Formulations for the treatment and prevention of obesity

This application is a U.S. national stage of PCT/EP2013/071138 filed on 10 Oct. 2013, which claims priority to and the benefit of Italian Application No. MI2012A001727 filed on 12 Oct. 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The present invention relates to combinations of medicinal plant extracts useful in the prevention and treatment of obesity and excess weight.

PRIOR ART

Excess weight and obesity are rising to a worrying extent in all the industrialised countries, and may affect up to 50% of the population in the next decade. Obesity affects the health of the sufferer, with adverse effects on the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal systems.

Obesity is associated with a disorder of the lipid metabolism which, in turn, is influenced by a biochemical and hormonal profile involving glucose, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and neurovegetative mediators.

The onset of a state of excess weight/obesity at a young age is a highly significant risk factor for the activation of processes which, at adult age, can promote metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and the development of adult obesity. Many metabolic, cardiovascular and oncological disorders seem to be closely related to insulin resistance and the production of inflammatory cytokines. It is therefore of primary importance to deal with obesity by effective means which, combined with diet and lifestyle changes, support the body during the weight loss and maintenance stages.

Specific inhibitors of some enzymatic systems involved in the etiopathogenesis of obesity have been identified, in particular pancreatic lipase inhibitors of microbial origin (Orlistat) and serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as rimonabant and sibutramine. However, the side effects of said medicaments are such that they can only be used in serious cases and only by a small part of the population, their use for the youngest patients being particularly unsuitable.

WO2008107184 discloses compositions containing Cynara scolymus and Phaseolus vulgaris extracts for the treatment of obesity.

However, there is still a need for more effective alternative remedies which are easier to manage in the treatment of obesity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It has now been found that a combination of medicinal plant extracts causes a reduction in body weight by burning the fats accumulated in reserve organs. The combination according to the invention comprises extracts of Phaseolus vulgaris, Cynara scolymus, Vitis vinifera, Echinacea angustifolia and optionally, Panax ginseng.

The invention therefore relates to pharmaceutical or nutraceutical compositions comprising said extracts, for use in the prevention and treatment of obesity and excess weight in general, and in young people in particular.

The compositions according to the invention contain .alpha.-glucosidase and/or .alpha.-amylase inhibitors, gastric and pancreatic lipase inhibitors, anti-free radical compounds, anti-inflammatories and compounds able to increase energy expenditure. The compositions according to the invention therefore reduce the absorption and transport of the glucose and lipids present in the diet, and stimulate the energy metabolism.

In particular, Phaseolus vulgaris extract possesses inhibiting activity against .alpha.-amylase, an enzyme that demolishes starches, thus promoting glucose absorption. The extract modulates the appetite, as it increases the feeling of fullness due to the presence of phytohaemagglutinin which binds the brush border membranes of the intestinal cells, thus stimulating the release of cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptides [Carai M. A M. Brit. J. of Nutr. 3; 1-7, 2011].

Cynara scolymus extract has a high content of caffeoylquinic acids, which are known to inhibit the transport of glucose, and consequently its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Low glucose absorption is a crucial parameter to prevent the postprandial blood glucose peak.

Vitis vinifera seed extract has inhibiting properties against .alpha.-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. The modulation of said enzymes is an extremely important aspect in controlling obesity. In particular, inhibition of pancreatic lipases, enzymes that hydrolyse the lipids in the intestinal tract and promote their absorption, is essential for the control of obesity. Grape seeds extract inhibits lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which releases lipids into the plasma, thus helping to reduce lipid absorption and improve the blood lipid profile. This activity is synergic with the anti-free radical activity typically present after a meal rich in fats, promoting the maintenance of a good state of the blood vessel endothelium and a consequent reduction of the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases [Moreno D. A., Nutrition, 19; 876-879, 2003].

The lipophilic extract of Echinacea spp., preferably Echinacea angustifolia, contains alkylamides with activity that inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8). Excess weight/obesity is often accompanied by a generalised inflammatory state wherein inflammatory cytokines contribute to significantly inducing the state known as metabolic syndrome.

Echinacea alkylamides, due to their lipophilic nature and rapid absorption, synergically enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of other compounds contained in Cynara scolymus and Vitis vinifera extracts.

