Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Designated organic nonactive ingredient containing other... – Carboxylic acid or salt thereof
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-17
2001-07-31
Fay, Zohreh (Department: 1614)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Designated organic nonactive ingredient containing other...
Carboxylic acid or salt thereof
Reexamination Certificate
active
06268399
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
While a wide variety of Staphylococcus bacteria are known to exist, one particularly troublesome bacteria to man and animals is
Staphylococcus aureus,
an extremely common skin bacteria commonly referred to simply as “staph.”
Occasionally, staph can get into the body and cause an infection. This infection can be minor (such as pimples, boils, and other skin conditions) or serious (such as blood infections or pneumonia). When
S. aureus,
which often lives harmlessly on mucous membranes, gains access to the bloodstream or deep tissue through a wound, incision or medical device, it can rapidly damage the heart, lungs, brain or joints, or poison the entire system. Surveys conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control indicate that such more serious infections occur in one out of 1,400 hospital patients-a third of whom die as a result of the infection.
Methicillin is an antibiotic commonly used to treat staph infections. Although methicillin is very effective in treating most staph infections, a substantial percentage, on the order of 40%, staph bacteria have developed resistance to methicillin and can no longer be killed by this antibiotic. These resistant bacteria are called methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus,
or MRSA. The antimicrobial agent vancomycin has been used to treat many
S. aureus
infections, particularly those caused by MRSA. However,
S. aureus
now appears to be developing resistance even to vancomycin, as documented by recent cases in the U.S., France, Japan and China. There is therefore a need in the art for a non-toxic agent exhibiting bactericidal properties against common Staphylococcus bacteria and in particular against
S. aureus.
The fungus Verticillium is a common mold found in agricultural settings that attacks more than 200 woody and herbaceous plant species, causing so-called “Verticillium wilt,” which ultimately kills the plant. Although five different chemical soil fumigants are known for treating Verticillium wilt, three of the five (trichloronitromethane, methyl bromide and Vorlex) are toxic to humans and animals, and two (sodium methyldithiocarbamate and 1,3 dichloropropene) are classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as potential human carcinogens. There is therefore a need in the art for a non-toxic agent exhibiting antifungal activity, in particular against Verticillium.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There are several aspects of the present invention. In its broadest aspect, the invention comprises an antimicrobial composition comprising an extract of the salal plant. In a closely related aspect the invention comprises a bactericidal composition comprising an extract of the salal plant. In another closely related aspect the invention comprises a fungicidal composition comprising the same extract. Still another aspect of the invention comprises a method of extracting such antimicrobial agents from the salal plant.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Gaultheria shallon,
commonly known as salal, is of the Ericaceae or heather family, being an evergreen shrub typically indigenous to the Pacific Coast and in particular to the northern coast of California and the coasts of Oregon and Washington. The leaves are leathery and sharply and finely toothed. The flowers are urn-shaped, white to pink, and falling in clusters at branch ends, generally oriented in one direction. Flowering occurs from mid-May to the beginning of July, followed by the bearing of fruit consisting of berries that are usually mature by mid-August and which continue into late summer and early fall.
All parts of the plant, including its dark juicy berries, are edible and are well known to have been consumed by indigenous peoples since before the eighteenth century, and in many forms. Young leaves of the plant were chewed as a hunger suppressant, while leafy branches were used both in pit-cooking and as a flavorant in fish stews.
It has been found that compositions comprising an extract of the
Gaultheria shallon
or salal plant exhibit effective antimicrobial properties, especially against the bacterium
S. aureus
and the fungus Verticillium. As used herein, “antimicrobial” is intended to include bactericidal and fungicidal activity. While it is believed that virtually any part of the plant possesses the as yet unidentified antimicrobial agent, leaves, flowers and berries are preferred sources of the active agent.
The extract is formed by obtaining a portion of at least one part of the salal plant, sterilizing the same with a mild sterilizing agent such as common bleach (aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite), rinsing the sterilizing agent from the plant, contacting the plant with an aqueous buffered solution to extract the active agent-containing portion, and drying the same at relatively modest temperatures.
Additional optional steps include reconstituting the antimicrobial agent-containing portion with sterile water and further sterilizing the same, preferably by a non-destructive sterilization process such as by microfiltration.
When the plant parts are gathered in the field, they may be simply packaged following the initial sterilization and rinsing treatments or they may be steamed to destroy enzymatic agents that might contribute to self-degradation or they may be rapidly frozen so as to preserve all potential antimicrobial agents and related compounds.
The following examples are given to demonstrate the invention only and are not to be regarded as limiting the invention in any respect.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4523589 (1985-06-01), Krauser
Hultine J. Dustin
Tsukamoto Takuji
Chernoff Vilhauer McClung & Stenzel LLP
Fay Zohreh
Menlo West, LLC
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