Compositions for treating alzheimer's disease and other amyloidoses

• US 6,264,994 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Washington
• Original Assignee: University of Washington
• Inventors: Castillo, Gerardo, Snow, Alan D., DeSantis, Deborah A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prats, Francisco
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOFFMAN, SUSAN COE
• Application Number:
  US09/208,278
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 424/195.1, 424/725, 424/752, 424/745
• US Class Current: 424/725
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/215 of carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/353 3,4-Dihydrobenzopyrans, e.g. chroman, catechin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/16 Ginkgophyta, e.g. Ginkgoaceae (Ginkgo family)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/23 Apiaceae or Umbelliferae (Carrot family), e.g. dill, chervil, coriander or cumin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/53 Lamiaceae or Labiatae (Mint family), e.g. thyme, rosemary or lavender
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/74 Rubiaceae (Madder family)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/80 Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)

Abstract

A composition of plant matter comprising Uncaria tomentosa and at least one of ginkgo biloba, rosemary, gotu kola and bacopin.

Claims

1. A composition comprising plant matter from the plant commonly known as cat'"'"'s claw, and plant matter from at least one plant selected from the group of plants consisting of, and commonly known as, ginkgo biloba, rosemary, gotu kola, and bacopin.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the plant matter comprises an extract obtained from the inner bark of cat'"'"'s claw and an extract obtained from the leaves of gingko biloba.

3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the plant matter comprises a ratio of plant matter constituents of between 2 and 10 parts cat'"'"'s claw to 1 part gingko biloba.

4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the plant matter comprises a ratio of plant matter constituents of between 8 and 10 parts cat'"'"'s claw to 1 part gingko biloba.

5. The composition of claim 4 wherein the amount of plant matter is delivered in dosages comprising about 350 mg of cat'"'"'s claw and about 40 mg gingko biloba, administered from 1 to 10 times daily.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the plant matter comprises an extract obtained from the inner bark of cat'"'"'s claw, plant matter from gingko biloba, plant matter from rosemary, and plant matter from gotu kola.

7. The composition of claim 6 wherein the plant matter comprises a ratio of plant matter constituents of between 4 and 8 parts cat'"'"'s claw to between 5 and 10 parts gingko biloba to 1 part rosemary to 1 part gotu kola.

8. The composition of claim 7 wherein the plant matter comprises a ratio of plant matter constituents of between 6 and 8 parts cat'"'"'s claw to between 7 and 9 parts gingko biloba to 1 part rosemary to 1 part gotu kola.

9. The composition of claim 8 wherein the amount of plant matter is delivered in dosages comprising about 175 mg of cat'"'"'s claw, about 200 mg gingko biloba, about 25 mg rosemary and about 25 mg gotu kola, wherein from 1 to 3 such dosages are administered from 1 to 10 times daily.

10. The composition of claim 1 wherein the plant matter comprises an extract obtained from the inner bark of cat'"'"'s claw, an extract of bacopin, an extract obtained from the leaves of gingko biloba, plant matter from rosemary, and plant matter from gotu kola.

11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the plant matter comprises a ratio of plant matter constituents of between 6 and 20 parts cat'"'"'s claw to between 2 and 8 parts bacopin to between 1 and 3 parts gingko biloba to 1 part rosemary to 1 part gotu kola.

12. The composition of claim 11 wherein the plant matter comprises a ratio of plant matter constituents of between 13 and 15 parts cat'"'"'s claw to between 3 and 5 parts bacopin to between 1 and 2 parts gingko biloba to 1 part rosemary to 1 part gotu kola.

13. The composition of claim 12 wherein the amount of plant matter is delivered in dosages comprising about 260 mg of cat'"'"'s claw, about 75 mg bacopin, about 30 mg gingko biloba, about 20 mg rosemary and about 20 mg gotu kola, wherein from 1 to 3 such dosages are administered from 1 to 8 times daily.

14. The composition of claim 2 wherein the amount of plant matter comprises a dosage of total plant matter in the range of from about 5 to 100 mg/kg of body weight of the subject.

15. The composition of claim 2 wherein the weight percentage of total plant extract in the composition is in the range of from about 70% to about 95%.

16. The composition of claim 1 further comprising an acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.

17. The composition of claim 2 wherein the composition comprises an amount of plant matter that has an in vitro amyloid inhibitory activity or efficacy greater than 20%.

18. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition is effective for promoting, maintaining or enhancing in a subject one or more of the mental or cognitive qualities selected from the group consisting of memory, concentration, and short term memory.