Method of increasing the presence of glutathione in cells

Abstract

A composition for increasing the presence of glutathione in cells and for treating or preventing impaired liver function. The composition includes a precursor of gluthathione, and enhancer of glutathione biosynthesis, and a third component which is a lignan or the third component is a combination of an enhancer of gluthathione regeneration and an enhancer of glutathione-mediated conjugation. The precursor of gluthathione is cysteine or is a functional equivalent of cysteine which yields cysteine when administered to a mammal undergoing treatment.

1 . Method of increasing the presence of glutathione in cells including treating or preventing impaired liver function by administering to a mammal in the need thereof a composition which contains at least one of each of the following components 
 a) a precursor of glutathione which is selected from the group consisting of cysteine and functional equivalents containing said amino acid in an amount of at least 100 mg cysteine per day, calculated as free amino acid;    b) an enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis; and    c) a third component which is either selected from lignans or which is a combination 
 c1) of an enhancer of glutathione regeneration and  
 c2) of an enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation.  
   
     
     
         2 . Method of increasing the presence of glutathione in cells according to  claim 1  by administering a composition wherein 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) contains apocynin or analogues;  
 the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) contains an active ingredient which is selected from the group of silymarin and lignans; and  
 the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) contains an active ingredient which is selected from the group consisting of iridoid glycosides and lignans.  
 
     
     
         3 . Method of increasing the presence of glutathione in cells according to  claim 1  or  2  by administering a composition wherein 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) is a preparation obtained from  Picrorhiza species;    
 the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) is selected from the group consisting of a preparation of  Silybum marianum  and a preparation of  Schisandra species;  and  
 the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) is selected from the group consisting of a preparation of  Picrorhiza species  and a preparation of  Schisandra species.    
 
     
     
         4 . Method of increasing the presence of glutathione in cells according to  claim 1  by administering a composition wherein 
 the precursor of glutathione a) comprises cysteine in an amount of 100 to 2000 mg per day;  
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) is selected from the group consisting of an extract of  Picrorhiza kurrooa  and an extract of  Picrorhiza schrophulariiflora, whereby said extract contains  0.01 to 100 mg per day apocynin or analogues;  
 the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) is selected from the group consisting of an extract of  Silybum marianum  containing 10 to 1000 mg per day silymarin and an extract of  Schisandra chinensis  or  Schisandra phenanthera  containing 0.1-100 mg per day schisandrins; and  
 the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) is selected from the group consisting of an extract, which contains 1 to 100 mg per day picrosides and has been obtained from  Picrorhiza kurrooa  or from  Picrorhiza schrophulariiflora  or from both  Picrorhiza spezies,  and of an extract, which contains 0.1 to 100 mg per day schisandrins and has been obtained from  Schisandra chinensis  or from  Schisandra phenanthera  or from both  Schisandra spezies.    
 
     
     
         5 . Method of increasing the presence of glutathione in cells according to  claim 1  or 4 wherein a composition is administered which contains in addition a further active ingredient d) which is selected from the group consisting of methionine and functional analogues containing said amino acid, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, selenium yeast, a zinc salt, a copper salt, and a manganese salt.  
     
     
         6 . Method of increasing the presence of glutathione in cells according to  claim 5  wherein the active ingredient d) is selected from the group consisting of 100 to 1000 mg per day methionine, calculated as free amino acid, 10 to 200 mcg per day selenium yeast, 0.1 to 30 mg per day zinc oxide, 0.1 to 8 mg per day cupric oxide and 0.1 to 20 mg per day manganese gluconate.  
     
     
         7 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition for increasing the presence of glutathione in cells including the prevention or treatment of impaired liver function, characterised in that 
 the composition contains in combination at least one of each of the following components: 
 a) a precursor of glutathione which is selected from the group consisting of cysteine and functional equivalents containing said amino acid;  
 b) an enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis; and  
 c) a third component which is either selected from lignans or which is a combination 
 c1) of an enhancer of glutathione regeneration and  
 c2) of an enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation; and that cysteine as precursor of glutathione a) accounts for at least 1.5 g, calculated as free amino acid, per 100 g of solid matter contents of the composition.  
 
