Methods for inhibiting cancer growth, reducing infection and promoting general health with a fermented soy extract

Abstract

The present invention relates to the preparation of therapeutic compositions comprising of fermented soy extracts made with lactic acid bacteria and the optional addition of at least a yeast. The invention also relates to therapeutic uses of such extracts in promoting general health, improving the health of subjects, preventing and/or treating cancer, preventing infections, reducing the incidence of infections, treating infections, treating asthma, treating inflammation, modulating the immune system and treating immune disorders.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for preventing or treating a disease or health disorder in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of a fermented soy extract to the subject in need of the prevention or treatment, wherein the fermented soy extract is made with the fermentation of an aqueous soy extract with at least one lactic acid bacteria.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said disease or health disorder is a cancer and wherein the fermented soy extract inhibits the growth of the cancer.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said cancer is breast cancer, prostrate cancer, leukemia, colon cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, testicular cancer, lymphoma, rhabdosarcoma, neuroblastoma, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, brain tumor, skin cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer or nasopharyngeal carcinoma.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said cancer is breast cancer.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said disease or health disorder is an infection by a microbe and wherein the fermented soy extract inhibits the growth of the microbe.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the microbe is a bacteria.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the microbe is a fungus.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said disease or health disorder is asthma and wherein the fermented soy extract is effective in preventing or treating asthmatic attacks.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fermented soy extract is effective in preventing or treating the asthmatic attacks by inhibiting lipooxygenase.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the lipooxygenase is LOX-5, LOX-12 or LOX-15.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said disease or health disorder is an immune disorder, and wherein the fermented soy extract is effective in preventing or treating the immune disorder.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fermented soy extract is effective in preventing or treating the immune disorder by inhibiting lipooxygenase.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the lipooxygenase is LOX-5, LOX-12 or LOX-15.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease or health disorder is inflammation, coronary heart disease, cardiac failure, allergy, ulcerative colitis, dermatitis or pruritis.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fermented soy extract is effective in preventing or treating the disease or health disorder by inhibiting lipooxygenase.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the lipooxygenase is LOX-5, LOX-12 or LOX-15.  
     
     
         17 . A method of modulating the immunity of a subject, comprising administering an effective amount of a fermented soy extract to the subject in need ofthe immunomodulation, wherein the fermented soy extract is made with the fermentation of an aqueous soy extract with at least one lactic acid bacteria and wherein the fermented soy extract is effective in inhibiting lipooxygenase.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the lipooxygenase is LOX-5, LOX-12 or LOX-15.  
     
     
         19 . A method of inhibiting lipooxygenase in a subject, comprising administering an effective amount of a fermented soy extract to the subject in need of thereof, wherein the fermented soy extract is made with the fermentation of an aqueous soy extract with at least one lactic acid bacteria.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the lipooxygenase is LOX-5, LOX-12 or LOX-15.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fermentation of the aqueous soy extract is conducted with at least one lactic acid bacteria and a yeast, wherein the lactic acid bacteria is a Lactobacillus species.