Method for preventing and/or treating vaginal and vulval infections

• US 20060217443A1
• Filed: 03/28/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Huang, Lei, Yang, Shu-Ping
• Application Number:
  US11/091,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217443A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 514/568
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/192 having aromatic groups, e.g. sulindac, 2-aryl-propionic acids, ethacrynic acid cannabinoids A61K31/658
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/02 for disorders of the vagina

Abstract

The invention provides a method for treating and/or preventing a wide scope of vaginal and vulval infections, such as those caused by bacteria, parasites or yeasts, by administering gallic acid to a subject in need of treatment. A composition containing gallic acid for treating vaginal infections is also disclosed. It has been found that gallic acid is capable of selectively inhibiting the growth of Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasite that causes trichomonas vaginitis; Gardnerella vaginalis, a bacterium that causes bacterial vaginosis; and Candida albicans, a yeast that causes candidiasis and vulvitis; while not inhibiting the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus, the dominant bacteria in a healthy vaginal ecosystem. Gallic acid is safe and cost-effective, and can be used alone or incorporated into different vaginal health products to treat and/or prevent vaginal infections.

Claims

1. A method of treatment of a vaginal or vulval infection which comprises administering topically to a subject in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of gallic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the infection is selected from the group consisting of trichomonas vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis and vulvitis.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gallic acid is part of a composition selected from the group consisting of a foam, a cream, a gel, a jelly, a moisturizer, a spray, a suppository, a vaginal capsule, a vaginal tablet, a vaginal film, a vaginal sponge, a vaginal ovule, a vaginal insert, a tampon, a wipe and a pad.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the gallic acid is in a form selected from the group consisting of a solution, a powder and a crystal structure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment inhibits the growth of a pathogen selected from the group consisting of Trichomonas vaginalis, Garderella vaginalis and Candida albicans and does not inhibit the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the gallic acid is present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 10 percent (wt/vol).

7. A method of preventing a vaginal or vulval infection which comprises administering topically to a subject in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of gallic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein infection is selected from the group consisting of trichomonas vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis and vulvitis.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the gallic acid is part of a composition selected from the group consisting of a foam, a cream, a gel, a jelly, a moisturizer, a spray, a suppository, a vaginal capsule, a vaginal tablet, a vaginal film, a vaginal sponge, a vaginal ovule, a vaginal insert, a tampon, a wipe and a pad.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the gallic acid is in a form selected from the group consisting of a solution, a powder and a crystal structure.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the treatment inhibits the growth of a pathogen selected from the group consisting of Trichomonas vaginalis, Garderella vaginalis and Candida albicans and does not inhibit the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the gallic acid is present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 10 percent (wt/vol).

13. The use of gallic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in a method of making a medicament for use in a method of preventing or treating a vaginal or vulval infection comprising administering topically a therapeutically effective amount of the gallic acid to a patient in need thereof.

14. The use of claim 13, wherein the infection is selected from the group consisting of trichomonas vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis and vulvitis.

15. The use of gallic acid according to claim 13, wherein the gallic acid is in a form selected from the group consisting of a solution, a powder and a crystal structure.

16. The use of gallic acid according to claim 13, wherein the medicament is in the form of a foam, a cream, a gel, a jelly, a moisturizer, a spray, a suppository, a vaginal capsule, a vaginal tablet, a vaginal film, a vaginal sponge, a vaginal ovule, a vaginal insert, a tampon, a wipe and a pad.

17. The use of gallic acid according to claim 13, wherein the medicament is applied to a tampon, pad, wipe or vaginal insert.

18. The use of gallic acid according to claim 13, wherein the gallic acid is present in the medicament in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 10 percent (wt/vol).

19. The use of gallic acid according to claim 13, wherein the medicament inhibits the growth of Trichomonas vaginalis and does not inhibit the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus.

20. A composition for preventing or treating a vaginal or vulval infection, which comprises a therapeutically effective amount of gallic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.