Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Designated organic active ingredient containing – C-o-group doai
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-06
2003-05-20
Jarvis, William R. A. (Department: 1614)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Designated organic active ingredient containing
C-o-group doai
C514S765000, C514S456000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06566405
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to novel compositions of matter containing aromatic compounds and terpenoids which are present in and may preferably be derived from the plant
Alpinia galanga
(Zingiberaceae), and more specifically to novel pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or dietary supplements containing such compositions. Furthermore the invention relates to the use of the compositions for preparing medicaments for the treatment or prevention of hypersensitivity reactions and diseases associated with hypersensitivity reactions. The invention also relates to a method of preparing such compositions from
Alpinia galanga.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Alpinia galanga
(L.), family Zingiberaceae, commonly known as Greater Galangal or Java Galangal, is cultivated and grows wild in Asia. The herb is rhizomatic, 1.8-2.1 m in height with oblong glabrous leaves and greenish white flowers. The fruits are orange-red capsules. The plant is also known under the name
Languas galanga
, especially in Thailand, and here it is locally called Katuk karohinee.
In relation to the present invention the term “
Alpinia galanga
” refers to any variety of
Alpinia galanga
or
Languas galanga
found anywhere in the world.
The volatile oil of
Alpinia galanga
can be obtained by steam distillation of the rhizome. It consists primarily of terpenoids with 1,8-cineol as the most abundant compound. Other major terpenoids are: &agr;-pinene, &bgr;-pinene, limonene, &agr;-terpineol, terpene-4-ol, and trans-&bgr;-farnesene.
Another important class of chemicals in
Alpinia galanga
are aromatic compounds. The quantitatively dominating compound of this class is 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate. Other aromatic constituents are: 1′-acetoxyeugenol acetate, trans-p-coumaryl diacetate, coniferyl diacetate, 1′-hydroxychavicol acetate, 1′-hydroxychavicol, p-hydroxy-trans-cinnamaldehyde, p-methoxy-trans-cinnamylalcohol and 3,4-dimethoxy-trans-cinnamylalcohol.
Among the components of
Alpinia galanga
several have been shown to exert pharmacological actions. Thus, Janssen and Scheffer found that 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate is anti fungal (Janssen, A. M. and Scheffer, J. J. C., Planta Medica, pp. 507-511, 1985). Furthermore Watanabe et al found that 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate inhibits phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages (Watanabe, N. et al, Biosci., Biotechnol., Biochem., vol 59 (8), pp. 1566-67, 1995).
Extracts or concentrates of
Alpinia galanga
containing synergistic compositions of terpenoids and aromatic compounds have not previously been described.
Hypersensitivity is defined as a state of altered reactivity in which the body reacts with an exaggerated immune response to a substance (antigen). Hypersensitivity may be caused by exogenous or endogenous antigens.
Hypersensitivity reactions underlie a large number of diseases. Amongst these allergic and autoimmune conditions are of great importance. A classification of hypersensitivity diseases is given by Parveen Kumar and Michael Clark in the textbook “Clinical Medicine” (3rd edition, 1994, pp. 147-150, Bailliére Tindall, London).
Type I hypersensitivity reactions (IgE mediated allergic reactions) are caused by allergens (specific exogenous antigens), e.g. pollen, house dust, animal dandruff, moulds, etc. Allergic diseases in which type I reactions play a significant role include asthma, eczema (atopic dermatitis), urticaria, allergic rhinitis and anaphylaxis.
Type II hypersensitivity reactions are caused by cell surface or tissue bound antibodies (IgG and IgM) and play a significant role in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis, Goodpasture's syndrome and Addisonian pernicious anaemia.
Type III hypersensitivity reactions (immune complex) are caused by autoantigens or exogenous antigens, such as certain bacteria, fungi and parasites. Diseases in which type III hypersensitivity reactions play a significant role include lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and glomerulonephritis.
