Cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition containing a black horehound extract

A pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition formulated for topical administration to the skin, scalp or hair, comprising a pharmaceutically or cosmetically effective amount of a solvent extract of black horehound in a pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable excipient adapted for said topical administration to the skin or scalp, said solvent being selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, an alcohol-water mixture, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 chlorinated solvent, an organic ester, an aromatic hydrocarbon, an halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon, a dialkylether, a dialkyl ketone, a carboxylic acid, dimethylformamide, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl sulfoxide and supercritical carbon dioxide gas.

A composition comprising 0.001% to 5% by weight, expressed by dry weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of a solvent extract of black horehound admixed with an excipient which is adapted for a topical administration of said composition to the skin, scalp or hair, said solvent being selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, an alcohol-water mixture, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 chlorinated solvent, an organic ester, an aromatic hydrocarbon, an halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon, a dialkylether, a dialkyl ketone, a carboxylic acid, dimethylformamide, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl sulfoxide and super-critical carbon dioxide gas.

A composition comprising from 0.01% to 5% by weight, expressed by dry weight based on the total weight of the composition of a solvent extract of black horehound admixed with an excipient formulated for a topical administration to the skin, scalp or hair, said solvent being selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, an alcohol-water mixture, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 chlorinated solvent, an organic ester, an aromatic hydrocarbon, an halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon, a dialkylether, a dialkyl ketone, a carboxylic acid, dimethylformamide, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl sulfoxide and supercritical carbon dioxide gas.

A composition comprising from 0.01% to 0.5% by weight, expressed by dry weight based on the total weight of the composition of a solvent extract of black horehound admixed with an excipient formulated for a topical administration to the skin, scalp or hair, said solvent being selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, an alcohol-water mixture, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 chlorinated solvent, an organic ester, an aromatic hydrocarbon, an halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon, a dialkylether, a dialkyl ketone, a carboxylic acid, dimethylformamide, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl sulfoxide and supercritical carbon dioxide gas.

A cosmetic composition for promoting pigmentation of the skin or hair of a person, formulated for topical administration to the skin, scalp or hair, comprising a pigmenting effective amount of at least one solvent extract of black horehound in a cosmetically acceptable excipient adapted for topical application to the skin, scalp or hair.