   
     
     
         8 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7 , characterised in that 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) contains apocynin or analogues;    the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) contains an active ingredient which is selected from the group of silymarin and lignans; and    the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) contains an active ingredient which is selected from the group consisting of iridoid glycosides and lignans.    
     
     
         9 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7  or  8  characterised in that 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) is a preparation obtained from  Picrorhiza species;    
 the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) is selected from the group consisting of a preparation of  Silybum marianum  and a preparation of  Schisandra species;  and  
 the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) is selected from the group consisting of a preparation of  Picrorhiza species  and a preparation of  Schisandra species.    
 
     
     
         10 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7  characterised in that 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) is selected from the group consisting of an extract of  Picrorhiza kurrooa  and an extract of  Picrorhiza schrophulariiflora,  whereby said extract contains at least 5 mg apocynin or analogues per 100 g of solid matter contents of the composition;  
 the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) is selected from the group consisting of an extract of  Silybum marianum  containing at least 150 mg silymarin per 100 g of solid matter contents of the composition and an extract of  Schisandra chinensis  or  Schisandra phenanthera  containing at least 1.5 mg schisandrins per 100 g of solid matter contents of the compisition; and  
 the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) is selected from the group consisting of an extract, which contains at least 15 mg picrosides per 100 g of solid matter contents of the composition and has been obtained from  Picrorhiza kurrooa  or from  Picrorhiza schrophulariiflora  or from both  Picrorhiza spezies,  and of an extract, which contains at least 1.5 mg schisandrins per 100 g of solid matter contents of the composition and has been obtained from  Schisandra chinensis  or from  Schisandra phenanthere  or from both  Schisandra spezies.    
 
     
     
         11 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7  or  10  characterised in that 
 the composition contains in addition a further active ingredient d) which is selected from the group consisting of methionine and functional analogues containing said amino acid, selenium yeast, a zinc salt, a copper salt, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and a manganese salt.  
 
     
     
         12 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 11  characterised in that 
 the ingredient d) is selected from the group consisting of 1.5 g to 15 g methionine, calculated as free amino acid, per 100 g of solid matter contents of the composition, 150 to 3000 mcg selenium yeast per 100 g of solid matter contents of the composition; 1.5 to 450 mg zinc oxide per 100 g of solid matter contents of the composition; 1.5 to 120 mg cupric oxide per 100 g of solid matter contents of the composition; and 1.5 to 300 mg manganese gluconate per 100 g of solid matter contents of the composition.  
 
     
     
         13 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7  or 10 characterised in that 
 that cysteine as precursor of glutathione a) accounts for at least 3.0 g, calculated as free amino acid, per 100 g of solid matter contents of the composition.  
 
     
     
         14 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition for increasing the presence of glutathione in cells including the prevention or treatment of impaired liver function, characterised in that 
 the composition contains in combination at least one of each of the following components: 
 a) a precursor of glutathione which is selected from the group consisting of cysteine and functional equivalents containing said amino acid in an amount of at least 0.1 g cysteine per day, calculated as free amino acid;  
 b) an enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis; and  
 c) a third component which is either selected from lignans or which is a combination 
 c1) of an enhancer of glutathione regeneration and  
 c2) of an enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation.  
 
   
     
     
         15 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 14 , characterised in that 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) contains apocynin or analogues;    the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) contains an active ingredient which is selected from the group of silymarin and lignans; and    the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) contains an active ingredient which is selected from the group consisting of iridoid glycosides and lignans.    
     
     
         16 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 14  or  15  characterised in that 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) is a preparation obtained from  Picrorhiza species;    
 the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) is selected from the group consisting of a preparation of  Silybum marianum  and a preparation of  Schisandra species;  and  
 the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) is selected from the group consisting of a preparation of  Picrorhiza species  and a preparation of  Schisandra species.    
 
