Systemic treatment of pathological conditions resulting from oxidative stress and/or redox imbalance

Abstract

Alterations of redox homeostasis in mammals underlie a host of symptoms, syndromes and diseases, including AIDS and cancer, which can be successfully treated by administration to a mammal of therapeutically-effective amounts of sulfide compounds and/or thiosulfate compounds and/or thionite compounds and/or sulfite compounds and/or thionate compounds and/or any organic, inorganic or organometallic precursors thereof. The unique compositions of this invention contain one or more “active sulfur compounds” in combination with each other or with other therapeutic agents. The invention also encompasses the varying modes of administration of the therapeutic compounds.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating a mammal suffering from a disease, comprising the step of administering a pharmaceutical composition, said composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an active sulfur compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the disease or a symptom thereof is mediated by oxidative stress within the mammal.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said active sulfur compound is: 
 a) a sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of a sulfide compound, sulfite compound, a thiosulfate compound, a thionate compound, a thionite compound, or a mixture thereof;    b) a precursor of the sulfur compound of group (a); or    c) a mixture thereof.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease or the symptom thereof is cancer, AIDS, ARC, cachexia, diabetes, Down syndrome, cardiovascular disease, a neurodegenerative disease, or hypercholesterolemia.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease is a hyperproliferative disease selected from the group consisting of cancer, AIDS, and ARC.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease is a degenerative disease selected from the group consisting of diabetes and a neurodegenerative disease.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises another pharmacologically active agent.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said another pharmacologically active agent is a vitamins, a micronutrient, coenzyme Q10, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, triiodothyronine, vinpocetine, pramiracetam, piracetam, hydergine, choline, selegiline, gallic acid, diallyl sulfide, an anti-cancer agent, an immunostimulant, an antibiotic, a hormone antagonist, an antiviral agent, an antihypertension agent, insulin or an anti-inflammatory agent.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered orally, rectally, or by enteroclysis.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition is administered orally by means of one or more capsules, each of said capsules comprising a shell, the active sulfur compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the active compound is adsorbed on the carrier.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the carrier comprises microcrystalline cellulose.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition is administered orally by means of one or more capsules, each of said capsules comprising a shell, the active sulfur compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein an enteric coating is present on the shell or on granules comprising the active sulfur compound, which are themselves enclosed by the shell.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition is administered orally by means of a delayed-release formulation, said formulation comprising the active sulfur compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered to the mammal parenterally, intravascularly, intramuscularly, intrathecally or subcutaneously.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered to the mammal transdermally, transmucosally, or sublingually.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered to the mammal so as to produce contact of said compound with its site of action in the mammal's body.  
     
     
         16 . A composition for treating a mammal suffering from a disease, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an active sulfur compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the disease or a symptom thereof is mediated by oxidative stress within the mammal.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein said active sulfur compound is: 
 a) a sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of a sulfide compounds, sulfite compound, a thiosulfate compound, a thionate compound, a thionite compound, or a mixture thereof;    b) a precursor of the sulfur compound of group (a); or    c) a mixture thereof.    
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the composition further comprises another pharmacologically active agent.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the composition further comprises another pharmacologically active agent, said another pharmacologically active agent being a vitamin, a micronutrient, coenzyme Q10, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, triiodothyronine, vinpocetine, pramiracetam, piracetam, hydergine, choline, niar, gallic acid, diallyl sulfide, an anti-cancer agent, an immunostimulant, an antibiotic, a hormone antagonist, an antiviral agent, an antihypertension agent, insulin or an anti-inflammatory agent.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the composition comprises one or more capsules, each of said capsules comprising a shell, the active sulfur compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the active compound is adsorbed or absorbed on the carrier.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 20 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises microcrystalline cellulose.  
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein composition comprises one or more capsules, each of said capsules comprising a shell, the active sulfur compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein an enteric coating is present on the shell.  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein composition comprises a delayed-release formulation, said formulation comprising the active sulfur compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the composition comprises a suppository, said suppository comprising an active sulfur compound and one or more carriers, diluents or adjuvants.  
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the composition comprises an injectable solution of an active sulfur compound in a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent.  
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein said composition comprises an active sulfur compound, selected from the group consisting of sodium thiosulfate, sodium metabisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, sodium sulfide nonahydrate, and mixtures thereof.