the present extract of periwinkle seed may be prepared by a process comprising : ( b ) subjecting the ground periwinkle seed to enzyme predigestion with an amylase and / or cellulase , to obtain predigested periwinkle seed ; ( c ) subjecting the predigested periwinkle seed to fermentation in the presence of a microorganism , to obtain fermented periwinkle seed ; and as noted above , the periwinkle seed used to prepare the present extract is preferably tropical periwinkle seed , more preferably madagascar periwinkle seed . the periwinkle seed may be ground with any suitable apparatus , such as a mortar and pestel , a blender , a mill , etc . the exact size that the periwinkle seed is ground to is not critical so long as the shell of the seed is broken to expose the inside of the seed . typically , the periwinkle seed will be ground to a size of 0 . 1 to 1 mm . the predigestion of the ground periwinkle seed is carried out by contacting the ground periwinkle seed with an amylase and / or cellulase . suitable amylases include type i - a : dfp treated from procine pancreas ; type i - a : pmsf treated from porcine pancreas ; type ii - a : from bacillus sp . ; type vi - b : from porcine pancreas ; type iii - a : dfp treated from porcine pancreas ; type viii - a : from barley malt ; type ix - a : from human saliva ; type x - a : from aspergillus oryzae ; type xii - a : from bacillus licheniformis ; type xiii - a : from human saliva ; and the same amylases immobilized on beaded agarose or polyacrylamide . suitable cellulases include irradiated and nonirradiated cellulase from aspergillus niger , cellulase from trichoderma reesei ; cellulase from trichoderma viride ; and cellulase from penicillium funiculosum . such amylases and cellulases are commercially available from sigma chemical co ., st . louis , mo . the predigestion may be carried out by contacting the ground periwinkle seed with the amylase and / or cellulase in an aqueous solution . the aqueous solution may also contain a buffer to maintain the ph in the range of from 4 to 6 . typically , the predigestion is carried out at a temperature of 20 ° to 40 ° c ., preferably 25 ° to 35 ° c ., for a time of 2 to 5 days , preferably 2 to 3 days . the predigestion may be carried out in any suitable apparatus such as a biolafitte type fermentor . typically , the predigestion is performed using 1 to 2 % of amylase and / or cellulase per gram of ground periwinkle seed . after the predigestion of the periwinkle seed is complete , the predigested periwinkle seed is then subjected to a fermentation in the presence of a microorganism . as noted above , the fermentation is preferably carried out in the presence of lactic microorganisms known as lactobacilli . the fermentation is usually carried out in a culture medium which contains peptones and optionally yeast extract . such media are commercially available from bio - merieux or merck . the fermentation is typically carried out at a temperature of from 34 ° to 40 ° c ., preferably about 37 ° c ., for a time of 4 to 10 days , preferably about 1 week . the ph of the fermentation culture is suitably maintained at a value of 4 to 7 , preferably 5 to 6 . the amount of predigested periwinkle seed is suitably 1 to 10 % by weight , preferably 1 to 5 % by weight , based on the total weight of the fermentation medium . the fermentation is carried out under aerobic conditions , and the fermentation medium is inoculated with the microorganism in the form of a preculture medium . the conditions of the preculture are the following : the bacteria ( lactobacilli ) are invigorated in a liquid nutrient medium , then subcultured twice and inoculated in a culture medium . the initial ph is 5 . 5 . the growth lasts for 72 hours and the latent period is 20 hours . then , there is inoculation of the fermenter at 15 liters in the same conditions , and then inoculation of the production of 600 - 800 liters . the liquid nutrient medium used in the preculture has the following composition : ______________________________________peptone 10 - 20 g / lyeast extract 3 - 10 g / lsodium acetate 5 g / ldi - ammonium citrate 2 g / ldipostassium phosphate 2 - 3 g / ltween 80 ( polysorbate 80 ) 1 - 2 g / lmgso . sub . 4 . 7h . sub . 2 o 0 . 1 - 0 . 5 g / lmnso . sub . 4 . 4h . sub . 2 o 0 . 02 - 0 . 05 g / lglucose 10 - 20 g / l______________________________________ after the fermentation is complete , the fermentation medium is then filtered to remove particulates and the microorganisms and to obtain the extract as the filtrate . any suitable filtering device capable of removing the particulate matter and microorganisms may be used , such as a glass frit with a pore size of 0 . 30 to 500 μm , preferably 0 . 45 to 400 μm . typically , the present extract of periwinkle seed will comprise 70 to 85 % by weight of water , 8 to 16 % by weight of a polyol ( glycerin ), 2 to 6 % by weight of proteins and amino acids , 0 . 5 to 1 . 