     
     
         17 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 14  characterised in that 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) is selected from the group consisting of an extract of  Picrorhiza kurrooa  and an extract of  Picrorhiza schrophulariiflora,  whereby said extract contains 0.01 to 100 mg apocynin or analogues per day;  
 the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) is selected from the group consisting of an extract of  Silybum marianum  containing 10 to 1000 mg silymarin per day and an extract of  Schisandra chinensis  or  Schisandra phenanthera containing  0.1-100 mg schisandrins per day; and  
 the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) is selected from the group consisting of an extract, which contains 1 to 100 mg picrosides per day and has been obtained from  Picrorhiza kurrooa  or from  Picrorhiza schrophulariiflora  or from both  Picrorhiza spezies,  and of an extract, which contains 0.1 to 100 mg schisandrins per day and has been obtained from  Schisandra chinensis  or from  Schisandra phenanthera  or from both  Schisandra spezies.    
 
     
     
         18 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 14  or  7  characterised in that 
 the composition contains in addition a further active ingredient d) which is selected from the group consisting of methionine and functional analogues containing said amino acid, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, selenium yeast, a zinc salt, a copper salt, and a manganese salt.  
 
     
     
         19 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 18 , characterised in that 
 the ingredient d) is selected from the group consisting of 100 to 1000 mg per day methionine, calculated as free amino acid, 10 to 200 mcg per day selenium yeast, 0.1 to 30 mg per day zinc oxide, 0.1 to 8 mg per day cupric oxide and 0.1 to 20 mg per day manganese gluconate.    
     
     
         20 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition for increasing the presence of glutathione in cells including the prevention or treatment of impaired liver function, characterised in that it represents a unit dosage form; that it contains in combination at least one of each of the following components: 
 a) a precursor of glutathione which is selected from the group consisting of cysteine and functional equivalents containing said amino acid:    b) an enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis; and    c) a third component which is either selected from lignans or which is a combination 
 c1) of an enhancer of glutathione regeneration and  
 c2) of an enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation; and that cysteine as precursor of glutathione a) is present in an amount of at least 30 mg, calculated as free amino acid, per unit dosage form.  
   
     
     
         21 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 20  characterised in that 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) contains apocynin or analogues;  
 the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) contains an active ingredient which is selected from the group of silymarin and lignans; and  
 the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) contains an active ingredient which is selected from the group consisting of iridoid glycosides and lignans.  
 
     
     
         22 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 20  or 21, characterised in that 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) is a preparation obtained from  Picrorhiza species;    
 the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) is selected from the group consisting of a preparation of  Silybum marianum  and a preparation of  Schisandra species;  and  
 the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) is selected from the group consisting of a preparation of  Picrorhiza species  and a preparation of  Schisandra species.    
 
     
     
         23 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 20  characterised in that 
 the precursor of glutathione a) comprises cysteine in an amount of 30 to 333 mg;  
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) is selected from the group consisting of an extract of  Picrorhiza kurrooa  and an extract of  Picrorhiza schrophulariiflora,  whereby said extract contains 0.0033 to 33 mg apocynin or analogues;  
 the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) is selected from the group consisting of an extract of  Silybum marianum  containing 3,3 to 333 mg silymarin and an extract of  Schisandra chinensis  or  Schisandra phenanthera  containing 0.033 to 33 mg schisandrins; and  
 the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) is selected from the group consisting of an extract, which contains 0,33 to 33 mg picrosides and has been obtained from  Picrorhiza kurrooa  or from  Picrorhiza schrophulariiflora  or from both  Picrorhiza spezies,  and of an extract, which contains 0.033 to 33 mg schisandrins and has been obtained from  Schisandra chinensis  or from  Schisandra phenanthera  or from both  Schisandra spezies.    
 
     
     
         24 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 20  or  23  characterised in that 
 the composition contains in addition a further active ingredient d) which is selected from the group consisting of methionine and functional analogues containing said amino acid, selenium yeast, a zinc salt, a copper salt, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and a manganese salt.  
 
