CARDIOACTIVE COMPOSITION COMPRISING L-CARNITINE AND ITS DERIVATIVES AND <i>CRATAEGUS</i> EXTRACTS

Abstract: A composition is disclosed suitable for the prevention and/or therapeutic treatment of various disorders and pathological conditions of the cardiovascular system and which, therefore, may take the form of a dietary supplement, a dietetic support or an actual medicine, which comprises as its characterising active ingredients L-carnitine or proprionyl L-carnitine and a plant extract of the genus <i>Crataegus</i> (hawthorn).

Description: Cardioactive composition comprising L-carnitine and its derivatives and Crataegus extracts The present invention relates to a composition comprising a combination of L-carnitine and its derivatives and Crataegus extracts. This combination presents a potent and surprising synergistic effect in stimulating myocardial activity and in regulating cardiac rhythm and coronary flow. The composition can take the form and perform the activity of a dietary supplement or of an actual medicine, depending upon the support orpreventive or strictly therapeutic action which the composition is intended to exert in relation to the particular individuals for whom it is to be used in. The favourable effects of both L-carnitine and its derivatives and of Crataegus extracts have long been known. However, the synergistic and mutually enhancing action which the combination of these compounds according to the invention is capable of exerting on cardiac activity has never been previously disclosed. The favourable action exerted by the "carnitines" (a term which collectively refers to L-carnitine and the alkanoyl L-carnitines wherein the alkanoyl group has 2-5 carbon atoms) on both energy metabolism in general and myocardial metabolism in particular, is well known. Both L-carnitine, acetyl and propionyl L-carnitine are, in fact, therapeutically effective in myocardial insufficiency and in coronary disorders, as well as in peripheral vascular dysfunctions. Equally proven is the efficacy of these products in cardiac rhythm disorders. The mechanism of action of the carnitines underlying these effects accounts both for the better exploitation of energy resources through the processes of β-oxidation of fatty acids and glucose utilisation and the reduction of free radicals by inhibition of tissue oxidative processes. Less well known is the cardioactive effect exerted by Crataegus extracts. Unlike the extracts of various plants, such as the lily of the valley (Conυallaria), squill (Scilla), oleander (Nerium oleander) or pheasant's eye (Adonis υernalis), which mainly comprise cardenolides and act on the same receptors as digitalis, Crataegus extracts do not act on these receptors and possess a more complex action related to the presence in them of high concentrations of flavonoids and procyanidins. Among the flavonoids present, those identified and characterised are the O-heterosides of quercetol, such as hyperoside, spiraeoside, rutoside and crataeoside, and the flavonic C-heterosides derived from apigenin such as vitexin, rhamnylvitexin and isovitexin, of from luteolin, such as orientin, or the C-heterosides of apigenin, such as vicenin and iso- and neoshaftoside. Among the procyanidins, those identified are the flavan oligomers, particularly dimers and higher oligomers of epicatechol. It has been proved by means of pharmacological tests that total extracts of Crataegus increase the cardiac contractile force without increasing oxygen consumption, increase coronary flow, reduce atrio ventricular conduction time and, unlike digitalis compounds such as adrenaline and amrinone, prolong the myocardial refractory period. In clinical practice, these effects mean that Crataegus extracts can advantageously be used particularly in subjects with chronic cardiac insufficiency, tachycardia or cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension, fatigue and poor resistance to effort. It has now surprisingly been found that a composition containing a combination of the following as its characterising components: (a) a carnitine selected from the group comprising L-carnitine and propionyl L-carnitine or one of their pharmacologically acceptable salts or mixtures thereof, and (b) a Crataegus extract is extremely effective in the prevention and treatment of cardiac and vascular dysfunctions, particularly myocardial insufficiency, coronary disorders, peripheral vascular disorders, fatigue, cardiac rhythm disorders and nervous erethism, as a result of the potent synergistic effect exerted by its components. It has also been found that component (a) may advantageously comprise a further "carnitine", selected from the group comprising acetyl L-carnitine, valeryl L-carnitine, isovaleryl L-carnitine and butyryl L-carnitine or their pharmacologically acceptable salts or mixtures thereof. As regards component (b), the extract of Crataegus (hawthorn) may consist of an extract of the berries, flowers, shoots or leaves (or a mixture of these) of plants belonging to the various species of the genus Crataegus (Rosaceae family), such as Crataegus oxycantha, Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus leυigata, Crataegus pinnatifida and Crataegus sinaica. These Crataegus extracts comprise liquid alcoholic or hydroalcoholic extracts or tinctures, nebulised extracts or dry powders, or any extract of Crataegus