Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Designated organic active ingredient containing – Phosphorus containing other than solely as part of an...
Patent
1999-01-21
2000-05-30
Spivack, Phyllis G.
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Designated organic active ingredient containing
Phosphorus containing other than solely as part of an...
514 78, A61K 31685
Patent
active
060691387
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a novel therapeutic and/or dietetic use of animal-derived phospholipids.
The present invention is more specifically directed to the use of phospholipids rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids for providing a pharmaceutical and/or dietetic composition which has an effect on melatonin secretion.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
Previous studies have suggested that melatonin, a neurohormone produced by the pineal gland, acts as an endogenous timing mechanism in humans (Armstrong--Melatonin: The internal Zeitgeber of Mammals. Pineal Res. Rev., 7: 157-202, 1989). Known pharmacological properties ascribed to melatonin mainly include its myorelaxant activity, sedative, hypnotic and tranquillizing effect (Sugden, D., Psychoparmacological effects of melatonin in mouse and rat--J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 227, 587-591, 1983).
Melatonin alleviates immune deficiency induced by stress (Mestroni, Melatonin, Stress and the immune system. Pineal Res. Rev., 7: 203-206, 1989) and improves longevity, namely in mice.
Melatonin and its main liver metabolite--6-hydroxy-melatonin--prevents experimental lipid peroxide formation in membranes--(R. J. Reiter, Antioxydant capacity of melatonin: a novel action not requiring a receptor--Neuroendocrinol. Let. 15, 103-116, 1993).
Recently, many investigators have incriminated the pineal gland and melatonin both in ageing process and ailments related to ageing. These theories derive from the important role melatonin plays in many biological functions and from the fact that melatonin production gradually declines in the living body with age (R. J. Reiter--The pineal gland and melatonin in relation to aging; Exper. Geront., 30: 199-212, 1995).
Several clinical trials have been undertaken to check the efficiency of melatonin in humans (R. Wurtman, Effects of melatonin on humain mood and performance, Brain Research, 323: 201-207, 1984; R. Brook, A double blind trial of melatonin as a treatment for jet lag, Biol. Pyschiatry, 33: 526-530, 1993).
Other studies were conducted to ascertain the influence of melatonin on the course of Alzheimer's disease (C. P., Maurizi, The mystery of A's D and its prevention by melatonin).
Chronic use of melatonin is a controversial issue even though intake of this hormone is apparently not harmful. It is however interesting to study the regulation of melatonin production by the pineal gland, particularly by food supply.
It has been shown that the n-3 fatty acid content of the pineal gland can be severely diminished in animals kept on an .alpha.-linolenic acid (18:n-3) deficient diet.
The most drastic change occurs for phospholipid glycerides in which the level of 22:6 n-3 fatty acids is reduced from 10.14% to 2.33%. In this situation, the cultured rat pineal gland's activity is lower as measured by melatonin release in the medium (N. Sarda, Effect of a n-3 fatty acid-deficient diet in melatonin release in cultured rat pineal. J. of Neurochemistry, 61: 1057-1063, 1993).
Arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid or DHA (22:6 n-3) are the main polyunsaturated fatty acids of the pineal gland. Both fatty acids account for nearly 25% of total lipids. They may exist as triglycerides in fish oil or as animal-derived phospholipids as found in brain and eggs.
Various experiments have demonstrated that animal-derived phospholipids form the finest food supplements of DHA and arachidonic acid for a great number of uses. It is quite relevant in this regard that phospholipids are themselves the building blocks of biological membranes.
Accordingly, the applicant has already disclosed in its previous patents, EP 502 766, EP 502 765, FR 2 714 574 and in European patent applications EP 95 923 373 and EP 95 923 374, phospholipids used for dietetic and therapeutic purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention relates to the use of phospholipids rich in long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from animal brains or hen's eggs for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical and/or dietetic composition
REFERENCES:
patent: 5449683 (1995-09-01), Wurtman
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