     
     
         25 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 24  characterised in that 
 the ingredient d) is selected from the group consisting of 33 to 333 mg methionine, calculated as free amino acid, 3,3 to 66 mcg selenium yeast, 0.033 to 10 mg of zinc oxide, 0.033 to 2,4 mg cupric oxide and 0.033 to 6,6 mg manganese gluconate.  
 
     
     
         26 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition for increasing the presence of glutathione in cells including the prevention or treatment of impaired liver function, characterised in that 
 the composition contains in combination at least one of each of the following components: 
 a) a precursor of glutathione which is selected from the group consisting of cysteine and functional equivalents containing said amino acid;  
 b) an enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis; and  
 c) a third component which is either selected from lignans or which is a combination 
 c1) of an enhancer of glutathione regeneration and  
 c2) of an enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation; and  
 
   that cysteine as precursor of glutathione a) accounts for at least 25 g, calculated as free amino acid, per 100 g of solid matter contents of the sum of the active components a) to c2).    
     
     
         27 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 26 , characterised in that 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) contains apocynin or analogues;    the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) contains an active ingredient which is selected from the group of silymarin and lignans; and    the enhancer of the giutathione-mediated conjugation c2) contains an active ingredient which is selected from the group consisting of iridoid glycosides and lignans.    
     
     
         28 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 26  or  27 , characterised in that 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) is a preparation obtained from  Picrorhiza species;    
 the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) is selected from the group consisting of a preparation of  Silybum marianum  and a preparation of  Schisandra species ; and  
 the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) is selected from the group consisting of a preparation of  Picrorhiza species  and a preparation of  Schisandra species.    
 
     
     
         29 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 26  characterised in that 
 the enhancer of the glutathione biosynthesis b) is selected from the group consisting of an extract of  Picrorhiza kurrooa  and an extract of  Picrorhiza schrophulariiflora , whereby said extract contains 70 mg to 40 g apocynin or analogues per 100 g of solid matter contents of the sum of the components a) to c2);  
 the enhancer of glutathione regeneration c1) is selected from the group consisting of an extract of  Silybum marianum  containing at least 150 mg silymarin per 100 g of solid matter contents of the sum of the active components a) to c2) and an extract of  Schisandra chinensis  or  Schisandra phenanthers  containing at least 1.5 mg schisandrins per 100 g of solid matter contents of the sum of the active components a) to c2); and  
 the enhancer of the glutathione-mediated conjugation c2) is selected from the group consisting of an extract, which contains at least 15 mg picrosides per 100 g of solid matter contents of the sum of the active components a) to c2) and has been obtained from  Picrorhiza kurrooa  or from  Picrorhiza schrophulariiflora  or from both  Picrorhiza spezies , and of an extract, which contains at least 1.5 mg schisandrins per 100 g of solid matter contents of the sum of the active components a) to c2) and has been obtained from  Schisandra chinensis  or from  Schisandra phenanthera  or from both  Schisandra spezies.    
 
     
     
         30 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 26  or  29  characterised in that 
 the composition contains in addition a further active ingredient d) which is selected from the group consisting of methionine and functional analogues containing said amino acid, selenium yeast, a zinc salt, a copper salt, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and a manganese salt.  
 
     
     
         31 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 30  characterised in that 
 the ingredient d) is selected from the group consisting of 1.5 g to 15 g methionine, calculated as free amino acid, per 100 g of solid matter contents of the sum of the active components a) to c2); 150 to 3000 mcg selenium yeast per 100 g of solid matter contents of the sum of the components a) to c2); 1.5 to 450 mg zinc oxide per 100 g of solid matter contents of the sum of the components a) to c2); 1.5 to 120 mg cupric oxide per 100 g of solid matter contents of the sum of the components a) to c2); and 1.5 to 300 mg manganese gluconate per 100 g of solid matter contents of the sum of the components a) to c2).  
 
     
     
         32 . Dietetic or pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7  or  10  characterised in that 
 that cysteine as precursor of glutathione a) accounts for at least 30 g, calculated as free amino acid, per 100 g of solid matter contents composed of the active components a) to c2).