Estrogenic extracts of Morus alba and uses thereof

• US 7,815,949 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Estate Of Bionovo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bionovo, Inc.
• Inventors: Cohen, Isaac
• Primary Examiner(s): Tate; Christopher R
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINSTON, RANDALL O
• Application Number:
  US11/298,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20060134245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 424/774
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/605 Morus (mulberry)
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 13/06 Anti-spasmodics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/02 for disorders of the vagina
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/08 for gonadal disorders or for enhancing fertility, e.g. inducers of ovulation or of spermatogenesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/12 for climacteric disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/10 for osteoporosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/24 Antidepressants
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/30 Oestrogens
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/00 Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system

Abstract

Extracts of various species of the Moraceae family have estrogenic properties. For example, aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Morus alba L. species possess estrogenic properties in both ERα+ and ERβ+ cells. These estrogenic effect include estrogen response element (ERE) stimulation as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) repression. Methods are provided for treating climacteric symptoms, breast and/or uterine cancer, and osteoporosis.

Claims

1. A method of eliciting an estrogenic effect in a post-menopausal female patient in need of such estrogenic effect, comprising administering to the post-menopausal female patient an estrogenically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an extract from the leaves of Morus alba L, wherein the estrogenic effect includes treating at least one climacteric symptom.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the extract is either an aqueous or ethanolic extract.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the extract is an ethanolic extract.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one climacteric symptom is selected from the group consisting of hot flashes, insomnia, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, and urinary incontinence.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the estrogenic effect includes treating hot flashes.