Formulations for the treatment of arthritis conditions

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to formulations comprising combinations of analgesic/anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating and cartilage-reconstructing agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and, more generally, of arthritis conditions.

The combination of these agents, acting through different mechanisms of actions, reduces pain and prevents the progression of articulation injuries.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic degenerative disease which affects a large portion of the elderly, causing serious problems to patients. The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis conditions is due at first to the immune system, and subsequently to inflammatory conditions which erode the intra-articular surfaces causing deforming damages which are irreversible and painful.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a combination of active principles capable of inducing particularly effective therapeutic effects, without important side effects even after prolonged treatments.

The pharmaceutical formulations of the invention comprise: pure saligenin or derivatives thereof or extracts containing them selected from saligenin-enriched Salix rubra extract; substantially pure boswellic acid or a semi-synthetic derivative thereof or a boswellic acid-enriched Boswellia serrata extract; procyanindins from Vitis vinifera or from Camellia sinensis or rhein or lipophilic derivatives thereof; N-acetyl-glucosamine; glucuronic acid or glucuronolactone.

Examples of saligenin derivatives comprise the acetic or butyric esters, whereas examples of boswellic acid derivatives comprise pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters.

The formulations of the invention preferably comprise: Salix rubra extract containing 25% by weight of saligenin; Boswellia serrata extract containing 20% by weight of boswellic acid; procyanindins from Vitis vinifera or from Camellia sinensis optionally complexed with phospholipids or rhein or lipophilic derivatives thereof; N-acetyl-glucosamine; glucuronic acid or glucuronolactone.

The Salix rubra extract, the Boswellia serrata extract, procyanindins, N-acetyl-glucosamine, glucuronic acid or glucuronolactone are preferably present in the formulations in 2:1:1:1:1 weight ratios, respectively.

The formulations will contain typically 100 to 500 mg of 25% Salix extract, 50 to 150 mg of procyanindins optionally in the form of complexes with phospholipids, 20 to 200 mg of Boswellia serrata extract, 10 to 500 mg each of glucosamine and glucuronic acid or glucuronolactone.

The proanthocyanidins from Vitis vinifera can be obtained according to what disclosed in GB-A-1541469 or FR-A-2092743 or in EP 348781, while the corresponding phospholipid complexes are known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,527; Camellia sinensis extracts are disclosed, for example, in EP 814823.

Boswellia and boswellic acid extracts can be prepared according to known methods, and are commercially available as well the saligenin-enriched Salix rubra extracts.

The formulations will be in the form of soft- or hard-gelatin capsules, tablets or other forms suitable for the oral administration. Preferred are the capsules containing Enothera biennis oil as the carrier.

The procyanindins from Vitis vinifera or Camellia sinensis exert anti-radicalic action and inhibit proteoglycans-hydrolysing metal-proteases; they also synergistically interact with the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibiting components present in the Salix and Boswellia extracts.

As an alternative to proanthocyanidins, certain anthraquinones, mainly rhein or lipophilic derivatives thereof such as diacerhein, may be used, which reduce cell proliferation and stimulate proteoglycan synthesis.

N-Acetyl-glucosamine, glucuronic acid or glucuronolactone, which can be considered the building blocks of the connective tissue, complete the therapeutic profile of the formulations of the invention, as they promote the resynthesis of proteoglycans in the joints, which is an important restoration process that, together with the aforementioned factors, can contribute to a symptomatic improvement.

The compositions of the invention can be administered for prolonged times, in one or repeated daily administrations, until recovery or relief from the symptoms.

The following examples further illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE I

Preparation of Cellulose Capsules

Each capsule contains:

TABLE-US-00001 Salix rubra extract (25% in saligenin) 200 mg Boswellia serrata extract (20% in boswellic acid) 100 mg Green Tea extract (70% in procyanidins) 100 mg N-Acetyl-glucosamine 100 mg Glucuronolactone 100 mg Enothera biennis oil q.s. to 700 mg

EXAMPLE II

Preparation of Capsules

Each capsule contains:

TABLE-US-00002 Salix extract (25% in saligenin) 200 mg Boswellia serrata extract (20% in boswellic acid) 100 mg Diacerhein 100 mg N-acetyl-Glucosamine 100 mg Glucuronolactone 100 mg Enothera biennis oil q.s. to 700 mg

The formulation of the Example I, when administered to patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or arthritis conditions, showed consistent clinical results in terms of pain reduction, better mobility of the affected limbs, biopsic examinations of the joints and sense of well-being.