Title:  Antiviral composition derived from allium CEPA and therapeutic use thereof

United States Patent:  6,340,483

Assignee:  Diepon, S.A. (Montevideo, UY)

Filed:  August 3, 2000

Novel medicinal extracts derived from Allium species, preferably Allium cepa are provided. These extracts have broad medicinal properties, especially for treatment of AIDS and other viral infections.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel plant extract derived from a plant species of the family Alliaceae (also known as Lilliaceae or Amaryllidaceae), preferably of the genus Allium, with the proviso that said Allium is not garlic (Allium sativum), having medicinal properties.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide novel plant extracts derived from an Allium species selected from the group consisting of Allium cepa, Allium ampeloprasum ("leek"), Allium fistulosa (Japanese bunching onion, scallion or Welsh onion), or Allium schoenoprasum ("chives") having medicinal properties.

It is an even more specific object of the invention to provide a novel plant extract derived from Allium cepa, preferably Allium cepa var. Ancasti or Southporth white glove (SWG) having medicinal properties.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a novel method of treating or preventing a retroviral infection such as HIV-1 or HIV-2 or AIDS by administering a plant extract derived from an Allium species other than Allivum sativum, preferably Allium cepa, Allium fistulosa, Allium ampeloprasum or Allium schoenoprasum, and most preferably Allium cepa.

It is a more specific object of the invention to treat wasting syndrome, especially associated with AIDS, and/or to lengthen the latency period of HIV infection, and/or to delay the latent phase of AIDS, and/or to ameliorate or eliminate the clinical symptoms associated with AIDS such as intestinal problems, diarrhea, neurological impairment and paresthesia by administering a medicinal extract derived from an Allium species other than Allivum sativum, preferably Allium cepa, Allium fistulosa, Allium ampeloprasum or Allium schoenoprasum, and more preferably Allium cepa.

It is another specific object of the invention to inhibit or treat microbial infection, e.g., fungal, yeast or Candidiasis infection in a subject in need of such inhibition or treatment, comprising administering a medicinal extract derived from an Allium species other than A. sativum, preferably Allium cepa, Allium fistulosa, Allium ampeloprasum or Allium schoenoprasum and most preferably Allium cepa.

It is another specific object of the invention to modulate the immune system of a subject in need of such treatment, by administering a medicinal extract derived from an Allium species other than Allivum sativum, preferably Allium cepa.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel method of treating or preventing viral infection by administering a medicinal extract derived from an Allium species other than Allivum sativum.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a novel method of treating or preventing viral infection by administering a medicinal extract derived from an Allium species selected from the group consisting ofAllium cepa, Allium ampeloprasum, Allium fistulosa, and Allium schoenoprasum.

It is an even more specific object of the invention to provide a novel method of treating or preventing viral infection by administering a medicinal extract derived from Allium cepa, preferably the variety Ancasti or Southporth white glove.

It is another object of the invention to immunostimulate the immune system of a subject in need of such treatment by administering a medicinal extract derived from an Allium species other than sativum, preferably Allium cepa, Allium fistulosa, Allium schoenoprasum or Allium ampeloprasum and more preferably Allium cepa.

It is another object of the invention to enhance T cell function and/or T cell proliferation, and/or T-cell differentiation, by administering a medicinal extract derived from an Allium species other than Allivum sativum, preferably Allium cepa, Allium fistulosa, Allium schoenoprasum or Allium ampeloprasum, most preferably Allium cepa.

It is another specific object of the invention to identify and isolate the active constituent or constituents comprised in the Allium extract disclosed herein having antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, immunomodulatory, T cell function or proliferation inducing, and/or immunostimulatory activity.

It is another specific object of the invention to promote weight gain in a subject in need of such treatment by administering an effective amount of a medicinal extract derived from an Allium selected from Allium cepa, Allium fistulosa, Allium schoenoprasum or Allium ampeloprasum, most preferably Allium cepa.

It is another object of the invention to treat animal microbial infections, especially viral infections such as distemper or parvovirus or bacterial infections such as psittacosis, by administering a medicinal extract derived from Allium cepa.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for producing a medicinal extract from Allium species selected from Allium cepa, Allium fistulosa, Allium schoenoprasum or Allium ampeloprasum.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel medicinal extract derived from Allium cepa, Allium fistulosa, Allium schoenoprasum, or Allium ampeloprasum, preferably orally administrable.

It is another specific object of the invention to provide a novel regimen for treating AIDS that includes a dietary regimen, no administration of conventional AIDS medications such as protease inhibitors, anti-retrovirals, or other chemotherapeutics causing multiple side effects (other than antibiotics) and administration of a medicament derived from a plant of the genus Allium, preferably Allium cepa.

Claim 1 of 7 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for treating HIV-positive or AIDS patients comprising orally administering an amount of a dehydrated particulate Allium cepa plant material that is processed to provide particles wherein the majority have an average particle size ranging from about 36 to 500 microns, and wherein said dehydrated, particulate plant material is orally administered in an amount to reduce at least one of the clinical symptoms associated with HIV positive or AIDS patients, and further wherein dehydration is effected by heating;

wherein said clinical symptoms are selected from the group consisting of paresthesia, wasting syndrome, intestinal colic, diarrhea and polyadenopathy.

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