5 % of lactic acid , and 0 . 01 to 0 . 2 % of lactose . the extract of periwinkle seed according to the present invention can , for example , be used in a cosmetic and / or dermatological composition at a concentration ranging from 0 . 05 % to 15 % by weight , preferably from 0 . 1 % to 10 % by weight , more preferably from 0 . 5 to 10 % by weight , based on the total weight of the composition . the compositions according to the present invention may be presented in all dosage forms normally used for topical application or administration by injection or by oral administration , intended especially for the cosmetic and / or dermatological fields . in particular , the present compositions can take the form of aqueous , alcoholic , or aqueous - alcoholic solutions , the form of creams , hydrophilic or lipophilic gels , water - in - oil or oil - in - water emulsions , creams or gels capable of foaming , compositions in aerosol form or alternatively in the form of microgranules , powders or vesicular dispersions of the ionic and / or nonionic type . these compositions are prepared according to the standard methods of the fields in question . the amounts of the different constituents of the compositions according to the invention are those traditionally used in the cosmetic or pharmaceutical fields or the field of hygiene . the present compositions include , in particular , face , neck , hand or body cleansing , protection , treatment or care compositions ( for example day creams , night creams , make - up - removal creams , sun creams or oils , cleansing milks , make - up - removal milks , body milks ), make - up compositions ( for example make - up foundations ), artificial tanning compositions or bath compositions . the compositions according to the present invention can also be in the form of solid preparations including cleansing soaps or bars . the present extracts may also be used in various compositions for the hair , and in particular shampoos , setting lotions , treatment lotions , styling creams or gels , dyeing compositions , and lotions or gels for combatting hair loss . the cosmetic compositions of the present invention can also have a anticatarrhal application and can , for example , take the form of a toothpaste . when the composition of the present invention is an emulsion , the proportion of fats can range from 5 % to 80 % by weight , and preferably from 5 % to 50 % by weight , based on the total weight of the composition . the fats and the emulsifiers used in the composition in emulsion form are chosen from those traditionally used in the cosmetic field . the emulsifiers can be present in the composition in a proportion ranging from 0 . 3 % to 30 % by weight , preferably from 0 . 5 to 30 % by weight , based on the total weight of the composition . the emulsion can , in addition , contain lipid vesicles . the cosmetic composition of the present invention can , in a conventional manner , also contain adjuvants which are customary in the cosmetic field , such as hydrophilic or lipophilic gelling agents , hydrophilic or lipophilic active agents , preservatives , antioxidants , solvents ( alcohols ), perfumes , fillers , sunscreen agents and colorants . the amounts of these different adjuvants are those conventionally used in the cosmetic field , and are , for example , from 0 . 01 % to 10 % of the total weight of the composition . these adjuvants , depending on their nature , may be introduced in the fatty phase , in the aqueous phase and / or in the lipid spherules . as fats which may be used in the present compositions , there may be mentioned mineral oils , vegetable oils ( for example liquid fraction of shea butter , apricot - kernel oil , mango - kernel oil ) and their hydrogenated derivatives ( for example hydrogenated palm oil ), animal oils , synthetic oils ( for example capric / caprylic triglycerides ), silicone oils ( for example cyclomethicones and dimethicones ) and fluorinated oils . other fats such as fatty alcohols ( for example cetyl alcohol ), fatty acids ( for example stearic acid ) and waxes ( for example vegetable wax ) may be added to these oils . as emulsifiers which may be used in the present compositions , the cetearyl glucoside sold under the name montanov 68 by the company seppic , or the mixture of sucrose cocoate and sorbitan stearate sold under the name arlatone 2121 by the company ici , may be mentioned by way of example . as hydrophilic gelling agents which may be used in the present compositions , there may be mentioned , for example , carboxyvinyl polymers ( carbomer ), acrylic copolymers such as acrylate / alkyl acrylate copolymers , polyacrylamides , polysaccharides such as hydroxyethylcellulose , natural gums ( for example xanthan gum , sclerotium gum ) and clays , and as lipophilic gelling agents , there may be mentioned modified clays such as bentones , metal salts of fatty acids such as aluminum stearates , and hydrophobic silica . hydrophilic