Panax ginseng (or Panax quinquefolium or other species containing the same active substances) is a known "adaptogen", namely a plant that favourably modifies many stress conditions in the body. Ginsenosides, considered to be the main active substances in the extract, inhibit pancreatic lipase by reducing the absorption of fats and improving the blood lipid profile. Ginsenosides are also inducers of particular proteins (UCP-2) which increase energy consumption with thermogenic activity, inducers of the carnitine-palmitoyl-transferase enzyme, which has an antiadipogenic effect, and stimulate the synthesis of neuropeptide Y antagonists with an anorexigenic effect.

Ginseng also stimulates protein synthesis in the liver, which can improve the lipoprotein ratio in accumulation areas [Seung-Hwang K., Pharm. Res., 48; 511-513, 2003].

Said extracts are known and available on the market. A Cynara scolymus extract is disclosed, for example, in WO 2007/006391, the preparation of a Phaseolus vulgaris extract is disclosed in WO2007071334, the preparation of Echinacea extracts is described in EP1539203, and the preparation of Vitis vinifera extracts is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,594.

Particularly preferred are Phaseolus vulgaris extract with an .alpha.-amylase inhibitor content of 300 .mu.g/mg and a lectin value of 10000 U/mg, a Cynara scolymus extract with a caffeoylquinic acid content ranging between 20 and 70%, preferably 35%, and a Panax ginseng extract having a ginsenoside content (determined by HPLC) of 7%.

The unit doses of the various extracts can vary within wide limits, in view of their high tolerability. In any event, the list below indicates the typical dose ranges that could be adapted according to the active ingredient content of the extracts, the particular form of administration and the therapeutic objective to be achieved (priming dose and maintenance dose, for example): Phaseolus vulgaris: 50 to 200 mg, preferably 100 mg Cynara scolymus: 50 to 200 mg; Echinacea angustifolia: 10 to 50 mg; Vitis vinifera: 100 to 250 mg; Panax ginseng: 20 to 50 mg.

A particularly preferred composition contains: 100 mg of Phaseolus vulgaris extract with an .alpha.-amylase inhibitor content of 300 .mu.g/mg and a lectin value of 10000 U/mg. 40 mg of Panax ginseng extract with a ginsenoside content (determined by HPLC) of 7%, and 50 to 200 mg, preferably 100 mg, of a Cynara scolymus extract with a caffeoylquinic acid content of 20 to 70%, preferably 35%; 25 mg of Echinacea angustifolia extract; 200 mg of Vitis vinifera pips.

The formulations will also contain conventional excipients, and optionally lipophilic extracts of Foeniculum vulgare or Melissa officinalis, which latter reduce the flatulence and spasms induced by excess gas production.

The formulations will typically be administered once or a twice a day, preferably twice a day. If Panax ginseng is present, the product will preferably be administered during the daytime to avoid adverse effects on sleep.

The compositions according to the invention, as well as reducing the postprandial blood glucose level, also cause a surprising reduction in the daily systemic blood glucose level. The resulting blood insulin level favourably influences the glycolipid metabolism, which is a pre-requisite for controlling excess weight. The compositions according to the invention also cause an unexpected increase in HDL cholesterol in hyperlipaemic subjects and in those whose HDL cholesterol level is below normal following treatment with cholesterol-lowering medicaments. In particular, a reduction of about 20% in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, and a significant increase of over 20% in HDL cholesterol, was observed. In a case study of patients with total cholesterol levels ranging from 220 to 280 mg/dl, said increase was constant over time, and appeared to be much more marked than reported for traditional herbal preparations to date.

The compositions according to the invention act on the whole metabolic profile of both children and adults, and are particularly suitable for the treatment of obesity, excess weight, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, especially in women.

The different activities of the constituents of the compositions according to the invention, which modify the absorption of fats and carbohydrates, the blood glucose and blood lipid levels, accumulation of fats in the tissues, the feeling of fullness and psychological stimulus, combine to provide an effective solution to the therapeutic problem of obesity, especially in young people.

