Deer antler extract for promoting angiogenesis

Abstract

An isolated extract of deer velvet which contains components which have molecular weights that are substantially less than or equal to 10 kDa and which have a proliferative effect on endothelial cells and/or promote angiogenesis.

1 . An isolated extract of deer velvet which contains components which have molecular weights that are substantially less than or equal to 10 kDa and which have a proliferative effect on endothelial cells and/or promote angiogenesis.  
   
   
       2 . An isolated extract as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the components are peptides.  
   
   
       3 . An isolated extract as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the components retain the proliferative effect on endothelial cells, and/or retain the ability to promote angiogenesis, even after processing which may subject the components to at least one of the following processes: heating to substantially 100° C. for up to substantially 3 minutes; sterilization by exposure to over 2.5 Mrads of γ-irradiation; or, freeze thawing.  
   
   
       4 . Use of an isolated extract as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2  in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of wounds.  
   
   
       5 . Use of an isolated extract as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2  in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of persistent wounds.  
   
   
       6 . An isolated extract as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the components may be selected from the group consisting of peptides, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, free amino acids, lipids and growth factors or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       7 . An isolated extract of deer velvet which contains at least one component present in the extract of  claim 1  which has a proliferative effect on endothelial cells and/or promotes angiogenesis.  
   
   
       8 . An isolated extract of deer velvet which contains at least one peptide present in the extract of  claim 2  which has a proliferative effect on endothelial cells and/or promotes angiogenesis.  
   
   
       9 . A composition which includes a therapeutically effective amount of the component present in the extract of  claim 7  for the treatment of wounds.  
   
   
       10 . A composition which includes a therapeutically effective amount of the peptide present in the extract of  claim 8  for the treatment of wounds.  
   
   
       11 . A composition which includes a therapeutically effective amount of an isolated extract as claimed in  claim 6  for the treatment of wounds.  
   
   
       12 . A method of treating a wound comprising administering a composition as claimed in  claim 9  or  10  to an animal in need thereof.  
   
   
       13 . An isolated extract for the treatment of wounds substantially as described herein with reference to any example thereof.  
   
   
       14 . Use of an isolated extract in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of wounds substantially as described herein with reference to any example thereof.  
   
   
       15 . A composition for the treatment of wounds substantially as described herein with reference to any example thereof.  
   
   
       16 . A composition which includes a therapeutically effective amount of an isolated extract as claimed in  claim 3  for the treatment of wounds.  
   
   
       17 . A method of treating a wound comprising administering a composition as claimed in  claim 11  to an animal in need thereof.