active agents which may be used in the present compositions include proteins or protein hydrolysates , amino acids , polyols , urea , allantoin , sugars and sugar derivatives , vitamins , and hydroxy acids . lipophilic active agents which may be used in the present compositions include retinol ( vitamin a ) and its derivatives , tocopherol ( vitamin e ) and its derivatives such as vitamin e acetate , essential fatty acids , ceramides , essential oils , and salicylic acid and its derivatives . other features of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following descriptions of exemplary embodiments which are given for illustration of the invention and are not intended to be limiting thereof . in the following examples , all amounts shown are % by weight , unless otherwise indicted . the term &# 34 ; qs 100 %&# 34 ; means that ingredient is present in an amount sufficient to make the total amount of all ingredients equal 100 % by weight . catharanthus roseus , periwinkle seeds are ground in a mortar . the ground preparation obtained is subjected to an enzyme predigestion with an amylase and a cellulase in a biolafitte type fermenter , and then to a fermentation in the presence of lactic microorganisms , this fermentation being carried out for 1 week . the nutrient medium for the fermentation contains , in particular , peptones with or without the addition of yeast extract , and is sold by bio - merieux or merck . it is maintained at a temperature of 37 ° c . and at a ph adjusted to between 5 and 6 . the fermentation medium is then filtered under a controlled atmosphere in order to remove the ground preparation residues and the microorganisms from it . the obtained extract is in an aqueous medium . this extract contains 78 . 2 % of water , 12 . 8 % of a polyol ( glycerin ), 4 . 6 % of proteins and amino acids , 1 % of lactic acid , 0 . 08 % of lactose . this extract has the following centesimal composition in amino acids after hydrolysis : this hydrolysis was performed in an autocatalysor ( hitachi l8500 ) with 9n hcl over 4 hours at 120 ° c . ______________________________________cetearyl glucoside ( sold under the 2 . 0 % name montanov 68 by the companyseppic ) cetyl alcohol 1 . 5 % vegetable wax ( sold under the name 2 . 0 % suma wax by the company noda ) liquid fraction of shea butter 3 . 0 % apricot - kernel oil 12 . 0 % mango - kernel oil 2 . 0 % dimethicone ( sold under the name 1 . 0 % silicone l - 45 by the company unioncarbide ) ______________________________________ ______________________________________glycerol 3 . 0 % hydroxyethylcellulose ( gelling 0 . 2 % agent ) sclerotium gum ( sold under the name 0 . 5 % amigel by the company alban muller )( gelling agent ) starch ( filler ) 0 . 4 % extract of periwinkle seed obtained 2 . 5 % in example 1preservatives qsperfume 0 . 2 % water qs 100 % ______________________________________ the method of preparation of the emulsion consists of mixing the oily phase in the aqueous phase at a temperature of approximately 70 ° c . to 80 ° c . while stirring using a turbo - mixer . the product obtained is an oil - in - water emulsion which has the appearance of a cream and may be used as a night cream to be applied daily . ______________________________________octyldodecanol ( emollient ) 6 . 0 % apricot - kernel oil 6 . 0 % capric / caprylic triglycerides 5 . 0 % kaolin ( filler ) 3 . 0 % cetyl alcohol 2 . 0 % vitamin e acetate 0 . 5 % hydrogenated palm oil 6 . 0 % liquid fraction of shea butter 5 . 0 % ______________________________________ ______________________________________xanthan gum ( gelling agent ) 0 . 4 % sucrose cocoate / sorbitan stearate 5 . 5 %( mixture sold under the name arlatone2121 by the company ici ) ( emulsifier ) glycerol 3 . 0 % extract of periwinkle seed obtained in 3 . 0 % example 1perfume 0 . 3 % preservatives qswater qs 100 % ______________________________________ the method of preparation of the emulsion is the same as in example 2 . the product obtained is an oil - in - water emulsion which has the appearance of a cream . it is used in the customary manner for masks , that is to say it is applied to the face and , after a certain exposure time , namely approximately 3 to 10 min , it is rinsed off with water . this application is based on french patent application 94 - 08566 filed on jul . 11 , 1994 , which is incorporated herein by reference . obviously , numerous modification and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings . it is therefore to be understood that , within the scope of the appended claims , the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein .
extracts of periwinkle seed , obtained by bioconversion , and compositions containing such extracts display the property of stimulating mitochondrial cell respiration and of stimulating the cell growth of fibroblasts and keratinocytes . such extracts and compositions also exhibit activity against oxygen free radicals .