Type IV hypersensitivity reactions (delayed) are caused by cell or tissue bound antigens. This type of hypersensitivity plays a significant role in a number of conditions, e.g. graft-versus-host disease, leprosy, contact dermatitis and reactions due to insect bites.
A number of drug classes are available for the treatment of hypersensitivity reactions. Some of these are systemic and some are applied topically.
The corticosteroids are among the most widely used drugs for the treatment of hypersensitivity diseases. Corticosteroids primarily exert their pharmacological action by non-selectively inhibiting the function and proliferation of different classes of immune cells. Hereby hypersensitivity reactions are suppressed. Unfortunately the corticosteroids are associated with a number of serious side effects e.g. immunosuppression, osteoporosis and skin atrophy (when applied topically).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Surprisingly we have discovered synergistic pharmacological effects between certain groups of compounds that may be obtained from
Alpinia galanga.
Thus we have found synergistic effects between aromatic compounds selected from the group consisting of 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate, 1′-acetoxyeugenol acetate, trans-p-coumaryl diacetate, coniferyl diacetate, 1′-hydroxychavicol acetate, 1′-hydroxychavicol, p-hydroxy-trans-cinnamaldehyde, p-methoxy-trans-cinnamylalcohol and 3,4-dimethoxy-trans-cinnamylalcohol, and terpenoids selected from the group consisting of 1,8-cineol, &agr;-pinene, &bgr;-pinene, limonene, &agr;-terpineol, terpene-4-ol, and trans-&bgr;-farnesene. The latter group of terpenoids are the principal components of the volatile oil of
Alpinia galanga.
Such synergistic effects are clearly demonstrated in Example 1.
Furthermore, we have found synergistic effects between the quantitatively dominating aromatic compound 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate and other aromatic compounds selected from the group consisting of 1′-acetoxyeugenol acetate, trans-p-coumaryl diacetate, coniferyl diacetate, 1′-hydroxychavicol acetate, 1′-hydroxychavicol, p-hydroxy-trans-cinnamaldehyde, p-methoxy-trans-cinnamylalcohol and 3,4-dimethoxy-trans-cinnamylalcohol. Such synergistic effects are clearly demonstrated in Example 2.
We have found that the above mentioned compositions significantly suppress hypersensitivity reactions. Compared to the corticosteroids the above mentioned compositions have the advantage of not being associated with any serious side effects.
The above mentioned synergistic effects between components of
Alpinia galanga
have never been described before. Furthermore synergistic compositions containing such compounds have never been described before.
Accordingly the present invention provides a composition of matter containing:
a) 2-99.5% (w/w) of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate, 1′-acetoxyeugenol acetate, trans-p-coumaryl diacetate, coniferyl diacetate, 1′-hydroxychavicol acetate, 1′-hydroxychavicol, p-hydroxy-trans-cinnamaldehyde, p-methoxy-trans-cinnamylalcohol and 3,4-dimethoxy-trans-cinnamylalcohol;
b) 0.5-98% (w/w) of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of 1,8-cineol, &agr;-pinene, &agr;-pinene, limonene, &agr;-terpineol, terpene-4-ol, and trans-&bgr;-farnesene.
Furthermore the invention provides a composition of matter, preferably in the form of an extract or concentrate of
Alpinia galanga
, containing:
a) 2-99.5% (w/w) of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate, 1′-acetoxyeugenol acetate, trans-p-coumaryl diacetate, coniferyl diacetate, 1′-hydroxychavicol acetate, 1′-hydroxychavicol, p-hydroxy-trans-cinnamaldehyde, p-methoxy-trans-cinnamylalcohol and 3,4-dimethoxy-trans-cinnamylalcohol;
b) 0.5-98% (w/w) essential oil of
Alpinia galanga
or mixtures thereof.
Also the invention provides a composition of matter containing:
a) 2-99.5% (w/w) 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate;
b) 0.5-98% (w/w) of one or more compou
Jensen Nina Worm
Petersen Morten Just
Weidner Morten Sloth
Darby & Darby
Eurovita A/S
Jarvis William R. A.
Kim Vickie
LandOfFree
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