Patent ID: 7723327

Claim:
A method of treating liver disease in a subject comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment for liver disease an effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation comprising a synthetic analog or derivative of a carotenoid; wherein the liver disease is characterized by an increased level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT); wherein the synthetic analog or derivative of the carotenoid has the structure where each R 3 is independently hydrogen or methyl; where each Y is independently O or H 2 ; where each R is independently OR′ or R 4 ; where each R 1 is independently -alkyl-NR 2 3 + , -aryl-NR 2 3 + , -alkyl-CO 2 − , -aryl-CO 2 − , -amino acid-NH 3 + , -phosphorylated amino acid-NH 3 + , polyethylene glycol, dextran, H, alkyl, or aryl; where each R 4 is independently -alkyl-NR 2 3 + , -alkyl-NR 2 2 , -aryl-NR 2 3 + , -alkyl-CO 2 − , -alkyl-CO 2 H; -alkyl-CO 2 R 6 ; -aryl-CO 2 − , -amino acid-NH 2 , -amino acid-NH 3 + , -phosphorylated amino acid-NH 3 + , polyethylene glycol, dextran, H, aryl, -alkyl-O-PO 2 -O-alkyl-NR 2 3 + , where R′ is -alkyl-O, alkyl, or aryl; where each R 2 is independently H, alkyl, or aryl; where each R 5 is independently H; where R 6 is alkyl, —CH 2 —CH(OH)—CH 2 —O—PO 2 —O—alkyl-NR 2 3 + , where R 7 is -alkyl-NR 2 3 + , -aryl-NR 2 3 + , alkyl-CO 2 − , -aryl-CO 2 − , -amino acid-NH 3 + , -phosphorylated amino acid-NH 3 + , polyethylene glycol, dextran, H, alkyl, or aryl.