obtained with the usual conventional procedures well known to experts in pharmaceutical technology and in extraction methods. Crataegus extracts are suitably standardised with regard to their component contents, according to the indications of the various pharmacopoeias. They are titled at least 2.2% in flavonoids or 18.75% in oligomeric procyanidins or 1% in vitexin-2-rhamnoside. Experimental tests The isolated rabbit heart test was performed according to the technique described by Langendorff (Langendorff O., Pflugers Arch. Ges. Physiol. Menschen und Tiere, 61, 291, 1985), maintaining the heart at a constant pressure of 70 cm H 2 0 with a Tyrode's solution. Crataegus extract alone, or L-carnitine or propionyl L-carnitine alone, or combinations of L-carnitine plus Crataegus extract, or propionyl L- carnitine plus Crataegus extract were administered in the infusion fluid. The effect of the carnitines alone or in combination with Crataegus on left ventricular pressure (LVP), coronary flow (CF), cardiac rhythm (CR) and cardiac contractile force (CCF) were then evaluated. The results of these tests (Table 1) indicate that both the carnitines, and particularly propionyl L-carnitine, and Crataegus extract are capable of favourably influencing the various cardiac and vascular parameters assessed in rabbit isolated heart. The injection of 1 mL of Tyrode's solution containing 10 mg of L- carnitine or propionyl L-carnitine in the infusion fluid caused an increase both in myocardial contractile force and in coronary flow. Equally efficacious was the effect of the injection of Crataegus extract (0.15 mL). A particularly significant effect, however, was achieved with the administration of L-carnitine and Crataegus extract in combination. In this case, in fact, there was potentiation of the effects, demonstrating that the combination of carnitines and Crataegus extract exerts an unexpected and surprising synergistic and potentiating effect. The effect of the composition according to the invention on coronary flow in the rat was also assessed in υiυo. In these tests, coronary spasm was induced in the rats by means of intravenous injection of 1 U/kg of pitressin. The reduced myocardial oxygenation induced by the inadequate blood supply caused characteristic electrocardiographic changes to the T wave (asphyxial T wave). In this test, one hour before injection of pitressin, the rats were orally administered L-carnitine alone (350 mg/kg), or propionyl L-carnitine alone (350 mg/kg), or Crataegus extract (100 mg/kg), or a combination of L-carnitine or propionyl L-carnitine plus Crataegus. With these tests, too, an unexpected and surprising synergistic effect was observed between the protective activity of the carnitines and that of Crataegus. Table 1 Percentage increase vs controls Treatment CCF CF LVP CR L-carnitine 20 27 25 16 Propionyl L-carnitine 30 60 25 20 Crataegus extract 35 80 30 30 L-carnitine + Crataegus extract 50 155 30 30 Propionyl L-carnitme + Crataegus extract 85 190 35 35 Table 2 Protected Weakly Unprotected Treatment rats protected rats rats L-carnitine 0 3 7 Propionyl L-carnitine 2 4 4 Crataegus extract 2 3 5 L-carnitine + Crataegus extract 3 5 2 Propionyl L-carnitine + Crataegus extract 8 2 0 Some illustrative, non-limiting examples of compositions according to the invention are reported hereinbelow: 1) L-carnitme 500 mg Crataegus dry extract (title 2.2% in flavonoids) 100 mg 2) L-carnitme 500 mg Crataegus dry extract (titled 2 2% in flavonoids) 250 mg 3) L-carnitine 500 mg Hydroalcohohc Crataegus extract (titled 2 2% in flavonoids) 1 ml 4) Propionyl L-carnitme 500 mg Crataegus dry extract (titled 2 2% in flavonoids) 100 mg 5) Propionyl L-carnitine 500 mg Hydroalcohohc Crataegus extract (titled 2 2% in flavonoids) l mL 6) L- carnitine 250 mg Propionyl L-carnitine 250 mg Crataegus dry extract (titled 2 2% in flavonoids) 250 mg 7) L-carnitine 100 mg Acetyl L-carnitine 100 mg Propionyl L-carnitine 100 mg Crataegus dry extract (titled 2 2% in flavonoids) 100 mg 8) L-carnitine 50 mg Acetyl L-carnitme 50 mg Propionyl L-carnitine 50 mg Isovaleryl L-carnitine 50 mg Butyryl L-carnitine 50 mg Crataegus dry extract (titled 2 2% in flavonoids) 150 mg 9) L-carmtine 100 mg Acetyl L-carnitine 100 mg Crataegus dry extract (titled 2 2% in flavonoids) 100 mg Taunne 100 mg α-Ketoglutaric acid 100 mg Coenzyme Qio 20 mg Resveratrol 2 mg 10) L-carnitine 100 mg Acetyl L-carnitme 100 mg Propyonil L-carnitine 100 mg Crataegus dry extract (titled 2 2% in flavonoids) 100 mg Alhum satiυum extract 50 mg Gmkgo bdoba extract 50 mg What is meant by pharmacologically acceptable salt of L-carnitine or alkanoyl L-carnitine is any salt of these with an acid that does not give rise to unwanted toxic or side effects. Such acids are well known to pharmacologists and to experts in pharmaceutical technology. Non-limiting examples of such salts, are the following: chloride; bromide; iodide; aspartate, acid aspartate; citrate, acid citrate; tartrate; phosphate, acid phosphate; fumarate, acid fumarate; glycerol phosphate; glucose phosphate; lactate; maleate, acid maleate; orotate; oxalate, acid oxalate; sulphate, acid sulphate; trichloroacetate; trifluoroacetate and methane sulphonate. A list of FDA-approved pharmacologically acceptable salts is given in Int. J. of Pharm. 33, 1986, 201-217; this publication is incorporated hereinbelow by reference.

