PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING 3-IODO-1,2-PROPANEDIOL HAVING MUCOLYTIC ACTIVITY

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing 3-iodo-1,2-propanediol which are effective in increasing the output of thin respiratory tract fluid and liquefying tenacious mucus in the bronchial tree.

Description: DESCRIPTION PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING 3-I0D0-1 ,2-PROPANEDIOL HAVING MUCOLYTIC ACTIVITY The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing 3-ιodo-l , 2-propanedιol having mucolytic activity and to a therapeutic method for increasing the output of thin respiratory tract fluid and for liquefying tenacious mucus m the bronchial tree whicn comprises orally administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeuticaily effective amount of 3-ιodo-l, 2-propanedιol admixture with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. There r.as for a long time past been a widely neld belief that ccide is neneficial m the treatment of respiratory conditions, althougn clinical proof has not been developed ;o the level required by governmental authorities to gam approval for the use of iodides n such treatment . Probably, the most widely used mucolytic iodide product has been lodmated glycerol such as described m United States Patent No. 2,372,373. lodmation of glycerol, according to said patent, results m an sαmer c mixture of iodmated di ers of glycerol. The precise structures and cr.e ical formula resulting from the cdmat cn of glycerol r.ave not been fully estaol sned, ncwever, t is generally accepted to be an lsomeπc mixture of S7-75% 2- (1-ιodoethyl) -1 , 3-dιoxolane-4 -metnanoi or 2,3- (2- lodopropylidenedioxy) propanol and 25-33% of 2- (2- odoethyl) -1 , 3 - dioxolane-4 -metnanoi or 2,3- (3-ιαdopropylιdenedιoxy) ropanol . We have now found that tne organic iodide 3- odo-l,2- propanedicl as a singular mucolytic agent is about 90 times as effective as is iodmated glycerol increasing the output of thin respiratory tract fluid and for liquefying tenacious mucus m tne roncmal tree as determined oy the tracneai secretion of pnencl r≥c m male m ce The stimulates tracneai secretion of pnenci red is characteristic of sucn mucolytic activity 3 -loco- 1 , 2 -propanediol s prepared oy reacting 3 -cr.loro- 1 , 2 - propanec ol w th sociu iodide anc recovering tne αes rec procuct tne manner set forth in tne following example , The process for preparing 3-chloro-l,2-propanediol is usually performed in a solvent selected from e.g. methyl ethyl ketone, dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, trichloromethane and mixtures of two or more such solvents. The temperatures at which various steps are performed are preferably within a range of ± 5°C of the temperature used in the examples. The invention will now be described further by reference to the following examples :- EXAMPLE 1 3 - IODO-1 , 2 -PROPANEDIOL 300 g of 3-chloro-l, 2-propanedιol, 500 g of anhydrous sodium iodide and 2 liters of methyl ethyl ketone are placed in a 5 liter 3 neck round bottom flask equipped with a stirrer, condenser and drying tube. The mixture is stirred with heating to reflux for 24 hours. The sodium chloride formed is then filtered and the filtrate is washed with 2 x 250 mL acetone. The filtrate is then concentrated at 50oc in a Rotovap to approximately 500 mL or until no further solvent comes off. The resulting oil and solid is dissolved in 1.5 liters of ethyl acetate and 100 mL of water. The organic layer is separated and washed with 3 100 mL of water containing 10 g of thiosulfate per 100 mL of water The organic layer s then concentrated at 50oc m a Rotovap. 