 to 0.5 percent, expressed on a dry basis, relative to the total weight of said composition.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein said extract of Arnica Montana L is a glycol extract containing from 2 to 5 percent by weight of said Arnica Montana L on a dry basis, said glycol extract being present in said composition in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 10 percent relative to the total weight of said composition.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said kola nut extract is a dry hydroalcoholic extract and is present in an amount ranging from 0.2 to 2 percent relative to the total weight of said composition.

7. A cosmetic composition for application to the skin, said composition having selnderizing and anti-cellulitis activity and containing: (i) from 0.5 to 8 percent by weight, expressed on a dry basis of a plant extract containing saponins, said extract being selected from the group consisting of (a) an extract of the leaves of Hedera haelix L obtained (1) from a lixiviation extraction with water, or (2) from an extraction operation consisting in extrascting undesirable products with a solvent selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic ketone, an ether, an aromatic hydrocarbon and a chlorinated lower alkane, followed by an extraction with an alcohol, or (3) from an alcohol extraction followed by concentration of the resulting extract and dispersion of the resulting concentrated extract in a mixture of water and a water immiscible organic solvent and concentration of the water phase; (b) an extract of rhizomes of Ruscus alculeatus L obtained from a hydroalcoholic extraction wherein the alcohol has 3-6 carbon atoms, followed by evaporation of the extract, taking up the residue in methanol, precipitating the saponins with a mixture of ether and acetone, taking up the precipitae with water and extracting the water solution with ether; (c) an extract of Aesculus hipocastanus L, said extract being a glycolic extract, a dry hydro-alcoholic extract, or a fluid or soft extract according to U.S. Pharmacopeia; and (d) a mixture containing two or more of (a), (b) and (c), said extracts (a), (b) and (c) containing from 30 to 100 percent saponins, (ii) from 0.5 to 10 percent by weight of a glycol extract of the flowers of Arnica Montana L, said glycol extract containing from 2 to 5 percent by weight of said Arnica Montana L and (iii) from 0.2 to 2 percent by weight of a dry hydroalcoholic extract of kola nut.

8. A process for combatting cellulitis and fatty swelling of a person suffering from cellulitis and fatty swelling comprising a pplying to the part of the body to be treated by a massaging action for a period of time ranging from about ten days to one month, an effective amount of a composition containing (a) an extract of the leaves of Hedera haelix L obtained (1) from a lixiviation extraction with water, or (2) from an extraction operation consisting in extracting undesirable products with a solvent selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic ketone, an ether, an aromatic hydrocarbon and a chlorinated lower alkane, followed by an extraction with an alcohol, or (3) from an alcohol extraction followed by concentation of the resulting extract and dispersion of the resulting concentrated extract in a mixture of water and a water immiscible organic solvent and concentration of the water phase; (b) an extract of rhizomes of Ruscus aculeatus L obtained from a hydroalcoholic extraction wherein the alcohol has 3-6 carbon atoms, followed by evaporation of the extract, taking up the residue in methanol, precipitating the sponins with a mixture of ether and acetone, taking up the precipitate with water and extracting the water solution with ether; (c) an extract of Aesculus hipocastanus L, said extract being a glycolic extract, a dry hydroalcoholic extract, a or a fluid or soft extract according to U.S. Pharmacopeia; and (d) a mixture containing two or more of (a), (b) and (c), said extracts (a), (b) and (c) containing from 30 to 100 percent saponins, (ii) an effective amount of an extract of the flowers of Arnica Montana L, said extract being obtained as a tincture according to U.S. Pharmacopeia or as a glycol extract; and (iii) an effective amount of an extract of kola nut obtained (1) as a hydroalcoholic extract or (2) as a fluid extract, a tincture or a wine of kola according to U.S. Pharmacopeia, said extract of kola nut containing caffeine in an amount ranging from 1.25 to 10 wieght percent.