Claims: Claims 1. A combination composition which comprises: (a) a "carnitine" selected from the group comprising L-carnitine and propionyl L-carnitine or their pharmacologically acceptable salts or mixtures thereof; (b) an extract of Crataegus. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ingredient (a) further comprises a "carnitine" selected from the group comprising acetyl L- carnitine, valeryl L-carnitine, isovaleryl L-carnitine and butyryl L- carnitine or their pharmacologically acceptable salts or mixtures thereof. 3. The composition of claim 1 or 2, wherein the extract of Crataegus is an extract of berries, flowers, sprouts, leaves or mixture therof of plants belonging to Crataegus oxycantha, Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus leυigata, Crataegus pinnatifida and Crataegus sinaica species. 4. The composition of claim 3, wherein the extracts of Crataegus comprise liquid, alcoholic, hydroalcohohc extracts, tinctures, nebulized extracts or dry powders of said Crataegus species. 5. The composition of claim 3 or 4, wherein said Crataegus extracts contain at least 2,2% by weight of flavonoids or 18.75% by weight of oligomeric procianides or 1% by weight of vitexine-2-rhamnoside. 6. The composition of any of the preceding claims wherein the pharmacologically acceptable salt of L-carnitine or alkanoyl L-carnitine is selected from the group comprising: chloride; bromide; iodide; aspartate, acid aspartate; citrate, acid citrate; tartrate; phosphate, acid phosphate; fumarate, acid fumarate; glycerophosphate; glucose phosphate; lactate; maleate, acid maleate; orotate; oxalate; acid oxalate; sulphate, acid sulphate; trichloroacetate; trifluoroacetate and methane sulphonate. 7. The composition of any of the preceding claims, which further comprises vitamins, coenzymes, mineral substances, aminoacids, and antioxidants. 8. The composition of any of the preceding claims, orally administrable, in the form of a dietary supplement. 9. The composition of any of claims 1 to 7, orally, parenterally, rectally, sublingually or transdermally administrable, in the form of a medicament. 10. The dietary supplement of claim 8, for the prevention of cardiovascular disorders, myocardial insufficiency, coronary disorders, vascular peripheral disorders, fatigue, cardiac arrythmias and erethism. 11. The medicament of claim 9, for the therapeutic treatment of cardiovascular disorders, myocardial insufficiency, coronary disorders, vascular peripheral disorders, fatigue, cardiac arrythmias and erethism. 12. The dietary supplement of claim 10, in solid, semi-liquid or liquid form. 13. The medicament of claim 11, in solid, semi-liquid or liquid form. 14. The dietary supplement of claim 12, in the form of tablets, lozenges, pills, capsules , granulates or syrups. 15. The medicament of claim 13, in the form of tablets, lozenges, pills, capsules, granulates, syrups, vials or drops.

Inventors: CAVAZZA CLAUDIO, CAVAZZA, CLAUDIO
Applicants: CAVAZZA CLAUDIO, SIGMA TAU HEALTHSCIENCE SPA, CAVAZZA, CLAUDIO, SIGMA-TAU HEALTHSCIENCE S.P.A.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61K31
IPC codes: A61K31, A61K36, A61P9