Abstract:
A health food and a pharmaceutical preparation especially useful for enhancing immunity are provided. A health food and a pharmaceutical preparation contain at least one of the plants of  Scrrula  genus of Loranthaceae family; the plants of  Dendrophthoe  genus of Loranthaceae family; the plants of  Macrosolen  genus of Loranthaceae family; the plants of  Lepeostegeres  genus of Loranthaceae family or the plants of  Barathranthus  genus of Loranthaceae family, which are native in the tropical region, or dried one thereof; or a extract thereof.

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-27440 filed on Feb. 4, 2004. The content of the application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention is related to a health food and a pharmaceutical preparation containing a native plant of Loranthaceae family of the tropical region (hereinafter stated as “Tropical Mistletoe”) or an extract thereof.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The nature-loving movement together with the health boom in the recent years pushes ahead more kinds of health foods and pharmaceutical preparations made from herbal plants introduced to the world.  
         [0004]     For example, JP2535311 declares an invention of a health tea, the main ingredient of which is sword bean( Canavalia gladiata , (Japanese name: Natamame)) which has an effect on hiccup, swollen or hurting throat, hoarse voice, mouth inflammation, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, hyposthenia after illness, anal fistula, empyema, alveolar pyorrhea, furuncle, tonsillitis, eczema and other skin diseases as well as strengthening kidney function.  
         [0005]     JP2856372 declares an invention of a health drink containing an extract of  Sasa veitchii  (Japanese name: Kumazasa) which has an effect on gastrointestinal disease, cold, diabetes, high pressure, inflammatory disease, decline of fever for cold, tonsillitis, mouth inflammation, asthma and others; as well as an extract of aloe which is antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor and antiulcer.  
         [0006]     JP3180264 declares an invention of a health drink of which raw material is greater galangal ( Languas galanga , Japanese name: Nankyo) and lemongrass (Cymbopogan citrtus), which have a cancer suppressing effect.  
         [0007]     Further JP3159508 declares an invention of a health food and a pharmaceutical preparation consisting of an extract of oolong stem tea, which has an effect on inflammation at pharynges and allergic reaction.  
         [0008]     Further JP H07-2685A, JP 2001-502305A and JP H11-503453A declare use of a  Viscum album  extract for pharmaceutical preparation.  
         [0009]     JP H07-2685A states that a lectin contained in  Viscum album  extract increases immunity, JP 2001-502305A states that a  Viscum  extract is parenterally used as an immunity activator, and JP H11-503453A states that an extract of  Viscus album  is useful for immunity suppressing diseases such as AIDS, cancer.  
         [0010]     More over, an extract of  Viscus album  is introduced in the market in Germany as a product called Iscador™.  
         [0011]     However, all these extracts are of  Viscus album , a native plant of European region and a parenteral medicine where the active ingredient is a lectin.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     A health food or a pharmaceutical preparation of which material is a native plant of Loranthaceae family of the tropical region, such as Scrrula genus of Loranthaceae family;  Dendrophthoe  genus of Loranthaceae family;  Macrosolen  genus of Loranthaceae family;  Lepeostegeres  genus of Loranthaceae family or  Barathranthus  genus of Loranthaceae family, has never been provided before.  
         [0013]     As a specimen of  Scrrula  genus of Loranthaceae family,  Scurrula longicerifolius  (Hayata) Danser (Japanese name: Nindoubano Yadorigi) is known to inhabit in Okinawa, Japan. However this specimen is so scarce that it faces a danger of extinction. There has never been a health food or a pharmaceutical preparation made from this specimen.  
         [0014]     This invention is to provide a health food and a pharmaceutical preparation of which material is taken from a native plant of Loranthaceae family of the tropical region.  
         [0015]     The active agents of Tropical Mistletoes are flavonoid, fatty acid and hexadeca-8,10,12-trienoic acid which are different from that of  Viscus album  (hereinafter stated as European Mistletoe) which is lectin.  
         [0016]     A health food includes at least one of the plants of  Scrrula  genus of Loranthaceae family, the plants of  Dendrophthoe  genus of Loranthaceae family, the plants of  Macrosolen  genus of Loranthaceae family, the plants of  Lepeostegeres  genus of Loranthaceae family or the plants of  Barathranthus  genus of Loranthaceae family, or a dried one thereof; or an extract thereof.  