Moreover, the protective activity of the extracts attenuates the oxidative and inflammatory processes which, in time, can cause permanent damage to the circulatory apparatus. Finally, the formulations according to the invention have the advantage of acting synergically on a number of factors without aggressive action on a single biological target, thus avoiding the major physical and neurological side effects that cause most failures of conventional treatments.

According to a preferred aspect, the compositions according to the invention will be formulated as capsules, single-dose sachets, conventional or gastroprotected tablets, to promote topical local activity while leaving the digestive function unchanged at stomach level.

According to a further aspect, the compositions according to the invention may be administered together with other substances having a useful or complementary activity. In paediatric medicine, preference will be given to sachet formulations due to their ease of administration, while capsules or tablets will be used for adults and school-age children.

The compositions according to the invention will be formulated according to conventional methods, such as those described in "Remington's Pharmaceutical Handbook", Mack Publishing Co., N.Y., USA. In particular, the compositions according to the invention will be formulated by conventional plant ingredient formulation techniques, which require particular care to be taken to avoid interactions with the excipients and the capsule matrices. Examples of oral formulations are tablets, dragees, soft and hard gelatin capsules, and cellulose capsules.

The examples set out below further illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Tablets

Extracts of:

TABLE-US-00001 Cynara scolymus (caffeoylquinic acid 30%) 200 mg Phaseolus vulgaris 100 mg Panax ginseng 100 mg Echinacea angustifolia 25 mg Vitis vinifera 200 mg Microcrystalline cellulose 310 mg Sodium croscarmellose 30 mg Magnesium stearate 8 mg Silica 8 mg

EXAMPLE 2

Tablets

Extracts of:

TABLE-US-00002 Cynara scolymus (caffeoylquinic acid 30%) 200 mg Phaseolus vulgaris 100 mg Echinacea angustifolia 25 mg Vitis vinifera 200 mg Microcrystalline cellulose 410 mg Sodium croscarmellose 30 mg Magnesium stearate 8 mg Silica 8 mg

EXAMPLE 3

A non-randomised open-label clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the activity of example 1 combined with example 2. The two tablets were administered at the main meals (1 with the midday meal and 2 with the evening meal) to a group of 10 young people (between 12 and 16 years old) using a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 26 and 30 and absence of concomitant disorders as selection criteria.

5 groups were set up (group 1: 200 mg Cynara sc. and 100 mg Phaseolus vulg., group 2: 100 mg Panax Gin., group 3: 25 mg Echinacea ang., group 4: 200 mg Vitis vinif., group 5: ex. 1 and ex. 2 as described above) and the individual extracts were compared with the examples specified above, evaluating the blood cholesterol, blood triglycerides, blood glucose and BMI values before treatment and after 1 month's treatment.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 1 Mean value % variation in Mean value % variation in Mean value % variation in of total mean value of of LDL mean value of of HDL mean value of cholesterol total cholesterol cholesterol LDL cholesterol cholesterol HDL cholesterol before after 1 month's before after 1 month's before after 1 month's Group treatment treatment treatment treatment treatment treatment Group 1 267 -4.5 172 -3.2 35 3.8 (10 patients) Group 2 278 -4.1 188 -5.2 34 6.5 (20 patients) Group 3 271 -6.2 181 -5.6 36 3.2 (19 patients Group 4 265 -0.5 175 -0.1 37 0.6 (23 patients Group 5 275 -23 198 -20.88 33 22 (23 patients)

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 2 % variation in % variation in Mean value of mean value of Mean value of mean value of % variation in triglycerides triglycerides blood glucose blood glucose Mean mean BMI value before after 1 month's before after 1 month's BMI after one month's Group treatment treatment treatment treatment value treatment Group 1 285 -4.2 142 -11.2 28 -2.1 (10 patients) Group 2 256 -8.0 131 -4.9 29 -1.2 (20 patients) Group 2 273 -6.3 129 -1.6 27 -1.3 (20 patients Group 4 277 -1.2 134 1.3 27 0.5 (23 patients Group 5 267 -41 130 -22.4 28 -8.5 (23 patients)

The data reported above clearly indicate a significant reduction in the postprandial and fasting blood glucose levels and an improvement in the lipid and body weight profile (Body Mass Index) after one month's treatment. In all the treated subjects a reduction in appetite was observed, which is important in order to maintain the balance reached.