Method and composition for neutralizing house dust mite feces

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that certain botanical extracts, whether in powder form or in liquid form, can be effectively utilized to reduce the allergenicity of allergens including dust mite feces.
Surprisingly, substantially water soluble botanical extracts having a BAPNA-Trypsin Inhibition (IC50×10-3 (%, v/v or w/v)) of from about 0.
01 to about 500 as described herein can be introduced into water to form an aqueous botanical extract solution which can be utilized in atomized form to treat large areas quickly and easily to neutralize dust mite feces allergens.
In preferred embodiments, the botanical extracts used to form the botanical extract solution have a solubility in water of at least about 0.
5% by weight, and more preferably at least about 1% by weight to ensure sufficient solubility of the botanical extract into the aqueous solution.
Further, it is preferred that the median drop size of the atomized aqueous botanical extract solution be less than about 1000 micrometers to ensure effective coverage.
Dust mites and feces from dust mites are present throughout many areas of homes as discussed above.
Dust mite feces has been repeatedly shown to contain high levels of serine proteases, which are known to cause allergic responses in some humans when inhaled into the nose, throat, and lungs.
Through vigorous investigation and experimentation, the inventors discovered that numerous botanical extracts have strong protease inhibitory activity and have high solubility in water.
This combination of protease inhibitory activity and solubility in water allows a concentrated aqueous botanical extract solution to be prepared in accordance with the present invention that can be contacted with the feces of dust mites resulting in the neutralization of the feces such that the dust mite feces become substantially non-allergenic.
One important aspect of the present invention is that the botanical extracts act to neutralize the allergenic feces of the dust mite, and do not simply kill some dust mites while leaving the feces to continue to act as an allergen if inhaled