         [0017]     A pharmaceutical preparation includes at least one of the plants of  Scrrula  genus of Loranthaceae family, the plants of  Dendrophthoe  genus of Loranthaceae family, the plants of  Macrosolen  genus of Loranthaceae family, the plants of  Lepeostegeres  genus of Loranthaceae family or the plants of  Barathranthus  genus of Loranthaceae family, or a dried one thereof; or an extract thereof.  
         [0018]     The decoct ion of this invention has a light taste like a coarse tea and is pleasant to taste. When the same decoction is given to patients of tumor, hepatitis, and cancer, symptomatic relieves are recognized. To explain more specifically, a patient of tumor, who took 250 ml of a decoction of the working example as stated below three times a day after meal, gradually found relief within 40 to 60 days and after continuous drink of the decoction finally the tumor disappeared. This decoction can be taken by any healthy body and is expected to contribute to enhance immunity and to maintain healthy conditions.  
         [0019]     Thus, a health food of this invention not only provides a light and pleasant taste like a coarse tea but also is expected to perform a remarkable effect to strengthen immunity. A pharmaceutical preparation of this invention is expected to perform an effect to strengthen immunity and to provide symptomatic relief from tumor and such. It also has an effect on pain relieving and diuresis. More over a pharmaceutical preparation of this invention has very slight side effect and high safety. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     The plant of Loranthaceae family used for this invention can be chosen from  Scrrula  genus,  Dendrophthoe  genus,  Macrosolen  genus,  Lepeostegeres  genus or  Barathranthus  genus. Preferably,  Scurrula antropurpurea  or  Scurrula lepidota  as a specimen of  Scrrula  genus,  Dendrophthoe pentandra  as a specimen of  Dendrophthoe  genus,  Macrosolen cochincinensis  as a specimen of  Macrosolen  genus,  Lepeostegeres gemmiflopud  as a specimen of  Lepeostegeres  genus, or  Barathranthus axanthus  as a specimen of  Barathranthus  genus is used. All of these specimens inhabit and are available in Jawa Island, Indonesia.  
         [0021]     This invention can be produced by the following method. First, the plant of the raw material is divided into leaves, stems and flowers. Leaves are washed twice. Stems are also washed twice and cut into an appropriate size for handling. Flowers are not necessary washed.  
         [0022]     25 grams of dried leaves, stems and flowers are put into 2 liters of water and brewed until water volume reduced to 1500 ml. The decoction obtained in such a manner is already ready to drink.  
         [0023]     Another embodiment of implementation of the invention is that the plant of the raw material is not dried before put into the water to be brewed.  
         [0024]     Still another embodiment of implementation of the invention is that the dried plant of the raw material is divided into sachets before put into the water to be brewed.  
       EXAMPLES  
       [0025]     Concrete working examples are explained below. In these examples, leaves, stems or flowers of  Scrrula atropurpurea  of  Scrrula  genus, Loranthaceae family;  Scrrula lepitoda  of  Scrrula  genus, Loranthaceae family;  Dendrophthoe pentandra  of  Dendrophthoe  genus, Loranthaceae family;  Macrosolen cochinchinensis  of  Macrosolen  genus, Loranthaceae family;  Lepeostegeres gemmiflopus  of  Lepeostegeres  genus, Loranthaceae family; or  Barathranthus axanthus  of  Barathranthus  genus, Loranthaceae family are used as raw materials.  
         [0026]     The 1st working example of the invention is obtained by brewing 25 grams of dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Macrosolen cochinchinensis  in 2 liters of water until the water volume reduced to 1500 ml.  
         [0027]     The 2nd working example of this invention is obtained by brewing the compound material of the components shown in Table 1 in 2 liters of water until the water volume reduced to 1500 ml.  
                       TABLE 1                           1   Dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Scrrula     5.2 g             atropurpurea         2   Dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Scrrula lepitoda     8.4 g       3   Dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Dendrophthoe     8.2 g             pentandra         4   Dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Macrosolen     1.5 g             cochinchinensis         5   Dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Lepeostegeres     1.4 g             gemmiflopus         6   Dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Barathranthus     0.3 g             axanthus                    
 
