Plant extracts for the treatment of increased bone resorption

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with nutritional or pharmaceutical compositions containing an extract or concentrate of a plant from the genus Lycopersicon. The compositions of the invention are useful for the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases or conditions which are characterized by increased bone resorption, such as Paget's disease, tumor-induced bone disease or particularly osteoporosis.

1 . A nutritional composition comprising: 
 (a) at least one extract or concentrate from a plant of the genus  Lycopersicon;  and    (b) a calcium source.    
     
     
         2 . The nutritional composition as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising an energy source selected from the group consisting of carbohydrate, fat and nitrogen sources or any combination thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The nutritional composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the nitrogen is selected from the group consisting of soy bean derived proteins; milk proteins, protein hydrolysates, a mixture of essential amino acids, arginine or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The nutritional composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the carbohydrate source provides for 30 to 70% of the total energy supply, the nitrogen source for 5 to 40% and the fat source for 0.01 to 5% of the total energy supply of the composition.  
     
     
         5 . The nutritional composition according to  claim 2 , which comprises (in % by weight) from 3 to 25% of component (a), from 5 to 50% of component (b) and from 1 to 95% of component (c).  
     
     
         6 . The nutritional composition as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising Vitamin D.  
     
     
         7 . The nutritional composition as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising (in % by weight) 0.2 to 10% of other nutritionally acceptable components selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fibers, flavors, preservatives, colorants, sweeteners and emulsifiers or any combination thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The nutritional composition as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the plant extract or concentrate is selected from the group consisting of extracts and concentrates of the botanical species  Lycopersicon esculentum  (also referred to as  Lycopersicon lycopersicum,  “tomato”),  Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium  (“Current tomato”),  Lycopersicon hirsutum, Lycopersicon peruvianum, Lycopersicon parvifloruin  and/or  Lycopersicon pennellii  (“Fuzzy tomato”).  
     
     
         9 . The nutritional composition as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the plant extract or concentrate is  Lycopersicon esculentum.    
     
     
         10 . The nutritional composition as claimed in  claim 2 , which is in the form of a medical nutrition supplement having from 50 to 1500 kcal/day.  
     
     
         11 . The nutritional composition as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising Vitamin D.  
     
     
         12 . The nutritional composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plant extract or concentrate is selected from the group consisting of extracts and concentrates of the botanical species  Lycopersicon esculentum  (also referred to as  Lycopersicon lycopersicum,  “tomato”),  Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium  (“Current tomato”),  Lycopersicon hirsutum, Lycopersicon peruvianum, Lycopersicon parviflorum  and/or  Lycopersicon pennellii  (“Fuzzy tomato”).  
     
     
         13 . The nutritional composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plant extract or concentrate is  Lycopersicon esculentum.    
     
     
         14 . The nutritional composition as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising (in % by weight) 0.2 to 10% of other nutritionally acceptable components selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fibers, flavors, preservatives, colorants, sweeteners and emulsifiers or any combination thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The nutritional composition as claimed in  claim 1 , which is in the form of a medical nutrition supplement having from 50 to 1500 kcal/day.  
     
     
         16 . A pharmaceutical composition in single dose unit form, comprising 
 (a) at least one extract or concentrate from a plant of the genus  Lycopersicon,  and    (b) a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier.    
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the plant extract or concentrate is  Lycopersicon esculentum.    
     
     
         18 . A method of administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the step of: 
 (a) administering the composition selected from the group consisting of those claimed in claims  16 - 17 .    
     
     
         19 . A method of administering a nutritional composition comprising the step of: 
 (a) administering the composition selected from the group consisting of those claimed in claims  1 - 15 .