15 g of Dowex 50 H * is added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 48 hours. The mixture is filtered and concentrated at 50 °C n a Rotovap using toluene to remove water. The resulting o l is dissolved 250 mL chloroform at 50°C and cooled overnight m a freezer with seeding. The material is filtered and the cake is recovered and washed witn 2 x 125 mL of ice cold chloroform and 50 mL toluene and air dried to constant weight. The yield is 237.9. The material is recrystallized by dissolving 1250 mL of toluene containing 2% n-outanol at 90°C 25 g cnarcoal are added and the material is filtered through celite and rinsed w th 150 mL of water containing 10 g thiosulfate per 100 mL of water. The material is placed in an ice bath with good stirring and refrigerated overnigh . The material s filtered and the cake washed with 2 x 100 mL of water and 3 x 150 mL toluene. The material is air dried to constant weight the yield s 236 g of 3- odo-1, 2-propanedιol as an off-white crystal powder having a purity of 99.5%, organically bound iodine not less tnan 62.5% w/w and not more than 0 1% w/w free iodine. The following example demonstrates the effect of iodmated glycerol and 3 -ιodo-1 , 2 -propanediol on the tracheal secretion of EXAMPLE 2 Adult male mice weighing 14-40 g were used this investigation. Animals were acclimatized to the laboratory environment for a minimum of five days prior to use the experimental procedures. Housing was provided environmentally controlled quarters in which temperature, humidity and ventilation were regulated based on the needs of the species. Husbandry practices and veterinary care were m accordance with the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NIH Publication No. 35-23) . Tracheal secretion in mice, expressed by the amount of phenol red dye secreted into the lumen of the trachea was measured according to the method of Engler and Szelenyi Male mice were randomly placed into appropriate treatment groups . On eacn experiment day, one to four m ce in a group received orally either vehicle (distilled water or 1% acacia, 0.1 mL/10 g body weight) or a drug. Each drug was tested at a minimum of three different dose levels. Each drug dosage was tested in at least s x animals. Drugs were administered orally (0.1 mL/10 g body weight) 30 minutes prior to intrapeπtcneal infection of phenol red (500 mg/kg: 5% solution in physiological saline, 0.1 mL/10 g body weight) . Thirty minutes after phenol red injection the animals were sacrificed by exposure to C0 2 . The wnole trachea was carefully excised and washed in 1.0 mL pnysioiogical sal e for a period of 30 minutes. Subsequently, 0.1 mL of 1 NaOH was added to the tracheal washings to stabilize the pH of the lavage fluid. The amount of phenol red was measured photometrically at 546 nM a Beckman Model 25 spectrophotometer . The amount of phenol red secreted in the tracheal lumen, expressed m μg/10 g body weight/hr, was determined by the formula of Graziani and Cazzulani: S = s V x 10 W wnere S= pnenol red secreted per 10 g of body weignt per hour " (μg/10 g/hr) . - 0- s= intensity of emission of the phenol red contained in 1.0 mL of tracheal lavage as determined from the standard curve of phenol red (0.5, 1, 5, and 10 μg/mL) . V= volume of the tracheal lavage (1.0 mL) . W= body weight of the mice expressed m grams. The results were expressed as mean ± S.F.M. Statistical significance was evaluated using the t-test for independent means, wnere P<0.05 is considered to be significant as compared to the appropriate control . The % increase in tracheal secretion of phenol red by eacn dose of a drug was determined by using the following formula % Increase = T-C x 100 C T= tracneai secretion of phenol red (μg/10 g/hr) treated mice each day C= tracheal secretion of phenol red (μg/10 g/hr) untreated mice each day. The l ne of best fit was calculated from the dose response curve of each drug and the ED50 (mg/kg) , i.e. the dose stimulating tracneai secretion of pnenol red by 50% over the control level, was determined and 95% confidence limits were also calculated. Iodmated glycerol, 3 -ιodo-1, 2 -propanediol, potassium iodide, N-acetylcysteme and albutεrol exerted a dose-dependent increase the tracneai secretion of phenol red m mice (Table 1) . The calculated ED50s (mg/kg, p.o., 30 minutes) were as follows iodmated glycerol = 68.3, 3 -ιodo-1 , 2 -propanediol = 0.75, aibuterol = 0.18, N-acetylcysteme = 61.8; and potassium iodide = ~ 200 3romnexme (3, 30 and 100 mg/kg, p o., 30 minutes) exerted a weak to moderate nondose-related effect (ΞD50 = >100 mg/κg) (Table 1) The data obtained shows that iodmated glycerol and 3-ιodo- 1, 2 -propanediol stimulates tracheal secretion of phenol red which is characteristic of mucolytic activity 3 -ιodo-1 , 2-propanedιol is aoot- 93 times as effective as iodmated glycerol stimu a- g the tracheal secretion of phenol red in mice ^lou erol ana Dotassium iodide also stimulated