         [0028]     Further, the 3rd working example is a tea bag containing 35 +−2 g of the compound materials of the components shown in Table 2.  
                       TABLE 2                           1   Dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Scrrula     10.0 g             atropurpurea         2   Dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Scrrula lepitoda     10.0 g       3   Dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Dendrophthoe     12.0 g             pentandra         4   Dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Macrosolen      1.4 g             cochinchinensis         5   Dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Lepeostegeres      1.2 g             gemmiflopus         6   Dried leaves, stems or flowers of  Barathranthus      0.4 g             axanthus                    
 
         [0029]     These working examples are not to eliminate the coverage of the invention. The invention can be implemented by using a different component from the above-mentioned components, a different combination of different specimens from the above-mentioned recipes, or a different method from the above-mentioned methods.  
         [0030]     The following is the organic solvent extraction result of the working example 3 of the invention.  
                                                 TABLE 3                                   Active substances   Contents (g)   (%)                                        Total flavonoid   42.2   41.6           Tannin   7.3   6.7           Polysaccharide   30.1   29.5           Methylripariochomene A   4.6   4.2           Hexadeca-8,10,12-trienoic acid   15.8   17.9           Total   100.0   100.0                      
 
         [0031]     100 g of this compound contains 41.6% of flavonoid, 29.5% Polysaccharide and 17.9% of a particular fatty acid namely Hexadeca-8, 10, 12-trienoic acid.  
         [0032]     On the other hand, lectin, viscotoxin and alkaloid are detected from Iscador™.  
         [0033]     An advantageous effect of the invention to increase immunity is explained by showing the result of tests as below.  
         [0000]     Test on Reproduction of ROI (Rective Oxygen Intermediate)  
         [0000]     &lt;Testing Method&gt; 
         [0034]     An ROI reproduction test is performed by using 70 pieces of tumor mice. These mice are Swiss outbred adults with body weight 20 to 25 grams, and are made to have tumor by inducing benzo (a) pyrene dissolved by Oleum Olivarium solution.  
         [0035]     The tested mice are divided into 7 groups as shown in Table 4. The 1st group is given distilled water as control. The 2nd group is given 0.5 ml of 10% decoction of  Macrosolen cochinchinensis , the 3rd group 1 ml of 20% decoction of  Macrosolen cochinchinensis , the 4th group 1 ml of 30% decoction of  Macrosolen cochinchinensis , the 5th group 0.5 ml of 10% decoction of the compound material of Table 1, the 6th group 1 ml of 20% decoction of the compound material of Table 1, the 7th group 1 ml of 30% decoction of the compound material of Table 1 each day for 15 days.  
         [0036]     Here, 10% decoction means a decoction obtained by brewing 50 grams of dried material in 500 ml of distilled water under 90° C. stirred for 15 minutes then filtering the decoction while it is warm and adding some water through the filter until the volume of the decoction reaches 500 ml. 20% decoction is obtained by cooking 100 ml of the 10% decoction until condensed to 50 ml. 30% decoction is obtained by cooking 150 ml of the 10% decoction until condensed to 50 ml.  
                                                         TABLE 4                                       Doses   Periods               Treatments   (ml)   (days)                                    Group 1   Distilled water       15   control       Group 2     Macrosolen cochincinensis  10%   0.5   15       Group 3     Macrosolen cochincinensis  20%   1   15       Group 4     Macrosolen cochincinensis  30%   1   15       Group 5   Compound of Table 1 10%   0.5   15       Group 6   Compound of Table 1 20%   1   15       Group 7   Compound of Table 1 30%   1   15                  
 
 &lt;Judging Method&gt;
 
         [0037]     15 days later, the mice are killed by narcoses using chloroform. The abdomen skin is opened so that the peritoneum cover is visible. About 8 ml medium of RPMI-1640 is injected to the peritoneum cavity, wait for 3 minutes while giving pressure by fingers, then the medium is aspirated. The obtained cells are centrifuged at 1200 rpm, 4 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. After the supernatant is discarded, the pellet is resuspended into a complete medium. Then cells are counted by hemocytometer. Cell viability is determined by trypan blue, then resuspended by the complete medium so it is reached density of 2.5×10 5  per ml. Further cultivated with CO 2  25% at temperature 37° C. for 24 hours. ROI content is counted based on reduction power of macrophage toward Nitroblue Tetrasolium (NBT reduction assay). By the existence of superoxide anion, NBT is oxidized to form undissolved formazan precipitate. To induce secretion of superoxide anion, cell culture is stimulated by Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-acetate (PMA) with final concentration 125 ng/ml.  
         [0038]     Macrophage culture is washed twice with RPMI 1640 then added with 500 μl of Nitroblue solution containing 125 ng/ml of PMA then culture is incubated at temperature 37° C. with 5% of CO 2 for 60 minutes. The incubation result is washed three times with PBS then dried at room temperature and fixated with absolute methanol for 30 seconds. After the methanol is dried, the preparation is smeared with 2% of neural red for 15 seconds then dried at room temperature. Percentage of the cells showing NBT reduction in 200 cells is counted on light microscope with 400× enlargement.  
         [0000]     &lt;Judging Result&gt; 
         [0039]     As a result of the test, the percentages of cells indicating NBT reaction in every 200 macrophages are shown in Table 5.  
                                                         TABLE 5                                       Doses   Periods   ROI           Treatments   (ml)   (days)   (%)                                    Group 1   Distilled water       15   15.7       Group 2     Macrosolen cochincinensis  10%   0.5   15   18.3       Group 3     Macrosolen cochincinensis  20%   1   15   46.0       Group 4     Macrosolen cochincinensis  30%   1   15   35.6       Group 5   Compound of Table 1 10%   0.5   15   22.1       Group 6   Compound of Table 1 20%   1   15   44.7       Group 7   Compound of Table 1 30%   1   15   42.3                  
 
         [0040]     As we can see at Table 5, ROI of mice given either  Macrosolen cochincinensis  or the compound of Table 1 increased. This phenomenon is more obvious when more than 20% of decoctions are given to mice.  
         [0000]     Test on Helper T Lymphocyte Activation  
         [0000]     &lt;Judging Method&gt; 
         [0041]     From the same mice that the macrophages are taken from the peritoneum, further lymph tissue thereof is taken. The lymph tissue is ripped then filtrated using nylon filter. Erythrocyte is lysed by TRIS ammonium chloride for 10 minutes. The cells of filtration result is washed twice using HBBS and put into L-arginine without RPMI with 10% of Fetal Calf Serum (FCS), 1 mol/L of glucose and 40 μmol/L of 2-mercaptoethanol. Cell viability is counted by trypan blue in Haemocytometer of Neubauer. Furthermore, proliferation activity of lymphocyte culture is stimulated by anti-CD3monoclonal (SIGMA Catalog No. F 7275) and incubated for 24 hours. Furthermore culture is stored at frozen temperature to be performed counting of IL-2. Activation of helper T lymphocyte is judged based on the counted number of IL-2.  
         [0042]     Content of Interleukin-2 in cell supernatant is counted using Elisa method as follows. Microplate with 96 holes is sensitized with sample which has been diluted using PBS and 10% of Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) for one night. Then it is added anti mouse IL-2 (mouse IgG1, clone 5344-111; Becton Dickinson) which is diluted with 50 μl of Tris HCl pH 9.5. After incubation for about one hour, it is washed with PBS and 10% of Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) three times. Afterwards, plate is incubated using secondary antibody labeled biotynil and HVR Avidin. Then absorbance is measured by using ELISA reader at 406 nm.  
         [0000]     &lt;Judging Result&gt; 
         [0043]     The densities of IL-2 of mice lymph of each group obtained from the absorption measurement mentioned above are shown in Table 6.  
                                                     TABLE 6                                       IL-2               Dose   Period   density       Groups   Treatments   (ml)   (days)   (ng/l)                                Group 1   Distilled water       15   1.49       Group 2     Macrosolen     0.5   15   1.41             cochincinensis  10%       Group 3     Macrosolen     1   15   3.21             cochincinensis  20%       Group 4     Macrosolen     1   15   2.72             cochincinensis  30%       Group 5   Compound of Table 1 10%   0.5   15   1.29       Group 6   Compound of Table 1 20%   1   15   3.03       Group 7   Compound of Table 1 30%   1   15   3.74                  
 
         [0044]     As we can see at Table 6, the mice given more than 20% decoction of either  Macrosolen cochincinensis  or the Compound of Table 1 significantly increased IL-2 density and thus activation of Helper T lymphocyte thereof is observed.  
         [0000]     Cancer Treatment Effect  
         [0045]     The reaction of cancer patients who used the tea bag of the 3rd working example is explained below. 
    (1) Brewing 
        1) Put the teabag of Table 3 into 2 liters of boiled water and brew by a small fire for 20 to 25 minutes until the volume of water reduces to 1.5 liters.     2) Remove the teabag out and cool down.    
        (2) Doses 
        Patients take 250 ml of the decoction 3 times a day after meal until the cancer disappears, shrikes or decreases. In order to avoid recurrence, 250 ml after evening meal is sufficient.    
        (3) Result    
 