r cn ai mg/κg, respectively Earlier, otners nave reported an oral ED50 of about 4 and 4000 mg/kg for albuterol and potassium iodide, respectively Bromnexme produceα a significant increase phenol red tracheal secretion only at 100 mg/kg, p.o , but not at 3 or 30 mg/kg. Similarly, others have reported little or no bronchosecretogαgue activity of bromhexine at 40 mg/kg, p.o. m mice The succutaneous administration of bromnexine at 20-80 mg/kg, 15 minutes oeforε pnenol red injection nas been reported to exert a dose-dependent increase (10 to 42%) m tracheal secretion in mice Expectorant/mucolytic drugs nave ceεn Known to exert antitussive activity oy ennanc g tne ou put of respiratory tract fluid 3 -iodo-1, 2 -propanediol and loαmatεd glycerol nave seen found to exert antitussive effect against citric aciα (aerosol) - induced coughing responses guinea pigs and following mecnanical or electrical stimulation m the cat. The aoility of 3 -iodo-1 , 2 -propanediol ana lodinatea glycerol to ennance tracheal serous secretions may also play a role their reported antitussive ac ivity the guinea pig and cat. The results of foregoing investigation set fortn Taole I clearly αemαnstrates tne following 3 -ιoco- , 2 -propaneα ol ana loainateα glycero- exarceα a αose-αependent stimulation of tracneoDrcncmal secretion of phenol red mice with an oral ED50 of 0 75 ana 68 3 mg/kg, respectively The results ae onstrate tneir mucolytic activity m th s animal model system, and The results ootainεd show that both 3 -iodo-1 , 2-propaneαιol and iodmated glycerol are effective in stimulating tracheal secretion of phenol red in mice, however, 3 -iodo-1 , 2 -propanediol is anout 90 times as effective as loαmatεd glycerol TABLE 1 Effect of 3-iodo-l , 2 -propanediol , iodinated glycerol, Bromhexine, Albuterol, Potassium Iodide and N-acetylcysteine on the Tracheal Secretion of Phenol Red in Mice I I 1 Organ i di n* available from Wallace hαbotaloi i e:.; , C'ι anbury, New Jersey Values are means ± SFM. * P<0.05 as compared to respective controls. Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of observations. t Dose of a drug stimulating tracheal secretion by 50% over the control The pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention are administered by the oral route admixed with the usual compatible carriers, diluents, etc. The active ingredient, 3 , iodo-1 , 2 -propanediol, may be formed into tablets in the usual manner with other ingredients such as corn starch, dibasic calcium phosphate, FD&C Red No. 40, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, tribasic calcium phosphate, etc. according to the following formulation: microcrystalline cellulose mg 3.5 starch mg 1.0 tribasic calcium phosphate mg 12.0 3 -iodo-1 , 2 -propanediol mg 30.0 magnesium stearate mg 2.0 dibasic calcium phosphate mg 12.0 FD&C Red #40 " mg 0.5 An elixir formulation contains : 3 -iodo-1, 2-propanediol mg 30 ethyl alcohol 21.75% by volume and glucose, sodium saccharin, purified water, natural and artificial flavors to yield 60 mg 3-iodo-l, 2 -propanediol per 5 mL of elixir. Specific examples have been given illustrating the practice of the present invention, however, the invention is not limited to the specific examples given but is limited only by the scope of the aoDended claims.

Claims: WO 98/22102 _ g _ PCT/GB97/03169 CLAIMS A pharmaceutical composition having mucolytic activity which comprises a therapeutically effective amount of 3-iodo-l, 2- propanediol in admixture with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and diluents. A pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a tablet. 3. A pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 1 which comprises an elixir. A therapeutic method to increase the output of thin respiratory tract fluid and to liquify tenacious mucus in the bronchial tree comprising administering orally a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of 3-iodo-l, 2 -propanediol in admixture with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.

Inventors: SOFIA ROBERT DUANE, SOFIA, ROBERT, DUANE
Applicants: CARTER WALLACE, MCCALL JOHN DOUGLAS, SOFIA ROBERT DUANE, CARTER-WALLACE, INC., MCCALL, JOHN, DOUGLAS, SOFIA, ROBERT, DUANE
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A61K31
IPC codes: A61K9, A61K31, A61P11