         [0052]     31 patients shown in Table 7 took the decoction.  
                                                     TABLE 7                                   Cancer           No   Sex   Age   area   Stage                                1   F   46   Breast   IV       2   F   46   Left   IIa                   breast       3   M   68   Pancreas   IV       4   F   52   Right   II                   breast       5   F   29   Pharynx   IIIT                       1b       6   F   45   Right   II                   breast       7   F   43   Right   II                   breast       8   M   48   Prostatic   Iia       9   F   38   Lung   IV       10   F   49   Uterine   IIIa       11   M   60   Stomach   IIIb       12   F   56   Uterine   IIIb       13   F   41   Neck   II       14   F   30   Lung   IV                   cancer       15   F   50   Stomach   IIIa       16   F   55   Left   IV                   breast                   cancer       17   F   38   Left   III                   breast                   cancer       18   F   18   Ovarian   III       19   F   43   Uterine   IV                   cancer       20   F   37   Uterine   IV       21   M   59   Prostatic   IIIa       22   M   67   Lung   IV       23   F   43   Uterine   III       24   M   52   Stomach   IIIb       25   F   72   Colon   IV       26   F   39   Right   III                   breast       27   F   64   Lung   IV       28   F   36   Uterine   IV       29   M   47   Rectum   III       30   F   53   Lung   IV       31   F   55   Right   III                   breast r                  
 
         [0053]     The results are shown in Table 8. Here, the criteria for the judgment are according to the Japanese Cancer Association.  
                                             TABLE 8                           Number of   Reaction           Judgment   cases   (%)   Case Numbers                                CR   5   16.1   9, 18, 21, 22, 30       PR   7   22.6   8, 10, 11, 19, 26, 28, 31       NC   2   6.4   3, 6       PD   0   0.0   —       Judgment   2   6.4   16, 29       Impossible       Judgment   15   48.4   1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15,       Unclear           17, 20, 23, 24, 25, 27       (all cases alive)               Total   31   100.0   31 cases                 CR: Complete Reaction (Tumor disappeared for 4 weeks or more)            PR: Partial Reaction (More than 50% of Tumor disappeared for 4 weeks)            NC: No Change (Shrink of Tumor 50% or more, Enlarge of Tumor 25% or less for 4 weeks)            PD: Progressive Disease (Enlarge of Tumor 25% or more)             
 
         [0054]     As a result, the reaction of the decoction is CR 16.1%, PR 22.6%, totally 38.7%.  
         [0000]     Clinical Characteristics  
         [0000]     (1) Pain Relieving Effect  
         [0055]     Among the cases shown in Table 7, 54.8% of cases (17 cases out of 31) reported pain before taking the decoction, among which 82.4% cases (14 cases out of 17) reported pain relieving effect after taking the decoction. This rate is high.  
         [0056]     Further, pain relieving cases of each disease stage are 41.2% for Stage IV, 35.3% Stage III, 5.9% Stage II. Pain relieving effect of the decoction is more obvious in the expanded stage of disease.  
         [0057]     As a result of the research on the pain relieving effect of the decoction by using an animal model, equivalent pain relieving effect to aspirin was confirmed. Therefore it is assumed that this decoction acts in suppression of acceptors which are the cause of pain. It is suspected total flavonoid may related to this phenomenon as active agents of the decoction.  
         [0000]     (2) Diuresis Effect  
         [0058]     Among the cases of Table 7, 58.1% (18 cases out of 31) reported increase of volume of urine a day. Among these 18 cases, the average volume of urine was 900 ml before taking the decoction and increased to 2,200 ml after 1 month from starting to take the decoction.  
         [0059]     It is assumed that this diuresis effect is caused by tannin (catechin) or total flavonoid as active agents of the decoction.  
         [0000]     Side Effects  
         [0060]     The side effects of the decoction reported from the 31 cases of Table 7 are only related to digestive organs as shown in Table 9.  
                           TABLE 9                                       Rate of occurrence:   17 cases (54.8%)           Types of side effects:           Abdominal wind   15 cases (48.4%)           Soft feces    2 cases (6.5%)           Aerenterectasia    1 case (3.2%)           Belch    1 case (3.2%)                      
 
         [0061]     Abdominal winds of the highest rate 48.4% were assumed to be caused by the dietary instruction to take more grains, beans and vegetables (food fibers) than meat.  
         [0062]     As contrasted to the product which is sold as Iscador™ in Germany is known to cause side effects such as anaphylaxy, headache, fever, chill, nausea, vomiting, stomachpain; no severe side effects are observed in the decoction of the invention.  
         [0063]     Besides it, the decoction of the invention has no contraindication while Iscador™ contraindicate use in antidepressant drugs (MOA inhibitor), high pressure, pregnant, young children.